MainConcept announced today that it has released the MCE Encoder, an MPEG-2 codec plug-in for the new Windows Vista Media Center application and for Windows XP Media Center Edition. The new plug-in adds MPEG-2 encoding functionality for analog TV tuners directly through the Media Center application.

Key Features of the MainConcept MCE Encoder include:

* Seamless integration into Windows Vista Media Center and Windows XP MCE
* Real-time video encoding with low CPU utilization
* Optimizations for Intel Core 2 Duo Technology
* 64-bit support

"Users of Windows Vista and Windows XP Media Center Edition who want to use an analog TV tuner have the problem that these operating systems do not have an MPEG-2 encoder preinstalled so they cannot use their tuners natively within Media Center," said Muzaffer Beygirci, Sales Director of MainConcept AG. "The MainConcept MCE Encoder integrates directly into these operating systems allowing users to watch, pause and record from their analog TV tuner using the Microsoft Media Center application. For end users looking to get a 100% pure Windows Media Center experience and for OEMs looking to make their products easier to use and more full featured, the MainConcept MCE Encoder is the perfect solution."