A Media Center Extender is a bridge between your Windows Media Center device and the rest of the devices in your home, such as in other rooms and speakers, including games consoles like the Xbox 360. Using your computer as a Media Center Extender, you can have the functionality of Windows Media Center in other rooms in your house.

By having your computer as a Media Center Extender, you can:

1. Listen to music in other rooms and on other devices in your house.
2. Look at photos in other rooms and on other devices in your house.
3. Watch videos and DVD’s in other rooms and on other devices in your house.
4. Watch or record television in other rooms and on other devices in your house.
5. Listen to radio from over-the-air or via broadband in other rooms and on other devices in your house.

For all this, generally you need a networked TV or DVD player which can communicate with your Windows Media Center computer. Your Xbox 360 can act as a Media Center Extender also if you have one, and a wired or a wireless network in your house so the devices can communicate with each other.