Media Center in Windows Future? Signs Pointing to no.
So a few weeks ago we saw a leaked build of Windows 8 that basically had Media Center in it, but it hadn’t changed at all. I guessed that this was a BAD sign, but other blogs took it as a good sign since it was at least in there in some form. Read between your own lines here, remember nothing is official.
Even though Windows 8 has more teams, several of the Windows 7 groups have no obvious counterpart. Windows 8 may have “Application and Media Experience” and “Media Platform,” but unlike Windows 7, it doesn’t have “Media Center.” The latest Windows 8 betas appear to lack Media Center functionality too—all in all an ominous sign for an application that never really achieved mainstream appeal, but which was much loved by its devotees. Equally, the change might simply mean that the standalone Media Center application is no more, but its capabilities have been rolled into Windows 8’s other media features.
I’m optimistic and think this
I’m optimistic and think this could turn out to be a good thing. It looks like to me that the new Win8 shell is perfect for tablet/touch and also perfect for a 10′ experience w/ remote control. It would seem that DVR functionality could easily be integrated into the new Win8 shell. With networked tuners this would work great for access to your broadcast/cable TV content on both dedicated media centers tablets.
Having one shell would solve a lot of problems (ie. WMC and Win7 shell fighting over HDMI negotiations or whatever is going on to cause all the black screen on wake, 1024×768 revert, and other issues). In addition, there would be one API platform on which to develop apps which could cover all three experiences, desktop, tablet, and 10′ media.
Hopefully Microsoft is willing to make all this happen… and if not, long live Win7, eh?
This still really means
This still really means nothing. Some Alpha builds of Windows 7 didn’t include Windows Media Center as well.
I have a hard time believing
I have a hard time believing that hauppauge and ceton and silicondust would all work on products that won’t live past windows 7. Remember CES when MS showed off the ceton card at it’s keynote?
Ganjagadget wrote:
I have a
[quote=Ganjagadget]I have a hard time believing that hauppauge and ceton and silicondust would all work on products that won’t live past windows 7. Remember CES when MS showed off the ceton card at it’s keynote?[/quote]
[quote=Ganjagadget]I have a hard time believing that hauppauge and ceton and silicondust would all work on products that won’t live past windows 7. Remember CES when MS showed off the ceton card at it’s keynote?[/quote]
I’ve made that argument and it falls on deaf ears. People believe what they want to believe. The fact is Microsoft has pledged support at least through 2014. See here: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14484
And we should see some extended support after that and if XP is anything to go by it will be in the neighborhood of five additional years . You have at least three and possibly as many as eight years of support with your Windows 7 Media Center more than enough time for investment in tuners to pay itself off.
And that is IF Microsoft drops support for Media Center in Windows 8 and that is a pretty big IF.
The hardware will stay but
The hardware will stay but they will start supporting other platforms like Boxee. It’s hard to believe that Microsoft stay on Media Center platform. It seems that there is no set top box or any box in the future. There will be display devices with apps like TVs or Tablets, you can send the stream wirelessly and legacy devices like tuners connected to intelligent storages.
I think it is a common staple
I think it is a common staple in Windows now…I don’t think it is going anywhere.
http://www.geektonic.com/2011
http://www.geektonic.com/2011/08/microsoft-future-of-living-room-is-not.html
That isn’t exactly encouraging news for MC….
As you can see, integration
Well, with the awesome power of Bing, who needs Media Center? Sign me up Microsoft, your vision of the future is what dreams are made of.
I guess that whole mention of
I guess that whole mention of live TV and DVR by Microsoft in the source article means absolutely nothing. All this tells me is Microsoft is looking to expand what we currently have, not replace it.
I’ll echo what others have
I’ll echo what others have predicted in that MC might become integrated into the Windows 8 touchscreen interface. I personally don’t see them dropping the option of using Windows for DVR purposes but this could still be crappy news none-the-less if that interface sucks compared to our beloved MC.