softsled

An open-source software Windows Media Center Extender — stream the full 10-foot Media Center experience to any Windows PC.

Windows Media Center home screen running through SoftSled

What is SoftSled?

Media Center Extenders were dedicated devices — like the Xbox 360 or Linksys DMA2200 — that let you enjoy Windows Media Center in another room without a second PC. SoftSled is a pure-software extender: it convinces a Media Center host that it's a genuine certified extender, then renders the experience on an ordinary PC. It's a revival of the original CodePlex SoftSled project, rebuilt from the protocol up.

📛 What's in the name? Microsoft's Media Center Extender technology was developed under the codename “Bobsled.” A software take on the bobsled gives you SoftSled.

The real Media Center experience

Not a remote desktop window — the genuine 10-foot shell, navigable with arrow keys or a remote, with Media Center's signature translucent UI composited over full-motion video.

Ready to try it?

You'll need a PC running Windows 7 with Windows Media Center as the host, and a Windows PC to act as the extender. (Windows 8 / 8.1 support is a work in progress — pairing isn't working there yet.)