Being the first UK developer to create a site for Microsoft's Media Center, was an exciting challenge. The result was included on Microsoft's Online Spotlight.

Background
Gurus was commisioned to create an Interactive TV application for Microsoft's home entertainment platform - Microsoft Media Center. This gives you the ability to watch and record TV as well as view home movies, pictures and listen to your favourite albums, all from the comfort of your sofa.

The Online Spotlight area of Media Center extends its functionality to include best of breed, provider applications to enhance the user experience. As well as Photobox, other providers include MSN Music, Napster, Cinema Now, Reuters, BBC News, TV Tonic etc.

The Process
GURUS used Microsoft's Media Center SDK to develop the core product and then did usability research to create what the "10 foot Interface" ie. an interface can be used easily from a distance of 10 feet. 
GURUS also did careful research on making it easy to use the remote contro to access areas of the interface and use the alpha numeric characters on the remote to login to the client area.

The Solution
The final product allowed Photobox's users to be able to access their albums and photographs from within Media Center. They could easily order photo prints and gifts using nothing but the remote control included with Media Center. Photobox became the first UK specific provider and the first global provider of photographic services on Microsofts Online Spotlight. GURUS became the first UK agency to provide a solution for the Online Spotlight.