Integrating your Application into Windows Media Center

  • Article

When you register your application, you'll need to decide where in the Windows Media Center UI you want users to find your application by specifying one or more application entry points. Entry points are specific locations within an application where the user enters the application experience. A tile icon appears for your application entry points at the corresponding integration locations.

The integration locations you choose should launch your application with the correct context, depending on the type of functionality you want to provide. For example:

  • A tile located in the Extras > Extras Library > Programs By Name category should always launch the application at its main menu.
  • A tile located in the Music > More Music category should launch the application at its music feature.

This design allows users to spend more time browsing content and available services in context.

The following table shows how different Windows Media Center integration points can correspond to an application's entry points:

Windows Media Center
integration point		 Application entry point
Extras Library Application main menu
More With This\Artist Artist details page

This section describes the basic integration points into Windows Media Center in the following topics:

Topic Description
Integrating into the Extras Library Describes the main integration location for all Windows Media Center applications.
Integrating into Radio Describes the integration points for the Internet Radio integration location.
Integrating into More With This Describes how to register applications for the context-sensitive More menu option.
Integrating into the Start Menu Describes the integration points for the horizontal menu strips for top-level menu options.
Registering for AutoPlay Events Describes the integration points for AutoPlay.
Integrating a Background Application Describes the integration point for background applications.
Integrating an OEM Extensibility Application Describes the integration point for OEM extensibility applications.

Sample Explorer

  • ApplicationContext > InstallApplication

See Also