Kylo – A Web Browser For Media Center
Written by Alan Monday, 18 October 2010 08:00
It’s not very often that I find a Media Center plugin that really gets me excited. Despite the platforms popularity and Microsoft support, it just doesn’t seem the draw the developers. That may have something to do with how complicated development is, but also the appeal of easy-money for smart phone app development. Regardless of that, though, I recently came across one that has me jumping for joy! Kylo is a web browser that integrates itself into the Windows Media Center menu, is full-screen by default, has good Media Center-type features, and sports a home page with links to a plethora of content. In short, it’s what Microsoft should have done long ago. A Windows Media Center web browser at long last!
Latest Version Includes Instant Visual Search Through Integration with Clicker.tv
Now Available for the United Kingdom, with a UK-Centric Kylo Directory
There are a massive amount of links such as NFL (which goes straight to the NFL’s video page), MLB, NBA, Yahoo Fantasy Football, Pandora, all of the major (and some of the minor) TV networks, online-only content like Revision3, some games and social networks, and more.
Now let’s take a look at what this web browser does.
During installation you will be prompted to choose shortcuts. Make sure you enable the Media Center menu option.
When you open the web browser you will be greeted with an almost overwhelming amount of content links.
There is an on-screen keyboard if you prefer such a thing.
You’ll find a limited, but useful amount of items in the settings.
One thing I found very useful in settings was the ability to manually stretch the screen to match my TV. Perhaps not everyone will need this, but I found Kylo would not open to full-screen until I did this. It remembers the setting so you’ll only need to do this once.
The one problem I have with Kylo is it’s inability to import bookmarks. Previously I was running Firefox on my Media Center PC and I had a sparse, but much needed, set of bookmarks. Some are included, but some are not. It looks as though I will be adding those by manually – a small price to pay for a great Windows Media Center web browser.
Overall, though, I have found this browser to be just about everything I need in a Media Center browser. It’s a definite Media Center plugin for any system that I build in the future. If you are looking for a browser to integrate with Windows Media Center on your HTPC, then you will want to check out Kylo for sure
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One note: I am going to get in touch with Kylo and see if I can have a few questions answered about their plans for the browser’s future and it Windows Media Center integratioon. I hope to bring you all an interview with a Kylo rep soon.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kylo TV Browser, Alan Buckingham. Alan Buckingham said: Kylo – A Web Browser For Media Center http://goo.gl/fb/kFVa2 [...]
Alan,
Thank you for the nice review. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Jim Gable
Kylo Product Manager
[...] few weeks ago I wrote a review of Kylo, the new web browser made especially for Windows Media Center. I recently had the [...]
[...] Pandora, and more with ease. Best of all, it works with the Kylo Media Center browser which we reviewed recently. It also works with iTunes and Windows Media Center just like a dedicated MC remote [...]
[...] Labs, the maker of the great Kylo web browser for Windows Media Center, as well as the Loop Pointer air mouse, today announced the Scoop Pointer, [...]
Great Media Center browser. I manage to install and use it on my PC’s Windows Media Center. However i can not see it on my xbox360 windows media center. And this is the main reason i installed Kylo. I am using Windows 7. Any advice how to get it work on my xbox windows media center?
Fro some quick searching around I did, it appears to does not work with extenders, but that may be added in the future.
[...] Labs, the makers of two of our favorite Media Center products, the Scoop Pointer and the Kylo Media Center web browser, have already been named an Innovations award winner for the upcoming CES [...]
[...] the popular web browser for Media Center, has teamed up with Warpia for a new PC and TV software-hardware solution. Hillcrest Labs, the [...]