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How to use smartglass in context of Windows 8?

In the context of Windows-8, I keep seeing mentions of SmartGlass feature.

What is SmartGlass, How do we go about using it or is there any good blog post detailing about this?

Sign out of messenger on Windows 8

I just installed the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Just going through the default procedure, I let it use my Xbox Live account to create a user.

When I then went and turned on my Xbox, it now notified me that I was logged into Messenger in two locations.

I went back to Windows 8, and turned my Live account into a local account on that machine. But when I then turned the Xbox again, I got the same message.

Is there a way to just 'sign out of messenger' on Windows 8? Or is there a location to even see where I am signed in at?

Navigating Windows 8 with an Xbox 360 controller

I'm planning on using Windows 8 for my HTPC. Is there some way of navigating the "Metro" Windows Start screen with an Xbox 360 controller via some setting or third-party software?

Is there a way to explore my WHS files via Xbox 360's Media Center app?

I know its a "Console" question but its really more of a Media Center Extender question!

I can access the data through the Video/Pictures options, but not through the Media Center App.

Also I can only see the videos that are directly on the Videos folder on my WHS, but not any of the subfolders. Same thing in my Laptop, if I connect to my WHS through Media Player it will only show the videos on Videos but not any other sub-folder, but if I open Media Center I can then connect to server and see all the folders.

Really slow Xbox 360 as Windows Media Extender

When I set up my XBox 360 as a Windows Media Extender although I can see all the media I have on my Windows Vista PC it is excruciatingly slow to move between albums etc

Is there anything I can do to improve this or is it just because of the number of media files I have - about 5GB?

Cheers

Recommended Xbox 360 Video Format?

What is the recommended or native video format for the Xbox 360? I have a Plex DLNA server setup and I dont want it to have to convert on the fly.

So what is the recommended Xbox 360 video playback format?

How to use Server 2008 as a media server (including XBox clients)

Is there any way to use Windows Server 2008 R2 as a media server for XBox? I want to be able to play (legally) ripped DVDs, stored on my server, without needing to install another computer or OS.

From what I understand, this is readily available as part of Home Server; but apparently Microsoft decided that no one running the (business) server software would have a reason to do this.

Streaming Media Solution for the family

Can anyone suggest a good solution for sharing media resources in the home environment for a family of 5. Hardware currently in the home includes -

• Windows Home Server
• 4 Laptops
• 1 desktop
• 3 xbox 360's
• 3 mobiles

Network connections include a 40Mb (getting 37Mb) FTTC internet connection.

The hardware is spread across -

• Living Room, TV and 360
• Conservatory, TV and 360
• Dining Room, Nothing, need something to stream to here
• Main bedroom, TV (need something to stream to here)
• 13 yo Daughters bedroom, TV (need something to stream to here)
• 10 yo sons bedroom, TV, 360
• 4 yo sons bedroom, TV (need something to stream to here)
• Office, desktop PC, need to be able to stream to here

What I'm looking for is a way to get all the music and dvd's onto the Windows Home Server, which I've already found software to do. Then I want to be able to share all the music and dvd's across all the devices. In addition I would like to be able to make use of streaming media services to the tv's (eg youtube, iplayer, etc).

Requirements include being able to watch the media on the tv's (currently acheived through xbox 360's but I need to add the ability to 3 more rooms which at the moment is looking like needing the purchase of 3 more 360's + something for the dining room ). Also be able to watch on the laptops and download to the phones for use on the go. Each user should be able to have their own favourites, playlists and ratings independently of each other.

Ideally looking for a consistent user experience across the devices as the user's aren't all overly tech savvy, especially my wife.

I've searched the internet and specifically searched SuperUser, but can't find any good suggestions that meet all the requirements. My current thought is using Zune on the 360's and laptops, with the addition of swapping current phones for windows phones to use zune on them as well. This would require adding more 360's though as mentioned earlier and also Zune Pass seems to support only 3 pc's and 3 devices, I'll need alot more than that. Whilst I like the 360's, having 6 in the house sounds excessive especially when they are for media streaming.

Hope that all makes sense, and if it does, any thoughts? Main thing I'm struggling with is the independent favourites etc and consistent ui experience.

Problems with Netflix Streaming, DDWRT, and Xbox 360

Basically, I have been having problems getting Netflix Streaming to play on my Xbox 360 with my DD-WRT router. The thing is, it will play some movies, sometimes. For example, the other day, I could not get it to play Nikita, now today, it will play Nikita perfectly fine, but it is unable to play Being Human.

Typically, when I attempt to play a show, it will either fully play without errors, or will not be able to load at all. When it doesn't load, it will load to 7%, remain there for a while, then move to 9%, then respond with an error message saying that there is an error with my home network connection.

An Internet or home network connection problem is preventing playback. 
Please check your Internet connection and try again or visit 
www.netflix.com/tvhelp for guidance. (code: R8212)

Now, when I attempt to use the non-DDWRT router, it will connect and play perfectly every time. So I believe the error is somewhere in the settings of the DD-WRT. I have attempted the following to correct this:

• Set a static IP address for the Xbox 360
• Forwarded ports 3074, 88, and 53 (both TCP and UDP) to the Xbox
• Enabled UPnP
• Disabled CTS Protection mode
• Disabled Frame Burst
• Disabled Afterburner
• Placed the Xbox in DMZ
• Enabling QoS and adding the Xbox IP to the QoS
• Disabled the DD-WRT firewall

I would really like to have Netflix work correctly with the DD-WRT router because I do like a lot of the benefits that it gives. I use the ability to add static IP addresses to specific MAC addresses, port forwarding to those specific IP addresses, and the automated DynamicDNS integration.

Specs: Xbox 360 S with Gold Live membership Active Netflix account

Router 1: Linksys WRT54GS Firmware: DD-WRT v24-sp2 (10/10/09) micro

Router 2: Belkin F7D2301 v1 Default firmware

So, my overall question is, what can I do to fix this problem, to allow the Xbox 360 to connect to play all the shows from Netflix Streaming?

Xbox 360 Controller not working with PC

I have installed the 360 controller software from Microsoft and it comes up in device manager but the controller software does not recognize the device.

Compatibility Report from Device Manager:

Issues found Xbox 360 Wireless Controller via Play & Charge Kit can’t work properly with USB 3.0.Xbox 360 Wireless Controller via Play & Charge Kit can’t work properly with USB 3.0. If the USB 2.0 device is incompatible with USB 3.0, plugging it into a USB 2.0 port can solve the problem. Not fixed Not Fixed Xbox 360 Wireless Controller via Play & Charge Kit is an older USB device and might not work with USB 3.0 Informational

User initiated troubleshooting on a USB deviceUser initiated troubleshooting on a USB device Windows has scanned for common USB device problems. Detected Detected

Issues found Detection details

6 Xbox 360 Wireless Controller via Play & Charge Kit can’t work properly with USB 3.0. Not fixed Not Fixed

If the USB 2.0 device is incompatible with USB 3.0, plugging it into a USB 2.0 port can solve the problem.

The controller has been plugged both into a USB 2 and a USB 3 socket. Any ideas?

Is there good free media server for OS X to stream movies to an XBox 360? [closed]

I have a mac mini running OS X 10.5 that is filled with movies and I am looking for a good way to stream them to and Xbox 360?

Anyone have any suggestions for a media server (UPnP) for mac?

Can the Xbox 360 Kinect work on Windows 8 in place of Kinect for Windows

Is it possible to use a Xbox 360 Kinect with Windows 8 in place of a Kinect for Windows?

Note that this would be used in a Home Theater PC environment, and not at a normal desktop set up, so range issues aside will it work when connected to a PC or will it just not be recognized.

How to configure router to give XBox top priority and the most bandwidth?

I have a "D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N" wireless router and an XBox 360 with the old-style wireless connection thing (usb attachment). I want to configure my router/network to give my XBox as much bandwidth as it wants, whenever it wants.

I have tried giving the XBox a unique IP (within my network) and then tweaking the router to treat that IP as a top priority application (using the router's QOS stuff). Problem is whenever I turn off the XBox, I can't connect to the network the next time I start it up. It seems the only reliable setting in the XBox is to use "Automatic" for the IP settings within the Network Configuration area.

Supposedly the D-Link ships with default settings that attempt to recognize a game console and give it top priority, but I've not seen good results (lots of stuttering/lag when someone else jumps online, etc).

What are the differences between wireless gaming adapters and straight wireless adapters?

Devices like the Xbox - with only an ethernet port and no built-in wireless - can be connected to wireless networks using a gaming adapter. How does a gaming adapter differ from a regular wireless adapter?

Using a wireless router as a home network switch

I have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router that I used to have set up in the traditional way (cable modem plugs into uplink port of router, computers/laptop plug directly into the router or connect wirelessly). Never had any issues.

My new house, unfortunately, is out of the range of both DSL and cable modem, so the only internet option I have is using a wireless USB card from AT&T (pretty good upload/download speeds, actually, so I'm not complaining... much).

So I want my computer and my XBox360 to be able to talk to each other (so I can use it as a Media Extender), and tried using my router, but they only seem to be able to talk sporadically. I think the router is confusing things because it was originally configured to push traffic directly to the cable modem, which doesn't exist any more.

Is there a way to "turn off" the routing features and use this as a "traditional" switch? Do I need a different piece of hardware? Should I manually configure IP addresses on both the pc and the XBox? Or should they be able to auto-configure?

I've heard of people just using a straight network cable directly from the XBox to the PC, but I could never get that to work (plus I want to reserve the right to add more computers or WMExtenders, maybe)