Now that Windows 7 is done and the the current version of Windows Media Center is signed off and about to hit RTM where does Windows Media Center go next? The dream of the Extenders looks like its going away and other solutions are coming forward like DLNA, so where does this leave Windows Media Center? Microsoft seem to positioning Media Center as “TV on the PC” which to me contradicts the idea of the 10 foot UI. The idea of Windows Media Center is to have all your digital content in one place including TV but Microsoft seem to placing there effort in to Xbox and Zune market place and forgetting Media Center, then there are the connected TVs that are starting to show up with Ethernet ports for DLNA and internet content. I joked this week on Twitter that now that Google is launching there own OS should I launch a Google Chrome OS Media Center Show, while is not going to happen I could see in the future a cloud based system with all your content on it.
I still have my dream of all my content distributed around the network and be able to watch and listen to anything I want on any device, Windows Media Center still does that and I am committed to the platform but I fear others may not be any more
So what do Microsoft need to do to keep Windows Media Center relevant? Will we see it be left to die or will Microsoft take it to the next level with internet content and new TV formats like the new Freeview HD hitting the UK later this year?
0 thoughts on “Where to next for Windows Media Center?”
I don’t understand why the entire community seems to be so down on Media Center. Is it simply because 3rd party extenders died off without the announcement of the next generation? It isn’t like MS hasn’t done this before. I mean how long was it between v1 and v2 extenders?
The fact is that we know MS is holding back on information so Windows 7 can be launched with a bang. So lets wait until after 7 is announced before we start wondering if MS is going to kill Media Center.
“Microsoft seem to positioning Media Center as “TV on the PC” which to me contradicts the idea of the 10 foot UI.”
TV on the PC? I agree, nothing new here. This has been available for years, and you certainly don’t need Media Center and its 10′ UI, remote control, etc. for that. The idea of “TV on the PC” and “Media Center” are complete opposites.
Media Center and Cloud Computing? Are you kidding? I don’t know what kind of Internet connection you have, but my lowly 12Mbps Time Warner cable connection is NO way going to support accessing Media Center content in a Cloud. Media Center and Cloud Computing will only be possible when 100+Mbps Internet connections are cheap, reliable, and ubiquitous (and NOT capped).
I laughed when I read an article the other day that in the next few years everyone would be storing their home media “in the Cloud”. Ok… My photo collection alone is 40,000+ photos (120+GB), not to mention the TBs of home video I have (all stored on a WHS). Moving this content around on my Gbps home network is not bad, but I couldn’t imagine trying it over today’s Internet speeds.
Anyway, back to Media Center. I can only hope that Microsoft has some grand plan for Media Center betond Windows 7 that involves extenders, hopefully besides XBox360 (unless they come up with a fanless version of XBox whose focus is extender type functionality).
I’m with Ian here. It is very easy to get depressed with Media Center.
Netflix has no HD since the XBOX has it.
I invested in CableCards. The way to share it was via Extenders. Extenders are dead and DLNA has no way to stream DRM.
That’s a punch to the stomach for trying to adopt an early technology on computers.
The immediate thing to do is build more quality professional streaming capabilities – like the Netflix. Over the top video needs to become more professional. The DVR capabiltiies of Media Center will diminish in importance in the next few years relative to its streaming capabilities. Unless MSFT leads this, the connected PC will be supplanted by Roku boxes, Ethernet TV’s, and whatever Apple brings to the table to replace/upgrade its AppleTV (you KNOW they have something killer in the wings).
Second is to find a suitable replacement for extenders. Is this a Netbook with a decent video card? Is this a Zune with HDMI? Either of these are fine with me, as long as they are simple, quiet (sorry xbox), and reasonalby prices <= $200.
Third, is maybe work on bringing social networking to Media Center in a 10ft interaface and easily interactive way.
Cloud computing, meh. That is too far out right now.
My biggest gripe with Media Center in Vista, XP was it was not truly digital TV ready (channel listings were not there). Therefore, I could not whole heartedly, recommend it as a solution to friends looking around for a change during the digitial transition. If I become convinced that an intermediate online user can plug in a tuner and go in 15 minutes, then I would be a much bigger evangelist.
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"GBP","currency_symbol":"\u00a3","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_subtitle":null,"currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
I don’t understand why the entire community seems to be so down on Media Center. Is it simply because 3rd party extenders died off without the announcement of the next generation? It isn’t like MS hasn’t done this before. I mean how long was it between v1 and v2 extenders?
The fact is that we know MS is holding back on information so Windows 7 can be launched with a bang. So lets wait until after 7 is announced before we start wondering if MS is going to kill Media Center.
“Microsoft seem to positioning Media Center as “TV on the PC” which to me contradicts the idea of the 10 foot UI.”
TV on the PC? I agree, nothing new here. This has been available for years, and you certainly don’t need Media Center and its 10′ UI, remote control, etc. for that. The idea of “TV on the PC” and “Media Center” are complete opposites.
Media Center and Cloud Computing? Are you kidding? I don’t know what kind of Internet connection you have, but my lowly 12Mbps Time Warner cable connection is NO way going to support accessing Media Center content in a Cloud. Media Center and Cloud Computing will only be possible when 100+Mbps Internet connections are cheap, reliable, and ubiquitous (and NOT capped).
I laughed when I read an article the other day that in the next few years everyone would be storing their home media “in the Cloud”. Ok… My photo collection alone is 40,000+ photos (120+GB), not to mention the TBs of home video I have (all stored on a WHS). Moving this content around on my Gbps home network is not bad, but I couldn’t imagine trying it over today’s Internet speeds.
Anyway, back to Media Center. I can only hope that Microsoft has some grand plan for Media Center betond Windows 7 that involves extenders, hopefully besides XBox360 (unless they come up with a fanless version of XBox whose focus is extender type functionality).
I still share your dream Ian!
I’m with Ian here. It is very easy to get depressed with Media Center.
Netflix has no HD since the XBOX has it.
I invested in CableCards. The way to share it was via Extenders. Extenders are dead and DLNA has no way to stream DRM.
That’s a punch to the stomach for trying to adopt an early technology on computers.
There is still hope, DRM can be implemented in DLNA and as Ben says extenders are not dead yet the 360 is fantastic.
I am asking what Microsoft need to do to keep Media Center at the center of your home
The immediate thing to do is build more quality professional streaming capabilities – like the Netflix. Over the top video needs to become more professional. The DVR capabiltiies of Media Center will diminish in importance in the next few years relative to its streaming capabilities. Unless MSFT leads this, the connected PC will be supplanted by Roku boxes, Ethernet TV’s, and whatever Apple brings to the table to replace/upgrade its AppleTV (you KNOW they have something killer in the wings).
Second is to find a suitable replacement for extenders. Is this a Netbook with a decent video card? Is this a Zune with HDMI? Either of these are fine with me, as long as they are simple, quiet (sorry xbox), and reasonalby prices <= $200. Third, is maybe work on bringing social networking to Media Center in a 10ft interaface and easily interactive way. Cloud computing, meh. That is too far out right now. My biggest gripe with Media Center in Vista, XP was it was not truly digital TV ready (channel listings were not there). Therefore, I could not whole heartedly, recommend it as a solution to friends looking around for a change during the digitial transition. If I become convinced that an intermediate online user can plug in a tuner and go in 15 minutes, then I would be a much bigger evangelist.