Microsoft Media Center CEDIA predictions wrap-up
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Sep 25th 2009 1:00PM
posted Sep 25th 2009 1:00PM
What we got right
Lets start with the fun stuff; being right. The most obvious prediction was also only one we predicted correctly, a firmware update was announced that would free content marked as copy freely from DRM and add Tuning Adapter support to the existing ATI Digital Cable Tuner. We're also going to call the Dish Tuner prediction half right, since Dish did show a tuner for Media Center at the show -- even though we later posted it was post-poned.
What we missed
We actually heard of rumor that the OEM requirement would be removed, but honestly we didn't give it much credibility. Either way, the removal of the OEM CableCARD requirement is a pretty big one and one that has the potential to change the Windows Media Center landscape. There's still no word on when the utility that will unlock this new feature will be released, but when it is, all you'll need is a DCT and a computer running Windows 7 to enjoy premium HD content on Windows.
What we got wrong
Sadly this is the biggest section -- we aren't even going to include our list of might happen here because honestly we didn't think they would. The biggest shocker to us was that ATI didn't have a new Digital Cable Tuner to announce. Instead it seems that after about three years of being the only game in town, ATI is pulling out of the market. In retrospect it should've been pretty obvious because AMD sold off most of its TV business to Broadcom last year and along with it most of the people who worked on the DCT. Luckily Ceton was at the show with its new quad tuner and the details of the new offering was documented on its website. So while we would've liked to have seen more competition from AMD, at least Ceton and Hauppauge are interested in helping us get premium HD on our HTPC. Speaking of Hauppauge, we're surprised official support for the HD PVR wasn't announced at the show, but then again we hear that the 3rd party solution is pretty good.
The last two items on the bad list were the Live Mesh and Zune HD integration and we wanted to save these because we haven't lost hope that they'll happen eventually. Although it is a long shot in the short term, we expect Microsoft tol continue to integrate its products and with the Zune HD just now hitting the streets, it might take some time for these dreams to materialize. As far as Live Mesh, now that we think of it we can see where Microsoft would want to hold these announcements for the main launch of Windows 7. But this still isn't something we expect to be announced at launch. No, after going back and watching the video demo from PDC, it seems that the Live Mesh Webguide was shown running on Windows Home Server. So it is entirely possible that this feature will be one of that product and not announced until WHS v2 -- sometime next year. One thing is for sure though, in one way or another Microsoft has to enable remote scheduling. We mean there's no way Media Center could be missing something so big when even the crappiest cable DVRs out there can do it.
What's next
Speaking of more predictions, one new one that we had in the might happen category has been moved to the will happen in time for the Windows 7 launch. Which is that there will be more internet TV partners announced. We did get to see the Windows 7 Netflix functionality at CEDIA and we have reason to believe there's more where that came from. Of course if we knew more, you see it plastered on Engadget. All that being said, we believe Microsoft has at least one more trick up its sleeve that Media Center fans should be happy about.
Overall things look good for Media Center
As much as we really hoped Microsoft would do more, we have to say that things are looking up for Windows 7 Media Center. First and foremost is that Media Center is a big step up in Windows 7 and will be available to everyone in about a month. But even more exciting is that a new CableCARD tuner is coming in the next six months. And to top it all off, premium HD content will be available to just about anyone. And because of all this there is a difference in the enthusiasts community, as the doomsayers have taken a break while at the same time people seem to be excited about Media Center again. Of course the real test will be if the market can grow past the die hards. We believe the next hurdle will be to convince TiVo HD owners who also have a Windows 7 PC and an Xbox to ditch the TiVo and replace it with a Ceton CableCARD tuner. Because hey, if you can't convince people who already have all the pieces, the need, and the money to put them together, then how do you expect to get anybody else?
Have we lost all hope on Windows Sideshow remotes?
You know the logical place to implement sideshow with MC? The Zune HD via wifi.
Will it happen? Doubtful.
Wow, I'm impressed already...
Still hoping that some day some way I can get picture in picture as a supported feature of Media Center
How can you write this article and not mention the lack of tuner support for DirecTV and Dish? C'mon guys...
Isn't that more of a manufacture/legal dispute? I don't see how that has to do with Windows Media Center, more of something that has to be done by DirecTV.
Did you even read the article? A E* prototype was shown. We know a D* one exists too. The technology is there, there are other (probably political and $$$) hurdles in the way.
I think the biggest impact removing the OEM limitation for CableCARD will have isn't that it will allow enthusiasts to build premium-cable HTPCs, but (paradoxically) it will allow more OEMs to build premium-cable HTPCs, since they will no longer have to send them for certification. If Ceton or Hauppauge can get strong OEM support for their OCUR cards, it will do a lot to realize the potential Media Center had all along.
Ben, isn't the best opportunity to push WMC, for Microsoft to convince OEMs like Dell to push HTPCs right next to desktops, laptops, and netbooks?
I don't think so, no.
I think that the problem is that the premium content costs too much to get on Media Center.
Personally I don't think PCs have any place in the living room. They are better equipted to be servers and collect, store and serve content to STBs in the house.
Ben,
I think we are interpreting Ben Reed's response to the Webguide question differently. _I_ think that something is still in the works. He said the same thing to both of us (basically iterating that Doug Berrett is a member of the Entertainment team now). I interpret that as saying - "we have his talents and we aren't ready to roll everything out yet". Perhaps there is another partner in the mix. Ben was also careful to point out to us that the Zune team and Media Center are under one roof, so that tells me that there is a lot more on the road ahead from this group, so I am not quite ready to say 7MC is totally out of the oven.
Like you said to Ian this week, it seems like leveraging the Live service (Mesh or another subplatform) seems like a completely logical scenario for integrating a guide that can be remotely managed. I suppose that maybe for now we could use Live Mesh to Remote Desktop into our Media Center PCs, but that still doesn't help with programming from the iPhone. I do that fairly often now, and it is the main reason I've stuck with my flaky Vista installation and haven't installed 7RC.
Can you answer this question to help me understand the guide? Is guide data stored in 1 folder or file? In other words, is the guide data in a bucket that could be synced between two computers using Mesh??? It just seems that if I could sync a Picasa database between two computers, it seems logical that I could sync guide data.
Given that Windows7 hasn't been officially released, it is entirely possible that more announcements will be coming in the next month, so honestly, I don't think your post is late at all. In fact, this chapter really isn't over until about 10/29, a week after Win7's release.
Honestly I don't understand the guide data, but I am told that it is stored in a database. And I don't think you need to sync the guide data, just present it page at a time like the old web guide did.
We need MKV support for XBOX media center!!!!
That can already be accomplished with 3rd party splitter tools.
Huh, Didn't they announce media center would work with hd satellite somewhere around 2 - 3 years ago? I'll believe the cable card announcement when I can actually purchase the tuners and make it work. I've been to enough Cedia shows to know that only happy thoughts are spoken there, or in other words you can't believe what your told until you can buy it from a store and hold it in your hands. Media center is about the extender. Where are they? My xbox sounds like a jet, and have a 50% failure rate(really, 2 of the 4 in my house have died). No Netflix on extenders, constant video playback errors, etc,etc, etc. Great concept but terrible execution. I've been a fan of Media Center since the beginning,(even built a home integration company around the platform). Windows 7 looks and works a lot better but it's still off. We've been waiting for years to have many of the things on Ben's list come true. We want it all now, but Microsoft is on the 10 year plan. Good luck to anyone willing to waste their time with it right now. We're closing our doors after years of trying to get it to work right. The only way I'm coming back is if we have reliable enthusiast hd integration with satellite and cable. The idea of a high priced unreliable cable card computer is a joke. We all want low cost and reliability. If Microsoft can actually provide that, they have a legitimate product and a huge market. I believe that they will ultimately get there, but real question is when?
Any news or rumors on the Dish Network Media Center tuner? I'm still pi__ed that Direct TV dropped their HDPC-20. Sounds like relaxing the DRM would give these adapters a better chance of succeeding.
Ben mentioned it in the "What we got right" paragraph and provided a link to the original post.
I have been using Windows 7 Media Center along with 2 ATI digital cable tuner cards, and I have been so impressed with the result. The UI is beautiful, easy, and fairly quick. I am very happy that they are dropping the OEM requirement for the digital cable tuners, and am looking forward to putting a couple more tuners in my HTPC.
Though, to Ben's point, it is still expensive enough that it is only for die-hards. My original vision was to build a cheap HTPC, that will pay for itself over renting a box from the cable company in a year and a half. I have loved the setup so much, I have upgraded to the point that I don't think it will pay for itself anymore in a reasonable amount of time. Still, the experience is worth the money to me, as a die hard. Hard to think the average (or above average) consumer will be willing to spend for a HTPC all at once, when they can rent a dual DVR for $20 a month.
I think you have to look at all the WMC7 does over what a DVR can do. When I have get-togethers, I cam the event with my Canon Vixia HD camcorder. I'm getting pretty fast at whipping out HD movies in AVCHD using Sony Vegas. My HTPC stores all my pics, HD movies, live TV, Netflix etc. The WMC7 GUI is just beautiful. Friends think it's just the slickest media server.
However, if you're just recording or time-shifting TV events, ya... wifey will want to stick with the cable-co's STB.
I also use a Canon, HF100 to shoto home movies in 1080p AVCHD. I was surprised to see that I could simply plug the camera into my WIn7 Media Center and received a Media Center prompt to import the HD files and any still pictures (with the option to delete off the camera when complete.) The whole process was completely simple.
I knew Win7 could play the files natively, but I always used Windows Explorer on a seperate PC to manually copy the files over. This easy integration within the Media Center interface was simple enough for my wife to use.
Ben mentioned it in the "What we got right" paragraph and provided a link.
Heh, engadget comments rock. That was to Gwyneth.
How many people had the flu exactly?
Enough with the "we".
Ben, Any update to WHS integration with WMC? http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/05/22/is-the-future-of-windows-media-center-with-windows-home-server/
No, I don't think they started beta testing it yet, because if they did there'd be leaks by now.
I wonder if Microsoft would give me the display setup they used a CEDIA so my windows 7 Launch party will look KICK-ASS!
It is not impossible to setup a home video wall array ;)
I would be happy if I WMC7 could properly decode just half of my local digital tv signals. Or perhaps not make me re-populate my entire music collection every time I load WMC7 (but perhaps that has something to do with .flac decoder plugin causing WMC7 to crash every time I try to play a .flac file)
Hey M$, there are enough of us audiophiles who are using .flac how about native compatibility.
I want to record HD on a new windows 7 box, but I can't find any cable card tuners for sale. Are there any out there?
There's plenty of ATI tuners available on eBay. Or you can just wait until the requirement for OEMs is dropped and the new Ceton or Hauppauge tuners come out.
So basically nothing useful for anyone living outside of America? :(
Ben
when are you guys going to put your own EngadgetHD widget within media center?
It would be nic to click on the engadgethd icon within Media center to catch up on all the news and maybe watch a demo.
You guys criticize others so can't you come up with something and show MS how it's done??
Ben - does Internet streaming to another Win7 machine work with Copy Freely CableCard content after the firmware update? What about Copy Once? Thanks!
The bottom line is you can do whatever you want with Copy Freely and nothing past the initial recording with Copy Once.
Why spend money to be raped by DRM?
How does that make sense?
All I want is MOAR CODECS
Microsoft use to have Remote Record when Windows XP MCE was the only OS with MC. I believe it was only a beta program, but it did exactly what you might think: you went to a web site, signed in, and told your computer what you wanted to record. They killed the program about a year ago. I'm not exactly sure why. I did use it a couple of times, and it did worked.
Have microsoft and the hollyfascists deigned it time to 'allow' us to use an arbitrary number of
M-cards
in a media center yet?
Until then I am not interested.