With all the talk recently on threads regarding plug-ins and such, I have gone back to thinking how much I don't like the inability to customize the VMC interface.  As VMC matures I see the DEFINITE need for user customization of the VMC interface.  I just see this as something that needs to be there.  The interface is just that... each user's interface to their content and we should be able to change it to our liking... to what works well for each of us.  If I don't like sports, then I should be able to hide the sports strip.  If I don't use the 'play all' tile then I should be able to get rid of it.  If I want my videos separate from the pictures strip (duh) then... well you get the picture.  My interface to VMC needs to be simple and uncluttered as possible.  I need to get to my content quickly without navigating past a lot of strips/tiles that I never use.  When the interface gets cluttered then it loses its usefulness.

I've read the old threads stating how to modify the registry to hide/show certain things on the VMC interface, but come on its clunky at best and who wants to mess with the registry when they don't have to.  I've read about MCECustomizer but from what I hear its not a complete solution, allowing only certain things to be customized.

So what's the latest regarding this?  Is MS going to add this in the future?  Is someone else working on a better plug-in for this?  Has anyone used MCECustomizer and can chime in as to whether it works well, works clunky, or is the half-solution that I hear it to be?  Are MCECustomizer and registry hacks the only options we have now?

Who out there shares my need/desire for this?

I would love Microsoft or a Media Center developer to come up with an all in one application for customizing Media Center. MCECusomizer for Vista doesn't seem to have been updated in months since I first downloaded it. Is there any new development being done there?

There is a program called MediaCenterFX for changing the backgroud image . I have not tried this myself. http://www.mediacenterthemes.com/index.php

There was one chap who was talking about creating a program so we could easily add and remove menu items in VMC but then he disappeared off the forum.

Just found this link on another thread for a Media Center Menu Customiser, has anyone used this?

Edit: I've downloaded and installed this application and its pretty good!
I just used it to add a new custom strip called "Games" I then just dragged and dropped some of the default VMC games on to the strip such as solitaire, spider solitaire and Hearts etc. Went in to VMC and there was the new Games strip! Nice app indeed!
However it doesn't appear to let you delete any of the default VMC strips or icons, such as the sport strip for example, this app only lets you add new menu items.

cw-kid:

However it doesn't appear to let you delete any of the default VMC strips or icons, such as the sport strip for example, this app only lets you add new menu items.

Thanks for finding/trying/posting about this app.  Too bad it only lets you add strips/tiles.  That doesn't help with my need to simply/uncluttered/personalize the interface.  Bummer.  It will certainly help though when I need to add in the future.  Thanks for the find.

I fiddled with the beta of MediaCenterFX months ago, but the developement seemed to stall and I haven't messed with it in a while.  Even so I don't remember any functionality to custom the interface strips/tiles... just the themes/colors.

I think I'll spend some time searching over at the MC Sandbox to see if any work has been done in this arena recently.

I removed the Sports strip by deleting the packages from one of the ehome folders on my PC. I also used this method to remove Internet TV Beta as well as we can't get that content in the UK. Perhaps you should email the guy who developed MC Menu Customizer ask him if he has any plans to expand his app to remove default strips and icons as well? I think this is a newish program so he is still developing it.

P.S. Let us know if you find anything else over on the other forums?

I've also removed the sports strip from the ehome folders, which removes it from media center, but it seems to reappear again with no way to prevent it from showing back up.

projectzero:

I've also removed the sports strip from the ehome folders, which removes it from media center, but it seems to reappear again with no way to prevent it from showing back up.

Set up a scheduled task which simply deletes that specific folder every morning at 8am.  When it's not there it will just error out, if it is, it will delete it.

-D