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Windows creates, but it also builds on it by using the Internet Movie Database
(http://www.imdb.com) for video metadata and another online database for music metadata. In my
experience, the music section was good, but the video section was amazing. With movies, you can hit
the Info button on your remote (or select Scan from the main menu), and Media Portal will attempt
to search the IMBD based on the filename. It then presents you with a listof results you can choose
from. If it gets it wrong, there is a manual setting where you can put in your own search terms. Once
you've made a match, it downloads the complete cast information, artwork, and a synopsis of the
film. I love it!
Another very nice feature is that when you turn off your car PC, Media Portal remembers the position
you were at in any video files that were playing. This means your kids can pick up watchingFinding
Nemo at the same spot they were at when you turned off the car to fill up the gas tank!
Unfortunately, this doesn't currently work for remembering DVD positioning, but I have a feeling that
this is on the to-do list.
Overall, Media Portal gets my vote for the in-car HTPC application of choice. It's free, it has good
support, the interface is excellent, the setup was easy, and the player is solid.
Jacob Riskin