Editor's Note: While we covered the announcement of the new Media Center Extenders, there's nothing like an in-depth discussion with Microsoft to uncover new details. Robert Heron sits down with Microsoft to discover networking limitations, details of new codecs, and -- this is good -- Microsoft's upcoming IPTV service.

In a private hotel suite near the Colorado Convention Center, Microsoft revealed prototype hardware that will enable a single Vista Media Center PC to stream independent multimedia content to up to 5 televisions - including 1080p video when using an appropriate network connection.

The "Extenders for Windows Media Center" are described as "quiet, home theater quality devices" and are currently under development by companies such as Linksys, D-Link, and Niveus Media Inc. The extender hardware options will include stand-alone devices as well as integration into DVD players and, eventually, into the TV itself.

The extender's supported video codecs will include DivX, Xvid, and h.264 - 5.1 channel audio will be supported as well.

For owners of CableCARD-enabled Media Center PC's, the upcoming extender hardware will mark the first time premium cable content can be streamed and displayed outside of the PC itself. For the streaming of high definition, high bitrate video, Microsoft representatives told us that Ethernet or dual-band 802.11n technology is required - something that Linksys and D-Link will integrate into its initial extender offerings. Unfortunately, DRM issues would prevent the streaming of high definition HD DVD or Blu-ray movies from an appropriately equipped Media Center PC.

Microsoft also provided some additional details about the company's upcoming Internet TV streaming service. For starters, the video will be "free" provided users don't mind sitting though a 15 second intro advertisement. MS is currently finalizing the specs of its video content that they say will be better than standard definition quality, but not HD quality. Additional announcements regarding Extenders for Windows Media Center as well as Microsoft Internet TV will be made on September 27th at the upcoming Ziff-Davis DigitalLife event in New York.