Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

The Xbox 360 will be the only viable media center extender until this holiday season. For those of you not familiar with media center extenders, Microsoft explains them as follows:

Windows Media Center Extender Technology (or “MCX Technology”), code named “Pika,” is platform-independent software that will enable home network connected consumer electronics devices to deliver full, high-definition Media Center experiences. These experiences include live and recorded standard and HD TV, movies, photos, personal and premium music, and third-party applications and services designed for Media Center (with over 100 services now available worldwide).

Media center extenders in theory should provide a cheap alternative to stream your digital media from one room to another, without having to buy a full blown media center pc. The advantage for content producers is that the integrity of the digital rights management on your content is maintained. The Xbox 360 Elite, with a HDMI connection, integrates the best into your home theater system, though it costs almost $500.
CEPro.com indicated today that Microsoft may be waffling about the next generation of media centers. According to the article:

And still, not only are there no third-party extenders on the market, not a single company has even announced intentions to create such a thing (except for Monster Cable, which apparently jumped the gun). People in the Media Center geek circles are incredulous. Why all the secrecy? Where are the extenders?

Microsoft benefits the most right now by delaying third-party extenders. By making the Xbox 360 the only available extender, more people will obviously buy the 360, especially since it is the only way to stream CableCard content around your house. The technology has existed for over a year now, yet Microsoft is the only solution available. It is not too difficult to figure out what is really driving the delay.