WinHEC Presentation on TV beyond Vista
Thanks to a commentor who found this WinHEC 06 Presentation, Preparing For TV Beyond Windows Vista [PPT] by my co-worker (on the TV team) Bernhard. This Power Point deck lays out what our plans are for supporting worldwide TV standards. If you’re passionate about DVB-x, ISDB, etc, read this.
The deck doesn’t address why we focused on what we focused on for Windows Vista but it does show that we understand what standards are popular throughout the rest of the world, the challenges being faced and what we’re enabling in the future.
In the comments I’ve heard several concerns that while they won’t see the next version of Media Center until 2009. We can’t talk about future plans but historically the Media Center team has shipped a new version or major rollup every year.
I’d also like to point out that Media Center can’t be everything to everyone around the world. If a different program suits your needs then please use it. While I love Media Center if you can’t watch TV in it by all means use Media Portal (it’s built on .Net afterall!). Or if you require the stability and simplicity of a standalone CE device try a Tivo (though I sure hope you give Tivo hell for not even supporting DVD changers or non-US countries!).
My TiVos work fine in the UK Matt; that’s one of the frustations, that a little outfit like TiVo can get stuff like the EPG right for the UK on all platforms whereas Microsoft can’t!
Looked at the presentation now. Looks like a lot of good things are due 07. Cool.
Comparison with the Tivo is a bit unfair; Tivo is after all a clopsed box with a limited feature set compatred to MCE, which is an open and versatile platform.
Where I think Microsoft struggles is in its centralisded maangement, with all key decisions being made in Redmond. This has fostered the ‘USA first’ approach to MCE. you’ve got to start somewhere I suppose - but why not enable whole world development by decentralising decision making within Microsoft (’internal open source’?). you’ll be closer to your markets worldwide.
My 2p
I’am confused, is this all being done in ‘07 or to be launched in ‘07? :))
Can we expect more to MCE in 07 than what is being worked on for the January “hurry-up” release?
Hi Matt,
Thanks for pointing us to the presentation. Look like MCE “post-Vista” will give us Europeans a LOT great stuff.
Keep up the good work you and your co-workers at the MCE-team are doing, and don’t pay too much attention to all the negative comments…
Thanks for your nice comments about Media Portal. :-)
DMAN
Yeah
MediaPortal rules:-)
Full support for DVB-S/C/T (with CI/CAM), OTA and analog
“I’d also like to point out that Media Center can’t be everything to everyone around the world. If a different program suits your needs then please use it. While I love Media Center if you can’t watch TV in it by all means use Media Portal (it’s built on .Net afterall!).”
I’m sad to read this comment, though it is just a personal opinion. I understand that people have different preferences and needs when it comes to different media center applications. However, putting it this way gives me the impression that the feature set of MCE has been locked for good and every wish/suggestion people send in can be just ignored. It’s as if you would say: “we don’t even care to try to make Media Center better”. I think Microsoft’s only goal should be that each and every Windows Vista user could user Media Center to watch TV.
MediaPortal rules!
We, the MediaPortal comunity, are so happy with this refference.
Microsoft wants to re-invent the world over and over again.. PBDA. jeez
I didn’t know that Microsoft was soo far behind on digital TV. This is indeed good news for the competition.
From my european perspective it’s incredibly surprising that no work has been done in the area of DVB-C/S/T protected content by Microsoft. DVB emerged as mainstream about 5 years ago being adopted by major providers in Scandinavia and other countries in Europe. As far as I know there has never been a competing standard here in Europe. Yet MS has apparently not even started any serious work on this until very recently, even the driver architecture for protected content appears to be under work or just finished. What was the MCE (TV) team doing in all this time?
In Sweden the analogue TV broadcasts will cease completely in late 2007. MS should have been ready for the switch to digital at least two years ago, this is not a surprising swing in how people receive their TV programs for anyone except MS.
Microsoft have missed the boat in Europe and Australia. Period. No MHEG support - NO DVB-S no digital text via MHEG.
Media Centre - R.I.P.
Let me guess that Media Portal will become my system ? I think it will…
Hi,
Thanks for the blog and candid insider info. I hope you don’t mind but I referred to your blog and the slideshow here: http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3341196#post3341196 in a round up of HD Content on MCE.
I’d be interested in your/anyone’s comments - in particular if I have got anything wrong.
I love MCE, but it is a shame Microsoft seems to have missed the boat on dealing with HD content in MCE in Europe. I might have to try Media Portal too…
Analogue TV broadcasts have actually stopped on the 1st September in my country (Luxembourg), was really looking forward to proper dvb support , very disapointed
There’s a petition to Microsoft from UK users…
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Microsoft_MCE_Ignores_DVBT_Users/index.html