Something I have been thinking about for some time is is it time for Microsoft to drop the Media Center name? As regular readers know I love Windows Media Center, I use it everyday and I have tried alternative UIs but always end up back with Media Center. I am not saying Microsoft should kill the platform, far from it but I do think its time to get some development behind it and really push it to new levels.
One of the things that got me thinking about this was the recent announcement of the new Apple TV, while the tech blogs and press were talking about box they mentioned competitor and alternative devices and not once did Windows Media Center or any Microsoft product get mentioned. There was talk of Boxee, Roku and Google TV (a product not even shipped yet) but no talk of a platform that has been shipping since 2005. Before you think I am trying to compare the Apple TV to a Windows Media Center PC I am not saying it a like for like comparison but its in the same ball park.
Maybe part of the reason is for people that have heard of Media Center may have images of a Windows Media Center PC as a big ugly PC from 2005 , which we Media Center users know that its now a long way from that but the the image has stuck and for the people that haven’t heard of it (most people) the name doesn’t mean anything. We all know most Windows Vista or Windows 7 users don’t even know what Windows Media Center exists. For that I put the most of the blame on the marketing from Microsoft, even the latest Windows 7 adverts shows off Media Center briefly but it doesn’t name check it.
So maybe its time for Microsoft to rebrand the application as Windows TV. The name would match the simplicity of Windows Phone and would also put it in the same field as Apple TV and Google TV. Over the last week we have had the first look at the new Windows Media Center boxes powered by Windows Embedded and they look really exciting developments so rather than being called an Acer Revo with Windows Media Center powered by Windows Embedded Standard Edition 7 we could have Acer Revo with Windows TV. The platform could still be a component for Windows as well as being available for set top boxes, Windows Media Center is still a fantastic platform but it needs to get out of the Windows development cycle and the teams allowed to let the product shine. Just looking at the way the IE team have been able to develop IE9 out side of the standard Windows build cycle shows that Microsoft can still do great software and having a new build of Windows Media Center every 3 years is to restrictive in this fast moving world
So I would like to see Windows Media Center be rebranded as Windows TV, split out of Windows and either a standalone product or part of Windows Live Essentials so it can have faster release cycles. I would also like to see Windows TV set top boxes (powered by Windows Embedded under the hood) go on sale as retail products. I still like the Windows Media Center name, but I do think maybe its time for a bit of marketing and rebranding.
0 thoughts on “Is It Time To Drop the Windows Media Center Name?”
In some respects it was nice to see Windows Media Center become a component of the Operating System rather than being OEM – in some respects this has given Media Center a lot more awareness amongst Windows users whilst being OEM left Media Center to the early adopters and enthusiast market. I agree with you Ian, in that a release every 3 years or so and being tied to the operating system is so restrictive, especially in such a face paced environment such as digital media. We all know there was an interim release of Media Center after Vista but it was OEM only and what a farce that was – on that note, I would love to see updates to Media Center on an annual basis like Windows Live.
As for the branding of Media Center vs. Windows TV I’m not sure I agree with you. Maybe I’m missing something, as both Apple and Google have gone for the TV moniker, but to me Media Center is “so much more” than just TV. Yes it can play Live TV, yes it has a TV guide and yes it acts as a digital video recorder (DVR) but it also centralises my storage of CDs, DVDs, music I purchase electronically and personal media such as Photos or Videos. Yes I connect it to my TV but one could argue that my TVs are just screens or monitors as I don’t use their local tuner facilities.
What I would like to see with Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Zune Player, Windows Phone and even the Xbox to a certain degree is the convergence of these services into a single product with a defined vision. What I mean by this is that Media Center gives me a 10 foot user interface over my media, Media Player gives me a 2 foot interface over my media, whilst Zune and potentially Windows Phone give me a small handheld device with access to my media. As a consumer, I want to consume my media, purchase, download and stream media, no matter what screen size or device it is on.
It isn’t the name it is the functionality and form factor. If Microsoft made a set-top box like the 360 that didn’t play games then people would compare it to the Apple TV etc. But as it stands, the 360 is more comparable to the 360 than Media Center. Video store, no PC required, streaming services like Netflix, all in a embedded set top box for $99 or a bit more.
McTV would fit the bill perhaps more apropriately, and i am not sure about everyone else but i find the whole Media Center eco system frustrating, not in terms of useage or stability now that W7 is in control but in terms of development and public awareness, a winning lottery ticket that has yet to be cashed in could be likened to Media Centre, todays Tv Internet `revolution` could have been a catch up game for other smaller companies but frustratingly even with the platform that is ready and capable to do everything everyone else is finaly doing we sit and watch as mindshare and development goes towards the other brands….
{"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}
Something I have been thinking about for some time is is it time for Microsoft to drop the Media Center name? As regular readers know I love Windows Media Center, I use it everyday and I have tried alternative UIs but always end up back with Media Center. I am not saying Microsoft should kill the platform, far from it but I do think its time to get some development behind it and really push it to new levels. 
In some respects it was nice to see Windows Media Center become a component of the Operating System rather than being OEM – in some respects this has given Media Center a lot more awareness amongst Windows users whilst being OEM left Media Center to the early adopters and enthusiast market. I agree with you Ian, in that a release every 3 years or so and being tied to the operating system is so restrictive, especially in such a face paced environment such as digital media. We all know there was an interim release of Media Center after Vista but it was OEM only and what a farce that was – on that note, I would love to see updates to Media Center on an annual basis like Windows Live.
As for the branding of Media Center vs. Windows TV I’m not sure I agree with you. Maybe I’m missing something, as both Apple and Google have gone for the TV moniker, but to me Media Center is “so much more” than just TV. Yes it can play Live TV, yes it has a TV guide and yes it acts as a digital video recorder (DVR) but it also centralises my storage of CDs, DVDs, music I purchase electronically and personal media such as Photos or Videos. Yes I connect it to my TV but one could argue that my TVs are just screens or monitors as I don’t use their local tuner facilities.
What I would like to see with Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Zune Player, Windows Phone and even the Xbox to a certain degree is the convergence of these services into a single product with a defined vision. What I mean by this is that Media Center gives me a 10 foot user interface over my media, Media Player gives me a 2 foot interface over my media, whilst Zune and potentially Windows Phone give me a small handheld device with access to my media. As a consumer, I want to consume my media, purchase, download and stream media, no matter what screen size or device it is on.
I agree about it being more than just TV, but so is the Apple TV. Its more of a snappy name and implies it can be connected to a TV
It isn’t the name it is the functionality and form factor. If Microsoft made a set-top box like the 360 that didn’t play games then people would compare it to the Apple TV etc. But as it stands, the 360 is more comparable to the 360 than Media Center. Video store, no PC required, streaming services like Netflix, all in a embedded set top box for $99 or a bit more.
McTV would fit the bill perhaps more apropriately, and i am not sure about everyone else but i find the whole Media Center eco system frustrating, not in terms of useage or stability now that W7 is in control but in terms of development and public awareness, a winning lottery ticket that has yet to be cashed in could be likened to Media Centre, todays Tv Internet `revolution` could have been a catch up game for other smaller companies but frustratingly even with the platform that is ready and capable to do everything everyone else is finaly doing we sit and watch as mindshare and development goes towards the other brands….