31 replies to this topic

[ikon]

I think edamiga1's original post has merit. It is quite clear to me that Microsoft is strangling WMC and will announce its death, probably in 2013 ("we are withdrawing the Media Pack from the Marketplace, because our data shows that it has not sold well").

However, it is also clear that at the moment, there is not a coherent collection of Metro Apps that can take the place of WMC. Optimists think that they will come. I'll be sticking with Win7 on my HTPC until that is the case. I suspect I may have to wait a couple of years at least.

These Apps will probably also have to come from the third party market. I know that they are only "previews", but Microsoft's own Media Apps are appallingly limited, and do not bode well.

I think a lot of WMC users will be sticking with Win7 until Win8 can truly replace it. I suspect this is part of Microsoft's strategy; they will support WMC until they see that 3rd parties have filled the gap in Win8, or until it becomes evident no one is going to, at which point they can just say there is no real interest - even 3rd party developers are ignoring it.

[gcoupe]

I've just updated my blog post with:

The thing is: Microsoft had something in WMC that was ahead of the curve, and they have dropped the ball. Their vision has failed – probably the original team got disbanded, and their executive sponsorship vanished. Much the same thing has happened with Windows Home Server.

It’s also true that streaming of content is on the rise; but there will always be a minority of users for whom streaming will never be the answer. I’m in the countryside, at the end of a piece of wet string – I depend on optical media for high quality content. I also depend on optical media for content that is otherwise not legally available in my market.

It’s all very well for Microsoft to say that I can get my DVD codecs from third parties, if I’m not prepared to pay top whack for Windows 8 Pro, with its features that I don’t want. But quite honestly, the sort of bloatware that third parties provide is something that I don’t want to be forced to accept.

We seem to be heading back to the old days, when we had to buy something like Nero in order to be able to burn a CD in Windows. Over the years, Nero ballooned into a software suite that was truly appalling. It was a relief to be able to dump it, and just use the features built-into newer versions of Windows to handle my optical media.

Now, with Windows 8, Microsoft seem to be turning the clock back to the bad old days. The bean-counters are in charge. The people with vision have left the company.

[gcoupe]

I fully expect that they come out with some great applications that we should see at least a glimmer of what they can be in the consumer preview. I hope that they update both platforms with great applications at the same time. The Zune is a beautiful interface and they should be leveraging all of that work to build the next version of the media.

While the Zune interface is pretty, it is lacking in functionality that exists elsewhere in Microsoft media applications. Microsoft's problem has always been that it has product fiefdoms with a "Not Invented Here" mentality. There is little synergy between the groups, to the detriment of the multiple, overlapping products.

We will see if they've learned their lesson. You're an optimist, I'm a pessimist.

[cclayton]

The current set of metro video applications are beyond limited. I only considered them as placeholders. This is the same issue for the xbox, their standard video, picture and music playing applications are very limited.

I fully expect that they come out with some great applications that we should see at least a glimmer of what they can be in the consumer preview. I hope that they update both platforms with great applications at the same time. The Zune is a beautiful interface and they should be leveraging all of that work to build the next version of the media.

Remember they have the three screen strategy, TV, Computer, Phone. Given this strategy, I don't think they expect the xBox to replace the PC, but it would replace a standard HTPC, since it would be cheaper. They still need the same functionality on the PC and Tablet and Microsoft would be failing on their strategy if they do not have a media offering on the PC. It simply does not make sense.

I continue to hold out hope and time will tell. June cannot come quickly enough.

If you hit the Feed back button on the Video and Music apps on metro app it sends your comment to Xbox Live. I have been reading for over a year that Zune is becoming part of Xbox. I think media going forward will all be provided threw the Xbox team. This would leave Media Player and Media Center out in the cold with little to no updates and support. If this is true I hope they add a way to get over the air TV on Xbox with DVR functions.

I don't think the media apps are done in the Win 8 CP. I am hoping to see something better for the Release Preview (or whatever they are calling it). As these apps sit right now you can Stream to the Xbox from the music and videos apps (something windows 7 can't do).

I am starting to think we wont see WMC in windows 9. I plan on watching the E3 keynote on June 4th and hope they make the Xbox, Xbox live on windows and windows phone Xbox changes more clear. I am half expecting there going to announce a new Xbox for 2013.

I think edamiga1's original post has merit. It is quite clear to me that Microsoft is strangling WMC and will announce its death, probably in 2013 ("we are withdrawing the Media Pack from the Marketplace, because our data shows that it has not sold well").

However, it is also clear that at the moment, there is not a coherent collection of Metro Apps that can take the place of WMC. Optimists think that they will come. I'll be sticking with Win7 on my HTPC until that is the case. I suspect I may have to wait a couple of years at least.

These Apps will probably also have to come from the third party market. I know that they are only "previews", but Microsoft's own Media Apps are appallingly limited, and do not bode well.

I think WMC will be discontinued if they don't get enough windows 8 upgrades for it. With no updates to media center I am sure they will be canceling it. I think that will happen with windows 9 in about 3 years. I am sure that it is staying around until what ever there doing to replace it in this space is done.

[edamiga1]

So I am going back to my original question. "Assuming" Microsoft and 3rd Parties build Apps for Metro that provide the same functionality as WMC, why would you want WMC in Windows 9? It is kind of like once I got Zune installed I never used Media Player again. If you have MyMovies installed do you ever run the built in Movie app in media center? I don't. A MyMovies on Windows 8 could look and work identical to what it looks like in WMC. If they do not then they are creating an opportunity for 3rd party vendors.

Time moves on, we have to let go of the past, especially if the future is better. The big "IF" is will microsoft come out with a DVR Application for Windows 8, or will they let a 3rd party vendor do this. These are the questions I am asking and I have not seen anything regarding this. If they don't then I will be very unhappy, since I won't have the same functionality as I have today.

[ImTheTypeOfGuy]

_{Ceton could be positioning themselves for a hardware MC and a software app for MC/DVR functionality in W8. I am excited about what could be developed because as edamiga1 indicates, the potential upside is huge. Hopefully they just don't let us down like the did with WHS.}

[cclayton]

So I am going back to my original question. "Assuming" Microsoft and 3rd Parties build Apps for Metro that provide the same functionality as WMC, why would you want WMC in Windows 9? It is kind of like once I got Zune installed I never used Media Player again. If you have MyMovies installed do you ever run the built in Movie app in media center? I don't. A MyMovies on Windows 8 could look and work identical to what it looks like in WMC. If they do not then they are creating an opportunity for 3rd party vendors.

Time moves on, we have to let go of the past, especially if the future is better. The big "IF" is will microsoft come out with a DVR Application for Windows 8, or will they let a 3rd party vendor do this. These are the questions I am asking and I have not seen anything regarding this. If they don't then I will be very unhappy, since I won't have the same functionality as I have today.

I think the idea of using the windows 8 metro start screen as your media center is a interesting one. I could see Media Portal and My Movies breaking free of media center and having metro apps that do what there good at. If your going this route who cares what Microsoft does you could roll your own custom solution that fits your usage better. That is what is so brilliant about using metro for the Media Center.

[eagle63]

_{Ceton could be positioning themselves for a hardware MC and a software app for MC/DVR functionality in W8. I am excited about what could be developed because as edamiga1 indicates, the potential upside is huge. Hopefully they just don't let us down like the did with WHS.}

Agree. I think the future of media center is whatever Ceton does. I would hitch my wagon to their products rather than windows 8.

[ikon]

Agree. I think the future of media center is whatever Ceton does. I would hitch my wagon to their products rather than windows 8.

That's cool for US residents, not so much for non-US. From what I've heard about Ceton tuners, they cannot be used, for example, even in Canada.

[rekingus]

Metro is an MCE alternative for sure but without the LIve TV and DVR functions. If we had an App for those 2functions functions I would be completely satisfied. Going into MC to use just those function seems pointles to me now after playing with Windows 8.

I am calling out to all developers to create an App that I would pay up to 20.00 for if it was available.

[ikon]

I'm not sure I get it. You're willing to pay for an app for TV & DVR. WMC gives you that, and it's an app. What's the difference? Are you just referring to having a Metro app? If so, I think that's pretty minimal. You can easily pin WMC to the Start Screen so it's pretty much like having a Metro app at that point.

[pcdoc]

I think the bigger problem is the lack of tunability and the lack of the 10ft experience I do not really care if I am running a native app or a bolt on like WMC as long as it boots into the environment I am going to run and allows full functionality of my remote control, easily navigates between streamed content like Netflix and local content like my servers. Presently only WMC does that well which brings me back to the comment I made several times on the podcast, which is why should I use Windows 8 at all to run WMC as all it adds is an extra layer? Don't get me wrong, I love Windows 8 but absolutely no incentive to add a layer because of the upgrade. Either give full control as a 10Ft device or stay with Windows 7.