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09 - Using Apps on Xbox LIVE

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*.mkv

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Level: 1
14 Jan 2012 11:19 AM

Hello,

I bought a xbox 360 to use it as a "Multimedia Center" in my living room. For that, I need the xbox to handle the MKV Container Format. Since MP4 / H264 / AVC is supported, I wonder why the MKV Container, which is widely used, is not?

I need MKV Support. Are there any plans to support it in the near future, or do I have to "think different"?

Regards, Farn.
Verified Answer
  • Level: 2
    15 Jan 2012 12:04 AM
    Verified Answer
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    MKV is an open-source container, it was created to avoid the patents surrounding other containers like MOV, AVI, etc as well as to improve upon them.  As such its the primary format used when transcoding/remuxing video for storing on open-source based media servers.

    As such its highly unlikely to get support on Xbox 360 as even Windows doesn't support it natively despite the fact MKVs most often contain H264 video and AC3/DTS audio, codecs which I believe Windows DOES support natively.

    Its even more bizarre that Sony Blu-ray players DO support it yet the PS3 does not either.  Most 2011+ models of Blu-ray player and Smart TVs tend to support it now too.

    Personally I bought a Blu-ray player to play my MKV files, but I also recently got a new TV which supports them too.  Neither the Xbox 360 nor the PS3 make particularly good media players, unless you plan to just use Windows Media Center for everything.  You also have to consider they use 6-10 times the electricity of a Blu-ray player and are much noisier.

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    Level: 4
    AmbLevel10
  • 14 Jan 2012 2:28 PM
    Suggested Answer

    That file format is not supported. I've never even heard of that file format! What country are you in that supports that format? Have you tried converting those file types to .MP4?

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    • Level: 6
    ontopictipsterGamerSpotlightAmbLevel10
  • 14 Jan 2012 2:43 PM
    Suggested Answer

    I use Tversity for my files.  It is a seamless program that is installed on your computer and streams about 95% of the files through the xbox.  

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    • Level: 2
  • 15 Jan 2012 12:04 AM
    Verified Answer
    Verified by

    MKV is an open-source container, it was created to avoid the patents surrounding other containers like MOV, AVI, etc as well as to improve upon them.  As such its the primary format used when transcoding/remuxing video for storing on open-source based media servers.

    As such its highly unlikely to get support on Xbox 360 as even Windows doesn't support it natively despite the fact MKVs most often contain H264 video and AC3/DTS audio, codecs which I believe Windows DOES support natively.

    Its even more bizarre that Sony Blu-ray players DO support it yet the PS3 does not either.  Most 2011+ models of Blu-ray player and Smart TVs tend to support it now too.

    Personally I bought a Blu-ray player to play my MKV files, but I also recently got a new TV which supports them too.  Neither the Xbox 360 nor the PS3 make particularly good media players, unless you plan to just use Windows Media Center for everything.  You also have to consider they use 6-10 times the electricity of a Blu-ray player and are much noisier.

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    • Level: 1
  • 16 Jan 2012 9:14 AM

    Thank you for the answer. I also bought a NAS, where my media is stored and I hoped the xbox could stream the files to my TV. Guess I have to watch out for a network media player like popcorn hour, or something like that. Tnaks a lot. Andreas.
    • Level: 5
    NetworkingguruontopicGamerSpotlightUnicornAmbLevel10
  • 17 Jan 2012 5:16 PM
    Suggested Answer

    SiebenFarn59:

    I need MKV Support. Are there any plans to support it in the near future...

    While the dashboard player does not support MKV, you can however stream MKV from your PC to your Xbox, if you have Windows 7 (at least Home Premium) with Media Center, and the official Divx codec installed.

    However, as another answer already explained, MKV is just a container format. Which means, the person muxing video and audio tracks into a MKV can choose almost whatever codec they want. So if some "open source fanatic" chooses to put an xvid encoded video together with an Ogg Vorbis Audio track into a MKV, you're still out of luck.

    SiebenFarn59:

    ...or do I have to "think different"?

    To my knowledge, streaming from an Apple device or Apple TV itself don't support MKV as well. So you would even have to think a LOT more different.

    Just a suggestion: Get a recent Samsung flat screen TV. I myself have a (somewhat dated now) UE40B7090. Plug an USB harddisc with your MKV into it's USB port and play from that. The TV will also output the sound on it's optical output, so you can feed the sound into your digital audio reciever for crystal clear sound.

    I found the codec support on the Samsung TV extraordinarily. It even plays some exotic formats that my PC will not play without installing malware infested codec packs.

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  • 15 Feb 2012 8:44 AM

    Should you really have to buy a brand new tv (I'm a projector fan) just to get access to your favorite container format? I mean, an Xbox is a really cheap, mass produced computer running a Linux-based (freeware as well, btw) kernel right? Why shouldn't it be able to compete with a netbook? I'm in the same boat as the original poster, I didn't buy specifically for media player ability but I do have a ginormous projector screen and I love to watch my movies through my Xbox. But for some reason, Microsoft has chosen not to have MKV as an acceptable file type. The simple truth of the matter is just like FLAC, containers built by groups of tech savvy NEETs (person's with No Eductation Employment or Training) are much stronger, versitile, and generally better than anything that comes out of a paid research lab. Although MKV may be the chosen container of pirates currently, it will be everyone's someday soon. Why would the most active video/audio gatheres on the planet want to use anything but the very best file system possible? It's Microsoft's every right to refuse to make MKVs an acceptable container (as far as I know all the video/audio formats inside of them or totally fine), but it was also my decision to buy an Xbox, and I did so because I believe that they won't rain on the best and brightest forever. I just wish that they would stop shooting their products in the foot. I mean, hell, they let you use .MOVs and .MP4s, Apple containers, because they wanted the iPod crowd to be able to hook up their mp3 players, but they can't let some actually decent bits of work (pun intended) on board?
    • Level: 5
    NetworkingguruontopicGamerSpotlightUnicornAmbLevel10
  • 15 Feb 2012 12:02 PM

    Rhabdophobia:

    Should you really have to buy a brand new tv...just to get access to your favorite container format?

    Since I was looking to buy a new TV anyways, yes, I did specifically look for that feature.

    Rhabdophobia:

    I mean, an Xbox is a really cheap, mass produced computer running a Linux-based (freeware as well, btw) kernel right?

    Sorry, no. The Samsung TV is "a really cheap, mass produced" device "running a Linux-based... kernel".

    The Xbox is "a really cheap mass produced" entertainment device "running a" proprietary slimmed down Windows kernel, that is NOT freeware.

    Rhabdophobia:

    Why shouldn't it be able to compete with a netbook?

    Because a netbook *is* a PC. And a TV or the Xbox are simple entertainment devices. You can't edit an Excel spreadsheet on the Xbox either. Or a Word document. Despite both being Microsoft technologies.

    Rhabdophobia:

    ... It's Microsoft's every right to refuse to make MKVs an acceptable container...

    They don't refuse it. If you have Windows 7 with Media Center (i.e. every edition besides the Starter edition for small netbooks), you can simply install Divx on it, and then stream MKV files to the Xbox without problems.

    I'd guess, that adding the MKV codec requires more space for the dashboard system that currently available for the system's flashrom. The Media Center Extender is an "app" that gets downloaded to the console from the Media Center PC, that just displays content.

    So it IS possible with Windows 7 and Divx to watch MKV.

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  • 30 Jun 2012 4:34 PM

    Yeah, It's really inconvenient isn't it? Not everyone has the software to stream it, and the majority of my files are MKV.
    • Level: 1
  • 25 Aug 2012 12:44 PM

    lol i hate windows so much that after 6 months of windows 7 use, i abandoned it and went on to ubuntu, and to be quite frank, i'll never use another Windows OS at home. That said i'd still rather have my XBOX than a station3 any day, the only problem is that one of todays most used video formats (MKV) is unplayable by me (and many others), i don't have hours to convert things i want to watch, nor do i have patience to find files that are compatible, it is sold has a home media centre as a perk, it should be able to run the most common files out there. It's just another case of microsoft making something feature rich and providing little support for them, i could go on for hours sighting examples but i don't have too, if you have not encountered at least three then you don't use your computer for all that much, even internet browsing.
    • Level: S
    Support
  • 26 Aug 2012 9:07 PM
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    Hey there Bio! If you'd like to make a more formal comment, may I suggest our Feedback Forums. Just pick the most appropriate forum there and post exactly what you just said. Thanks!


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