Ok lets get started with this new fangled technology, we have had the good fortune to Preview test out this software before anyone else, basically this software will stream most types of media from your PC through the Wii to your TV. How cool does that sound?

There have been many media software packages developed for various consoles and at the forefront of them all have been X-OOM who seem to come up with the best.

Here is their latest addition to this genre of software, fully tested by us @ pimpmywii.co.uk check below for the full outcome.

Installation for this piece of software was a peice of cake, Once installed it asks for the normal registration details, then when that’s complete you get down to the nitty gritty.

Media File Wizard:

Firstly, going into the media file wizard it asks you to add a pin number for accessing the Wii, Security first… just make sure its something you remember.
After clicking next you get the option to scan for media in certain folders or the full PC, I opted for the certain folders. the software then proceeded to ask for locations to music files, then for picture files, then Video….

Supports MP3, WMA, OGG, DivX, XviD, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, WMV, JPG, BMP.

RSS News Feeds 

Another Nice addition to the media centre is RSS feeds which your able to link for the latest news etc such as our very own feed here at http://www.pimpmywii.co.uk/feed/ 

Podcasts

Setup your favourite Podcasts within this section, There are a plethera of standard links to Podcasts on the X-OOM site itself.

Web TV

The next option is to add your favourite Web TV Streams there are quite a few to choose from already which the media player installs for you.

Web Radio

A personal favourite of mine is the addition of web radio which means i can add my favourite stations to my Wii such as http://www.somafm.com, there are litereally thousands of channels from around the world which the software adds, so there is something for everyone.

Once you have added the above it sets off to searching your PC for files which was actually quicker than I thought it would be (took about an hour to get through about 700gb of media) Although I was a little confused with the blank screen I was confronted with at the end, but then I figured out it had not quite finished, so I scurried off to make a cuppa at this point.

When i got back it was all done and dusted, so I closed out of the program as any self respecting PC guy would and started it up “clean”.

There was a nice little reminder that popped up saying there was an update to the software and would I like to install it, after saying yes it took care of the rest.

Useability

Ok before I configure it for use through the Wii I opened up the player through the PC, and to my surprise I found a very nice easy to use front end which even before I link through the Wii I think will work very well.

The ease of the point and click interface is a winner with me as I like to have an “Uncluttered Interface” and this is certainly just right. The interface background colour can be changed easily within the settings of the X-oom Media Center to a colour of your choosing.

Ok first up me being a total media junky, I opened up the Web tv section, this is a very well streamed section through the PC, although I am at present on quite a fast connection I do think it (depending on how busy the lines are) could work really well.
The Standard Channels, already built in have a wide range of genres for everyone there are 30+ channels for you to play with from around the world. Initially the video window size is small but this can be made bigger by clicking the video, this in turn will remove all surrounding menu’s etc leaving you with just the video.
I will do a test through the Wii later in the review.

Next I moved onto Web Radio and I must say the standard selection that is already there is staggering there hundreds of streams at your fingertips.
There is a nice clear sound that comes through this, no breaks in transmission so far, I will have to see if there are any issues with the wifi connectivity / streaming when its connecting through the Wii.

Following the success of the previous sections I moved onto the local files, Music and video. This has impressed me, the way it catalogues all your music is brilliant and so easy to get to, I still need to sort out how to setup a playlist so can play more than one album at a time, but all in all very nicely done.

Ok, initial playtime over…  back to configuring the software so the Wii can access it:

If you get stuck on anything (which I dont think you will) the help files within the program are concise and easy to use.

Basically just type in a local address (your pc ip) and your away…. brought it up no problems, entered my pin…. and I was away.. tried out a few albums awesome… sound was clear.. there was the odd glitch but nothing it couldnt handle.

Same went for the video files, I am still testing out the video files (different types) so may add more to this review.

The Web TV / Radio ran like a dream,  apart from sometimes it being a little glitchy to begin with, but i put that down to net speed.

Machine tested on was:

Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit
AMD Dual Core Processor
2GB Ram.

Conclusion

The X-OOM MEDIA CENTER is well worth the buy, esp if you are like me and have thousands of mp3’s / movies / pictures on your pc you would like to play through the TV.
Pimpmywii.co.uk give this one a big thumbs up!!!

Ease of installation - 8/10 - Any monkey with a mouse can do it.
Ease of Use - 8/10 - Once setup its a simple point and click to get all your media.
Quality of playback - 7/10 - A little glitchy in places but that could be more to do with the hardware.
Price - 8/10 - At £29.99 its a great addition to any living room .
Overall - 8/10 - Well worth a buy, I am sure anyone with a Wii will make good use of this.

System requirements:
Wii™ including webbrowser and internet access, PC including Windows 2000/XP/ Vista and internet access, CPU 700 MHz, 256 MB of RAM, screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher, 200 MB of free disk space for installation. A LAN or WLAN.

Don King Presents: Prizefighter brings an innovative feature set and story line to set the standard in boxing video games

New York, NY – December 09, 2007 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced the spring 2008 release of Don King Presents: Prizefighter, the most realistic boxing video game simulation, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo’s Wii™ home video game console and Nintendo’s DS™ portable system. This in-depth, documentary-style title will provide the deepest, most authentic and entertaining experience ever seen in a boxing video game.

“The combination of real-life fight scenarios, story-driven gameplay and photo-realistic graphics will set this title apart from the competition,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “Our goal has always been to deliver the most engaging and realistic titles, and Don King Presents: Prizefighter will exceed these expectations. Based on the game’s innovative features and high-profile fighters, this title will be a ‘must have’ for any sports gamer.”

“In all my years working in professional boxing, I have never seen anything come as close to recreating the thrill, the intensity, the courage and the spectacle of the sport,” said legendary boxing promoter Don King. “Don King Presents: Prizefighter is more than a game - it is a glimpse at what life is like in and out of the ring for these incredible athletes.”

Developed by Venom Games, the 2K studio that brought Rocky and Rocky Legends to the Xbox and PlayStation 2, Don King Presents: Prizefighter will bring the realism of live action match-ups and the true tactics of the sweet science together for the first time. More than just a night at the fights - players will be responsible for building a career by overcoming adversity, avoiding temptation, and balancing their commitments to train and promote, all while focusing on the goal of ultimately winning and defending the title belt. The story will be told by a revolutionary sports documentary-style narrative never before seen in a video game.

Don King Presents: Prizefighter will be available in spring 2008 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo’s Wii™ home video game console and Nintendo’s DS portable system, leveraging the unique hardware features of each platform.

Winter Sports 2008 – The Ultimate Challenge is the comprehensively improved sequel to last year’s winter hit RTL Winter Games 2007.

The arcade-oriented winter sports compilation comprises the 15 most popular disciplines spanning 9 exciting sports. 42 missions with final boss rivals recreate the atmosphere of a magnificent international winter sports event in the brand new single player campaign mode, not least owing to the stirring opening ceremony and the final presentation ceremony.

The hot seat (4 players) and split screen (2 players) modes feature multiple tournament options and a gripping multiplayer experience as players compete for record times and gold medals. Winter Sports 2008 features 9 disciplines including Alpine Skating, Ski jumping, Bobsleigh, Speed skating and Figure skating.

Features

• 15 playable disciplines spanning the 9 most popular winter sports
• Brand new campaign mode with 42 missions, incl. Boss rivals
• Multiplayer party fun: hot seat (4 players), split screen (2 players)
• 21 locations loaded with atmosphere
• Controls perfectly adapted to Nintendo Wii
• Lively sports events with mascots, opening ceremony, presentation ceremony, national anthems and many more
• Career mode with a skill system, incl, increasing skill values
• Magnificent sound tracks to the presenter duo & rousing soundtrack
• Motion capturing in cooperation with a leading European studio and an up-and-coming figure skater

Winter Sports 2008 – The Ultimate Challenge is available now for the PC, Playstation 2 and Wii

Following the decision by the Video Appeals Committee to allow the appeal by Rockstar against the BBFC’s rejection of the game by a majority of four to three, David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:
“The BBFC will carefully study the judgement by the Video Appeals Committee when it becomes available.

“The BBFC exercises great vigilance and care in ensuring that all violent games which are submitted to us are correctly classified. Our decisions are based on published guidelines, which are the result of very wide public consultation. The Board also provides very full content information to the public, including parents, about the videogames which it classifies. We recently launched a new website for parents, PBBFC, in addition to the main website and our websites for children and students.

“The BBFC twice rejected Manhunt 2 for its focus on varied and cumulative killings. We recognize that rejection is a very serious step, in which the desire of publishers to market their games, and that of gamers to buy them, must be balanced against the public interest, including the full range of possible harm risks to vulnerable individuals and to any children who may be wrongly exposed to such games. Such balancing judgements are inevitably complex and multi-faceted, and are made only after very careful consideration of the contents of a work. We played Manhunt 2 for well over 30 hours prior to our decision.

The Board recognizes that the available research findings on the effects of video games (including positive as well as harmful effects) are varied and contested. But we continue to believe that a broad approach to the possible risks is needed, which goes beyond purely behavioural harm, and which also takes account of other possible effects on the sensibilities and attitudes of individuals.”

Exodus Film Group announced today a videogame deal with Interactive Game Group (I2G) and Legacy Interactive for a multi-platform game based on Exodus’ CG-animated feature film “Igor.” The game will be distributed on Nintendo DS^TM and Wii^TM, PC (retail, downloadable, online), and wireless. Legacy Interactive will publish the “Igor” licensed game in North America and I2G is financing and coordinating the project on a worldwide basis. “Igor” is a Weinstein Company presentation being distributed in U.S. theaters by MGM on October 24, 2008. The Weinstein Company is handling international sales for “Igor.”

“The principals at Legacy and I2G have proven track records in creating and distributing exciting and innovative games,” said Bruce Auerbach, Exodus president of consumer products. “The audience experience will be greatly enhanced by not only seeing the movie, but being able to ‘play’ the movie.”
“The incredibly rich world and characters the film offers are well suited to the action puzzler genre,” said Ariella Lehrer, Legacy Interactive’s CEO. “I think this is a game that will have crossover appeal among casual and more core strategy gamers alike.”

Frederic Chesnais, I2G’s founder and general manager, added, “This project is exactly why I have created I2G, to bring talented people together and facilitate the creation and distribution of interactive entertainment.”

The film version of “Igor” is a playfully irreverent comedy that brings a new twist to the classic monster genre. In a world filled with Mad Scientists and Evil Inventions, one talented evil scientist’s hunch-backed lab assistant has big dreams of becoming a Mad Scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair. The stellar voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cusack, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, Molly Shannon, and Christian Slater.

Exodus recently announced a nationwide promotional program with Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants. The videogame deal adds to the extensive line of “Igor” consumer products aligned with the film, which currently includes a master license for toys and collectables with Corgi International, a major publishing deal with award-winning global leader Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and a comic book series with IDW Publishing. Corgi will release a wide range of products including action figures, play sets, electronic role-play games, pocket money toys, vinyl figures, plush, statues, busts and other associated products. Simon & Schuster plans nine “Igor” books, which will be published under their Simon Scribbles and Simon Spotlight imprints.

Award-winning animation writer Tony Leondis (Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch 2″) is directing the screenplay by Chris McKenna (Fox’s “American Dad!”). Exodus CEO John D. Eraklis and President Max Howard are producing with Jean-Luc De Fanti executive producing on behalf of Exodus Productions in Paris. Eric Robinson, Senior Vice President of Production and Development, is overseeing “Igor” on behalf of The Weinstein Company.

Weblin Redefines the Internet Experience By Creating a Living Virtual World Across All Sites Through Digital Avatars

Hamburg, December 2007: The Internet is now becoming a virtual world in itself as Weblin makes innovative communication possible across all sites with a new breed of digital avatars. German company Zweitgeist GmbH’s new Weblins bring like-minded people together quickly and easily on the Internet, with each user, depicted by his or her own personal virtual image (Weblin) visible to other Weblins visiting the same website at the same time. With just one mouse click you can start a conversation with another avatar on any website, including YouTube, Google, eBay, facebook, and more - bringing people with similar interests, tastes, and needs together. With Weblins, every website becomes a place for community to meet, share, and communicate.

Registering with Weblin and downloading the software is free, and installation is very simple. On weblin.com, everyone can create their own profile and choose from a wide variety of different avatars, or be creative and upload their own photo. One can just as easily roam the Net as a polar bear or as a fairy from an online role-playing game. The site currently features more than 100 animated avatars that cover all sorts of moods and interests.

Weblin’s Features

• A wide variety of pre-built avatars and the ability to upload your own pictures for custom avatars.

• Contact lists so that you can see which of your friends and contacts are online.

• A social bookmarking system to flag content you and your friends would enjoy.

• A gifting system so you can give friends and acquaintances presents.

To download the client etc go to

http://www.weblin.com