Microsoft Announces Second Ultimate Media Center Install Contest

Got a great Media Center install? You could win Microsoft's second Windows Media Center Ultimate Install contest, announced today at the Electronic House Expo.

What do you get if you win? A trip for two and some other goodies, plus an opportunity for some great press. "Just do a search for Ultimate Media Center Install and you'll see," said Microsoft's Todd Rutherford during the two-day Media Center University at EHX that ended yesterday.

Last year's contest was a little hasty, and dealers had to scramble to get their entries together.

Still, Tyler Jennings of the winning integration company, Imperium Smart Systems, Herrimen, Utah, managed to snag the grand prize with a stunning Media Center installation that featured 12 distributed audio zones, a Media Center "extender" server, 4 Xbox 360s, a UMPC touchpanel, a 12" LifePoint panel, Insteon lighting control, Aprilaire thermostats, DSC security integration and Exceptional Innovation's Lifeware automation software.



"Part of what we're trying to show is that Media Center scales up to the high-end experience," says Scott Evans, group manager in the Entertainment and Devices eHome Division at Microsoft.

He adds that the initiative is an example of how Microsoft is "continuing to support the custom installer and get them excited about us."

Here at EHX, Microsoft sponsored the Media Center University (co-sponsored by Lifeware), which was attended by more than 50 students. In Demo Alley, Microsoft is sharing a room with high-end video and screen manufacturers Runco and Stewart Filmscreen, where a Media Center is at the heart of the entertainment experience.

During a similar demonstration at EHX Fall last year, attendees were "amazed by the video performance. We never told them the equipment was actually powered by an Xbox 360," Evans says.

Microsoft is giving integrators plenty of time to get their Media Center-based systems installed and submitted for the new contest.

The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2008, and the winner will be announced at the CEDIA Expo in September.

Details on the Media Center Ultimate Install contest can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/ultimateinstall.

Good luck!