02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xix
Contents at a Glance
Preface ...... vii
Acknowledgments ...... xvii
Part I Music to Your Ears
Chapter 1 Playing Digital Music ...... 3 Chapter 2 Configuring and Tuning Windows Media Player . . . . 37 Chapter 3 Managing and Sharing Digital Music ...... 87 Chapter 4 Rip: Copying Music from Audio CDs...... 119 Chapter 5 Acquiring Music from Cassettes, DVDs, and Other Analog Sources ...... 143 Chapter 6 Digital Music Store: Working with Online Music Services ...... 159
Part II A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Chapter 7 Managing Photos and Images...... 185 Chapter 8 Acquiring Photos with a Scanner ...... 229 Chapter 9 Acquiring Photos with a Digital Camera ...... 249 Chapter 10 From Still Frame to Full Frame: Photo Slideshows ...... 267
Part III Movie Making
Chapter 11 Playing and Managing Digital Videos...... 301 Chapter 12 Raw Footage: Making Home Movies ...... 323 Chapter 13 Acquiring Digital and Analog Video...... 331 Chapter 14 Creating Home Movies on Your PC ...... 349 Chapter 15 BurnCOPYRIGHTED It: Creating Your Own DVDs. .MATERIAL ...... 389 Part IV Embracing the Digital Lifestyle
Chapter 16 Digital Media in the Living Room: Introducing XP Media Center ...... 401 Chapter 17 Digital Media Throughout the Home: Using Media Center Extenders...... 423 Chapter 18 Take It On the Road: Working with Portable Media Centers and Other Portable Devices ...... 435
Index ...... 451 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xx 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxi
Contents
Preface ...... vii
Acknowledgments ...... xvii
Part I Music to Your Ears
Chapter 1 Playing Digital Music ...... 3 Discovering Windows Media Player 10...... 4 Starting Windows Media Player 10...... 6 Exiting Windows Media Player...... 9 Using the Windows Media Player Media Guide ...... 9 Navigating the Media Guide ...... 10 Discovering New Music with Windows Media Player ...... 11 Listening to Music ...... 11 Playing Audio CDs ...... 11 Playing Digital Audio Files ...... 14 Listening to Internet Radio Stations ...... 16 Using Radio Presets ...... 17 Adding a Radio Station to My Stations ...... 20 Removing a Station from a Presets List ...... 21 Playing Streaming Audio Files ...... 21 Finding Streaming Media Files ...... 22 Understanding and Using Other Streaming Media Formats ...... 23 Playing Music with Media Center ...... 25 Playing Digital Audio Files with Media Center ...... 26 Playing CD Music with Media Center...... 28 Playing Internet Radio with Media Center ...... 29 Having Fun with Media Playback: A Guide to the Best Windows Media Player Add-ons...... 31 Using Visualizations to Put a Mesmerizing Face on Your Music . . . . . 31 Geek Out with Plus! Dancer (Windows Dancer in MCE 2005)...... 33 Have a Party with Plus! Party Mode (Windows Party Mode in MCE 2005) ...... 34 Summary ...... 35 Chapter 2 Configuring and Tuning Windows Media Player . . . . . 37 Using the Media Library and Playlists ...... 37 Taking a Closer Look at the Media Library ...... 37 Using the Contents and Details Panes...... 39 Working with Playlists ...... 42 Understanding the Now Playing List ...... 47 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxii
xxii Contents
Understanding the Burn List ...... 49 Understanding the Sync List...... 49 Customizing Windows Media Player ...... 50 Displaying or Accessing the Menu Bar ...... 50 Hiding and Displaying the List Pane...... 52 Using Windows Media Player Enhancements ...... 53 Using Skin Mode ...... 59 Configuring Windows Media Player Options ...... 72 Setting Player Options ...... 72 Setting Rip Music Options ...... 73 Setting Devices Options ...... 74 Setting Performance Options ...... 75 Setting Media Library Options ...... 78 Setting Plug-ins Options...... 78 Setting Privacy Options ...... 80 Setting Security Options...... 82 Setting File Types Options ...... 83 Setting DVD Options ...... 83 Setting Network Options ...... 84 Updating Windows Media Player ...... 84 Summary ...... 85 Chapter 3 Managing and Sharing Digital Music ...... 87 Using the My Music Folder...... 87 Introducing My Music ...... 88 Customizing Folders in My Music ...... 89 Changing the Location of the My Music Folder ...... 95 Telling Windows Media Player Where the Music Is ...... 95 Using Shared Music ...... 96 Moving the My Documents Folder to a New Location ...... 98 Moving the My Music Folder to a New Location ...... 99 Storing Digital Music in Other Folders ...... 101 Creating a Media Server ...... 101 Using the Music Task Lists ...... 103 Playing All Music in a Folder ...... 103 Shopping for Music Online ...... 107 Copying Music to an Audio CD ...... 109 Burning Your Own Music CDs ...... 109 Understanding Recordable CD Formats ...... 109 Before You Burn, You Must Playlist...... 110 Setting Audio CD Properties...... 112 Creating Audio CDs ...... 114 Summary ...... 118 Chapter 4 Rip: Copying Music from Audio CDs ...... 119 Understanding Digital Audio Formats ...... 119 Windows Media Audio vs. MP3 ...... 120 Enter Microsoft, Stage Left ...... 120 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxiii
Contents xxiii
Configuring Windows Media Player to Rip CDs ...... 121 Configuring Your CD Devices...... 121 Configuring Audio Format and Quality ...... 123 Choosing a Location Where Music Will Be Stored ...... 125 Ripping a CD: Copying Music to Windows XP...... 127 What to Do If You’re Offline...... 128 Copying that CD ...... 129 Managing Digital Audio Metadata...... 135 Using the Media Library to Edit Metadata ...... 136 Using the Advanced Tag Editor to Edit Metadata ...... 138 Ripping CDs with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ...... 140 Working with CDs in Media Center ...... 140 Summary ...... 142 Chapter 5 Acquiring Music from Cassettes, DVDs, and Other Analog Sources...... 143 From Analog to Digital: Understanding the Issues ...... 143 Making the Connection: Hardware You Need to Make It Work . . . . 144 Tools of the Trade: Software You Need to Make It Work ...... 144 Recording Audio from an Analog Source with Windows Movie Maker ...... 145 Editing an Analog Recording with Windows Movie Maker ...... 148 Saving the Audio File to Disk ...... 151 Editing the Audio File’s Metadata ...... 151 Recording Audio from an Analog Source with Plus! Analog Recorder ...... 152 Summary ...... 157 Chapter 6 Digital Music Store: Working with Online Music Services ...... 159 An Introduction to Online Music Services ...... 160 Fair Use: Digital Rights Management and You ...... 161 An Overview of the Best Online Music Experiences ...... 162 Buy Music Online...... 169 Pick a service ...... 169 Purchase music online from MSN Music ...... 170 Now What? Manage Purchased Music ...... 173 Mix and Match Playlists ...... 173 Back up Your Purchased Music...... 174 Burn Your Purchased Music to CD ...... 174 Create Unprotected Versions of Your Protected Songs...... 174 Subscribe to Online Music Subscription Services ...... 174 Access Online Music Services from a Media Center PC...... 179 Take Purchased and Subscribed Music on the Road ...... 181 Summary ...... 182 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxiv
xxiv Contents
Part II A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Chapter 7 Managing Photos and Images ...... 185 Managing Images with My Pictures...... 185 Viewing Photos and Images ...... 187 Finding Information About an Image ...... 189 Using Subfolders to Mange My Pictures ...... 191 Customizing Image Folders ...... 192 Using Folder Views ...... 192 Customizing Folder Icons ...... 196 Using the Details Web View ...... 197 Doing Cool Stuff with Images: Making Slide Shows, Screensavers, and Desktop Backgrounds ...... 199 Getting the Most from Windows Picture and Fax Viewer . . . . 202 Editing Images with Microsoft Paint ...... 203 Editing Photos with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ...... 205 When XP isn’t Enough: A Quick Look at Other Photo-Editing Solutions ...... 208 Adobe PhotoShop Elements ...... 209 Microsoft Digital Image Pro ...... 209 A Free Option: Paint .NET ...... 210 Printing Photos with the Photo Printing Wizard ...... 211 Printing Photos with Media Center...... 214 Ordering Prints Online...... 215 Electronically Sharing Photos ...... 217 Sharing Photos on the Internet ...... 217 Sharing Photos at Home...... 222 Summary ...... 227 Chapter 8 Acquiring Photos with a Scanner...... 229 Understanding Flatbed Scanners ...... 229 Choosing a Scanner for Windows XP ...... 230 Thinking about Scanner Resolution ...... 230 Understanding Color Depth ...... 231 Installing and Detecting a Flatbed Scanner ...... 231 Scanning a Photo ...... 233 Choosing Scanning Preferences ...... 234 Choosing the Picture Name and Destination ...... 238 Scan It ...... 240 Ordering Prints Online...... 240 Using a Film Scanner ...... 242 Not Done Yet: What to Do After You Scan ...... 243 Editing Scanned Photos with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ...... 244 Commonly Needed Photo Editing Features ...... 246 Summary ...... 247 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxv
Contents xxv
Chapter 9 Acquiring Photos with a Digital Camera ...... 249 Understanding Digital Cameras ...... 249 Megapixel? What’s a Stinkin’ Megapixel? ...... 250 A Look at Media Types ...... 250 Understanding Techie Camera Features ...... 251 Making the Connection ...... 251 Understanding Batteries ...... 251 Using Your Digital Cameras in the Real World ...... 252 Detecting Your Camera in Windows XP ...... 252 Acquiring Images from a Digital Camera ...... 254 Acquiring Pictures with a Media Center PC ...... 261 Image Acquisition for Real Men (and Women) ...... 264 Summary ...... 265 Chapter 10 From Still Frame to Full Frame: Photo Slideshows ...... 267 Creating a Photo Slideshow with Windows Movie Maker . . . . 267 Importing Photos into Windows Movie Maker ...... 269 Arranging the Photos in the Timeline ...... 270 Setting Photo Display Time ...... 272 Adding Transitions ...... 272 Adding Music to the Slide Show...... 276 Adding Narration to the Slideshow...... 280 Adding Effects to the Slide Show ...... 281 Saving and Sharing the Slide Show...... 283 Creating a Photo Slide Show with Plus! Photo Story ...... 289 Editing an Existing Plus! Photo Story Project ...... 294 Creating a Movie CD with Plus! Photo Story ...... 294 Choosing Between Movie Maker and Photo Story...... 295 Creating a Photo Slide Show Screensaver ...... 296 Summary ...... 297
Part III Movie Making
Chapter 11 Playing and Managing Digital Videos ...... 301 Managing Digital Videos with My Videos ...... 301 Managing Digital Videos...... 302 Change the Location of My Videos ...... 302 Watching Movies with Windows Media Player ...... 303 Playing Digital Movies ...... 303 Playing DVD Movies...... 305 Viewing Streaming Videos ...... 311 Sharing Videos with Other Users ...... 312 Renting Digital Videos Online ...... 312 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxvi
xxvi Contents
Playing Digital Videos and DVD Movies in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ...... 317 Accessing My Videos in Media Center ...... 317 Finding Movies on TV ...... 319 Playing DVD Movies with Media Center...... 322 Accessing Online Movie Services from Media Center ...... 322 Summary ...... 322 Chapter 12 Raw Footage: Making Home Movies ...... 323 Understanding Home Video ...... 323 Choosing a Camcorder ...... 324 Analog Camcorders ...... 324 Take the Plunge: Digital Camcorders ...... 326 Digital Camcorder Formats ...... 326 Buying a Camcorder...... 326 Taking Home Movies: The Basics ...... 329 Video Recording Basics...... 329 Avoid Using Built-in Camcorder Features...... 329 Zoom and Pan Issues ...... 330 Go Forth and Shoot Video ...... 330 Summary ...... 330 Chapter 13 Acquiring Digital and Analog Video ...... 331 Acquiring Digital Video from a Camcorder ...... 331 Acquiring Analog Video ...... 337 Recording Live TV ...... 341 Accessing Online Movie Services ...... 342 Buy, Rent, or Subscribe? ...... 342 Understanding Your Sharing Options ...... 343 Downloading a Movie Rental from an Online Movie Service...... 343 Downloading a Movie Purchase from an Online Movie Service ...... 346 Accessing Online Movie Services from Media Center ...... 346 Summary ...... 347 Chapter 14 Creating Home Movies on Your PC...... 349 Understanding Windows Movie Maker...... 350 Exploring the Windows Movie Maker User Interface ...... 350 Capturing and Managing Video Content...... 355 Importing Video...... 355 Managing Source Content ...... 356 Editing Video with Windows Movie Maker ...... 357 Working with Projects ...... 358 Working with Video Clips ...... 360 Adding Transitions to Your Home Movies...... 364 Adding Special Effects to Your Home Movies ...... 368 Adding Titles and Credits to Your Home Movies ...... 372 Adding Narration to Your Home Movies...... 379 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxvii
Contents xxvii
Final Product: Putting It All Together ...... 381 Saving a Movie to Your Computer ...... 381 Saving a Movie to CD ...... 383 Saving a Movie to DVD (Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 only) ...... 383 Sending a Movie to Others via E-mail...... 385 Saving a Movie to the Web ...... 385 Sending a Movie to a DV Camcorder ...... 386 Summary ...... 387 Chapter 15 Burn It: Creating Your Own DVDs ...... 389 Understanding Recordable DVD Formats and Technologies ...... 389 Creating a DVD Movie with Windows Movie Maker and XP Media Center Edition 2005 ...... 390 Burning Media Center Recorded TV Shows to DVD ...... 395 Go the Third-Party Route: DVD Movie–Making Alternatives ...... 397 Adobe Premiere Elements...... 397 Nero Ultra Edition ...... 398 Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite ...... 398 Sonic MyDVD ...... 398 Summary ...... 398
Part IV Embracing the Digital Lifestyle
Chapter 16 Digital Media in the Living Room: Introducing XP Media Center ...... 401 PC in the Den: Introducing Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ...... 402 A Look at the Hardware ...... 403 A Look at the Software ...... 404 Managing and Consuming Digital Media with XP Media Center Edition ...... 406 Accessing TV with Media Center ...... 411 Accessing Online Services and Other Programs ...... 419 Summary ...... 422 Chapter 17 Digital Media Throughout the Home: Using Media Center Extenders ...... 423 Introducing Media Center Extenders ...... 423 Media Center Extender Considerations ...... 424 Choosing a Media Center Extender ...... 425 Installing and Configuring a Media Center Extender ...... 426 Unpack the Extender ...... 426 Connect the Extender...... 427 Install the PC software ...... 427 Use the Extender ...... 427 02_579533 ftoc.qxd 2/15/05 5:50 PM Page xxviii
xxviii Contents
Managing a Media Center Extender ...... 428 Managing Media Center Extender Devices ...... 429 Managing Network Performance ...... 432 Summary ...... 433 Chapter 18 Take It On the Road: Working with Portable Media Centers and Other Portable Devices...... 435 Working with Portable Devices...... 436 Integrating Portable Devices with Windows Media Player ...... 436 Use a Pocket PC ...... 439 Use Windows Media Player 10 Mobile with a Pocket PC ...... 440 Use a Portable Media Center...... 441 Synchronizing Content with a Portable Media Center...... 441 Managing a Portable Media Center ...... 442 Synchronizing Content with a Portable Media Center from Media Center ...... 444 Use an Apple iPod ...... 445 Managing an iPod with iTunes ...... 446 Purchasing Music at the iTunes Music Store ...... 448 Taking Photos on the Road with an iPod Photo ...... 449 Managing an iPod with Windows Media Player ...... 450 Summary ...... 450
Index ...... 451