Chris Lanier's Blog : Windows 7

CableCARD Opens Up, but Does the Marketplace?

chrisl — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:42:00 GMT

The news at CEDIA that CableCARD will now be open to all has got everyone worked up about Microsoft getting things right and that the platform is back where it needs to be. However, while the news of CableCARD getting unlocked from OEM only machines is fantastic I’m not sure it chances much in the marketplace.

First of all, AMD appears to be out of the marketplace which is actually a much bigger deal than people might think. While this hasn’t been confirmed, reports out of CEDIA showed that AMD didn’t have a lot to say about CableCARD in general. Most likely the only reason we are seeing updated firmware for current OCURs is because AMD never actually wrote the firmware for the cards, Digital Keystone did. Clearly competition is the best way to drive prices down, so AMD not focusing on the market isn’t a good thing.

The big news it Ceton will actually be releasing an MOCUR for retail consumption. This isn’t the BOCR I have talked about in the past (CableLabs still hasn’t published any specs for that), but it is the first MOCUR. My question here is what kind of distribution will Ceton be able to get? I’m not exactly expecting the card to show up at my local Best Buy. If CableCARD tuners aren’t going to be available at brick-and-mortar retailers the concept of the market opening up dramatically is still slim. Maybe Dell and HP get back into the market now that OEM BIOS isn’t required, but they seem to have a bad taste in their mouth from previous experiences plus selling the tuners with new PCs gets us right back to where we were before.

Price is another issue when we talk about expanding the current marketplace. Preliminary reports are that Ceton is currently targeting a price between $300-$600, which would be a huge upgrade from current AMD pricing, but this is still very costly when you consider 46 out of the 65 PCs Best Buy lists on their website cost $750 or less. Without a big retail partner Ceton will surely not be an AMD-sided production run which means prices are likely to be higher simply because economics of scale doesn’t work. Maybe if/when Hauppauge ships a CableCARD tuner the distribution side will be fixed (however, I don’t believe the HD PVR has retail distribution either).

There is still the possibility that Microsoft would market this for the living room, but that’s still highly unlikely. Trust me, the lack of cable HDTV isn’t the one thing that stopped Microsoft from ever marketing Media Center and Extender’s, and it surely won’t change that. Microsoft isn’t likely to ever market Media Center or Extender’s, or any pairing of the two.

It is no doubt the Media Center community will jump on this change, but do you believe Media Center is now in a better place to expand in the marketplace now that CableCARD is not locked to an OEM machine?

Microsoft Enhances the Digital Cable Experience and Names 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Winner

chrisl — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:14:00 GMT

Customers get new capabilities, more options, and a better digital cable experience in Windows Media Center.

ATLANTA, Sept. 9 -- Today at CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft Corp. discussed key Windows Media Center features for Windows 7 and announced a series of initiatives that enhance the digital cable experience in Windows Media Center. With the addition of native support for additional international broadcast TV standards, including QAM and ATSC, there will now be support for switched digital video (SDV), a new tool that will make it possible for end customers to add a digital cable tuner with CableCARD to their PC, and for existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as "copy freely" (CF). In addition, Microsoft and the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA) announced the winner of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, showcasing the many ways Windows Media Center can be used in a whole-home solution.

"We're continuing to work on creating opportunities for partners that will enable great entertainment experiences on the PC," said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president of entertainment client software for the TV, Video & Music Business at Microsoft. "Consumers understand that having access to content via the PC is critical when it comes to entertainment experiences, and with these announcements, we're underscoring our broader commitment to deliver a rich experience with Windows Media Center."

Switched Digital Video (SDV) Support Added for Windows Media Center

In response to customer requests and cable providers' deployment of SDV, Microsoft now supports SDV in Windows Media Center for Windows 7. In conjunction with a device known as a tuning adapter, supplied by a customer's cable provider, Windows Media Center and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD will be able to tune to SDV channels. Customers can enjoy SDV broadcasts on PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows 7 and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD.

End Customers Can Now Add Digital Cable Tuners With CableCARD to Their PCs

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC's ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer's PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

"We are excited that digital cable customers will now be able to take advantage of this new opportunity to bring great cable TV programming to the PC," said So Vang, vice president of OpenCable at CableLabs. "We are dedicated to helping customers get the most from their cable service, and this will be a great win for both the customer and the cable operators."

Digital Cable Customers Can Now Enjoy More TV Portability in Windows Media Center

Microsoft and CableLabs also announced that they worked together to enable digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as "copy freely" (CF). Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices and portable media.

Windows Media Center Features in Windows 7 Highlighted

Using new Windows 7 features such as Windows Touch, HomeGroup, Remote Media Streaming and PlayTo, sharing recorded TV, videos, music and pictures throughout the home, while on the road and to remote locations has never been easier. There is also support for the AVCHD format. This allows customers to view HD video from many popular HD video cameras.

In addition, support for the international broadcast TV standards that was released with the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 will also be included in Windows Media Center in Windows 7. This includes native support for both ATSC and QAM, the ability to remap channels, and support for subchannels.

New Firmware for ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners

In conjunction with the Microsoft and CableLabs announcements, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will be providing a new firmware update that is available to all ATI TV Wonder digital cable tuners being used with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. This firmware update will allow existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV marked as CF. Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices, and portable media. In addition, the firmware will contain support for SDV. When installed on a Windows 7-based PC with a digital cable tuner with CableCARD and a tuning adapter from a cable provider, it enables access to switched digital channels in locations where SDV has been deployed.

2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest Winner Announced

Microsoft, in collaboration with the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA), announced the winner of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest. The winning installation was submitted by Dustin Anderson, general manager at Vision Audio in Lubbock, Texas, who built a system with Windows Media Center at the core of the entertainment experience in an extensive whole-home installation for a customer in Odessa, Texas. The installation integrates six Windows Media Center-based servers, one Windows Home Server, five dedicated theater-style rooms, 12 media racks, 98 speakers, and 30 zones of distributed audio. The home includes products from key MCIA member companies such as Autonomic Controls Inc., Crestron Electronics Inc. and Niveus Media Inc.

The Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, now in its third year, encourages integrators to show off their talents by presenting their most unique and creative installations that leverage Windows Media Center technologies. Vision Audio's integration of the family's music, movies, videos and pictures, as well as the integration of Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server with the Crestron home automation system, and the large scope of the installation set it apart as the winner for 2009.

"We're thrilled to receive this recognition from Microsoft and the MCIA. The Windows Media Center platform has enabled us to be on the cutting edge of technology, which has provided us with critical business advantages during the economic downturn," Anderson said.

More information on the contest and images from the install can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/ultimateinstall.

Also on Display at CEDIA EXPO 2009

At the Microsoft booth at CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft will show additional hardware and software installations that enhance the digital cable experience. Demonstrations include these:

The new Zune HD portable media player using the Zune HD AV dock to display 720p content on an HDTV. The Zune HD and updated Zune PC software will launch on Sept. 15.
A home server powered by Windows Home Server software. The upcoming Windows Home Server Power Pack 3, currently in beta testing, will add enhancements for Windows Media Center. Power Pack 3 features include the option to move recorded TV content to the home server in a variety of resolutions, and the ability for users to see statistics about the home server through Windows Media Center.
A technology preview of the new Multi-Channel Cable TV Card from Ceton Corp., which enables PCs with Windows Media Center to play or record multiple live channels of premium HDTV at once, and stream live HD channels or recordings to multiple TV sets throughout the home, all with a single CableCARD.

Going Beyond The Enthusiast Market

chrisl — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:59:00 GMT

Charlie Owen, a former Media Center team member wrote a post this week about Media Center expanding its marketplace, specifically going from the current enthusiast market to a more mainstream market. Charlie analysis comes to the pretty simple answer of “It's possible, but highly unlikely at this point.”

I had previously come to this conclusion, but to me the real question is “will Microsoft attempt to develop for the enthusiast market?” Lucky for me, Charlie replied to my comment with exactly what I was expecting

Charlie: “No. That's because they have never done so. The enthusiast market is always a subset of the overall market any product targets. Put another way: Where the goal is making a profit you wouldn't sacrifice a broad market opportunity of 100 for the narrow enthusiast market of 10. Making a Microsoft-sized profit is different than making a profit if you were a much smaller company.”

In other words the future for Media Center is one or two options. Option 1: Microsoft stops development of Media Center (very unlikely). Option 2: Microsoft transitions Media Center to a market which has the possibility to create a “Microsoft-sized profit.” (Hint: TV on your PC) Re-quoting myself from early this year, the days of Media Center being billed as the do-it-all center of your home are over.

My opinion continues to be that Microsoft will focus more and more on the Xbox 360 as the center of the home. The benefits of the Xbox 360 over Media Center are almost endless from a business perspective. The massive amount of end users (an unquestionable 30 million, with 20 million of them being Xbox Live subscribers) means content providers are going to flock to the platform. Microsoft can sit back and rake in yearly recurring revenue from these 20 million Xbox Live subscribers along with the massive amounts of licensing accessories and the Xbox 360 brand. Media Center on the other hard makes Microsoft absolutely no money as it is a part of the standard Windows SKU (eg. No one except members of The Green Button ever purchased a Windows license just to get Media Center).

There are still people holding out hope for Media Center to become a platform for the home. The recent announcement that Dish Network will not be shipping their tuner anytime soon didn’t surprise me one bit. Why would Dish bother to continue with Media Center when it is pretty clear Microsoft is moving away from the consumer they thought they were buying into? This same concept is at play with Media Center Extender’s. There is still some hope that Toshiba will be releasing an Extender, but I think the concept that most people miss is that whether it gets released or not means little in the grand scheme of things. If Microsoft’s heart is not in providing a platform for the home, you can really know going into your purchase that you’re going to end up disappointed at some point.

The biggest question mark might be Windows Home Server. For years I have said the concept of including Media Center in Windows Home Server is pointless and does nothing to expand the current market. If HP ditched Extender’s and CableCARD due to poor sales, why exactly would they have the least bit of interest in shipping a Media Center+Home Server box? If OEMs are not interested, why is Microsoft going to develop it?

Most people underestimate the OEMs when talking about Media Center. OEMs are really responsible for Media Center from start to finish from a customer’s perspective. HP and Dell have shown they have little interest in Media Center by either discounting CableCARD PCs, killing off Extender’s, and even in HPs case killing off their HT-styled z-series Media Centers. Dish Network and DIRECTV are just as important and have shown that they are increasing less interested.

Microsoft’s latest attempt to make a market for Media Center has been the custom integrator channel, and some have big expectations for what Microsoft might have in store. Sadly most of the possibilities have already been proven false, and based on what I’ve been told from those in the industry interest in Media Center in the custom channel is dropping fast. I’m interest to see how much longer Microsoft attempts to push into the market. With their partner OEMs such as HP, Linksys, Dish Network pulling out these leaves the custom OEMs like Niveus Media and Life|ware to pick up the slack. Unfortunately there is only such much they can do. If Microsoft’s commitment in the channel falls it might be the end of the custom market experiment.

So once again the question is what’s next. Recently there have been some great new bloggers show up in the Media Center community with some great suggestions. I’m done with suggestions. Microsoft knows exactly what we want, let’s not pretend they don’t. The issue is it is no longer in their best interest to pursue most of it. What’s next? Who knows. All I want at this point is for Microsoft to publicly provide a roadmap for what Media Center is to become.

What Do You Think of Windows 7 Media Center?

chrisl — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:50:00 GMT

This weekend I installed Windows 7 on my Media Center and thought about writing a review. However, I think Ben successfully did that already so rather than try and recreate it I’d rather know what you think.

Looking through Ben’s list of new features and changes, the one thing I noticed was that the vast majority of them are visual changes to the UI or straight up eye candy. Sure, they add additional functionality but channel logos, TV show images, colored coded EPG, and fancy fading in/out only goes so far when there are dozens of useful features still needed to make Media Center the center of the home.

Features like HomeGroup are great, but once again it doesn’t work with protected CableCARD content and some people aren’t too happy with that. Several of the other cool features existing in the TV Pack, so if you managed to get it stable enough to use you will see less “new” features in Windows 7 than those who have been using Vista w/o TV Pack. Overall I’m happy with Windows 7 for my personal use; however it fails to make further inroads into any market except the existing enthusiast market.

What’s your opinion? What do you like and dislike? What features are missing?

Is Hulu Coming to Media Center?

chrisl — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:30:00 GMT

I don't believe that Hulu has a large interest in Media Center, but those very same mockup’s that show Media Center’s “PCTV” marketing also show Hulu as a key experience. My guess is that the material Microsoft provided to Lippincott said Media Center provides an Internet TV experience, and the designers took that as Media Center providing access to the most popular service for online TV shows.

I don’t believe that the content providers are interested in seeing Hulu on the big screen as it would jeopardize traditional content delivery. Hulu’s entry into the 10-foot UI marketplace is heavily designed around the desktop PC, and their TOS makes that very clear.

Media Center Gets "PCTV" Marketing in Microsoft Store Mockups

chrisl — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:25:00 GMT

It has been my theory that Microsoft is slowly ditching the concept of using and promoting Media Center as a whole home entertainment experience and moving to the “TV on your PC” concept which they have been actively promoting over the past 6 months. This concept is something that most Media Center enthusiasts don’t want to believe as it turns Media Center into a product that most current users have no interest in. What better way to find out the future of Media Center than looking at how it could be presented in the upcoming Microsoft retail stores.

Gizmodo got their hands on some leaked mockups of the retail experience, and while Microsoft’s PR is pushing the leaked images as “early prototypes and concepts of our retail store plans” I think it will further key us in on the future of Windows Media Center.

The images, which are presented in on Gizmodo show Media Center being marketed as “PCTV” with such usage scenarios as “watching the Today Show while checking emails during breakfast” and “watching American Idol while on the blog.” Other key features in the mockup include PC as a PVR, watching Internet TV, and managing all media in one place.

The mockup of the retail experience is driven by what look to be PC monitors or small screen HDTVs. A theater setting or living room with Media Center as the center piece doesn’t look to be in the picture if this mockup is to be trusted. Also missing in the mockup is any mention of Media Center Extender’s.

I have no doubt will we see things that are not clearly outlined in the leaked images, however I do believe the marketing material for Media Center is what we will end up seeing. Notably missing from the mockups are large displays for Xbox 360, Zune, and even Home Server. I’m not sure Home Server will get a large amount of square-footage designated to it, but I do expect Zune and Xbox to have their place (both Zune and Xbox are outlined in the product offerings mockup image).

What’s your opinion, will the marketing for Media Center be focused on whatever PCTV is, or can we expect Media Center being pushed as the 10-foot experience that we really want?

Microsoft Focuses Media Center Marketing, Platform to Follow

chrisl — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:38:00 GMT

The first sign of a business in trouble is when you must reinvent yourself to stay alive. Microsoft might not actually be reinventing Media Center, mostly becasue you can't reinvent something that you never actually defined a market for in the first place, but they are finally attempting to delineate where they see Media Center competing in such a growing marketplace (and that’s not a good thing for most reading this).

Media Center started as a method to watch TV on the PC. Essentially it was marketed to college students to cut down the number of devices in their dorm. Then it grew up and Microsoft focused on getting Media Center off the PC and onto the big screen. Media Center 2004-2005 and Extenders helped drive this concept. Media Center was the star of CES keynotes of the past focusing on the next-generation home. Much of this is outlined in the Evolution of Windows Media Center that Microsoft just finished.

The video might have a few hidden messages that are hard to catch, but I think they define Media Center’s future and show that Microsoft has finally attempted to focus on a specific market.

(Microsoft presented this image at WinHEC)

“TV on your PC” is Microsoft’s new marketing talk for what Media Center is and does (hear it from Media Center marketing PM Ben Reed here ~30 seconds in) . Not whole home connected entertainment, not Media Center in your living room, not Extenders, not high-end theaters, but “TV on your PC.” In other words, the days of Media Center being billed as the do-it-all center of your home are over (except for the custom market).

For the first time, Media Center officially has a market, and while that is good news that Microsoft has finally defined who they are developing for, it is bad news for most reading this post as you can now be sure Media Center will never be the platform you have dreamed of.

Thinking about it, the signs have been developing over the past months. The lack of Media Center at CES keynote makes perfect sense if it is being billed as just a way to watch TV on your PC. No need to make a big deal about that. Microsoft touting touch screen support in Windows 7 half has to do with them putting way to much emphasis on touch in Windows 7 in general, but also helps them show off using a kitchen PC for watching TV on. Why exactly do I need this in a product that is meant to be controlled with a remote? This was recently questioned on The Green Button and Engadget HD’s most recent podcast. Mouse clickable seekbar in Windows 7, yet again a sign of Media Center moving onto the desktop and away from the TV.

I think Microsoft will continue to focus on the CEDIA channel as well, which most likely means my fears of Microsoft developing new cool features that are only available to OEMs is going to come true. Niveus Media and Exceptional Innovation (Life|ware) will likely see the majority of the attention. Smaller Media Center OEMs will start to fade away after being ignored by Microsoft who hasn’t grasped the concept that all of the smaller OEMs serve the exact same high-end customers as Niveus and Life|ware (examples include support for 10 Extenders, 8 CableCARD tuners for only Niveus/Life|ware). I think we will see Microsoft heavily market an appliances-like device to these OEMs (unclear if the functionality will be avaiable to the masses, but I don’t see it marketed to them).

If there is a plus side (hard to think of it as that) to this it would be in the form of much lower expectations. Hopefully I’m wrong, but this change could end Media Center as we know (or think we know) it today.

Microsoft Loses the Online Content Fight

chrisl — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:44:00 GMT

I shouldn’t actually call it a fight because that implies one actually gave effort, but CES 2009 has shown that Microsoft is effectively out of the race to provide a platform for streaming and downloadable content via the PC. I say via the PC because the Xbox is still alive and actually putting up somewhat of a fight.

With every major display company now pushing integrated online content embedded or easily attachable to their displays the PC is now becoming irrelevant. No longer is the concept PC-to-TV, it is Web-to-TV and Microsoft fails to offer compelling products that work under this infrastructure.

Media Center had strong potential to rule the online world. In 2002 when Microsoft introduced Media Center the Online Spotlight provided a mechanism for content providers to offer 10-foot versions of their streaming services. As time went on however Microsoft had a difficult time keeping content providers interested with big names like MTV Network pulling content for reasons unknown to anyone but Microsoft. In late 2007 Microsoft offered up their Internet TV plug-in which scrapped content from their MSN properties. Then in early 2008 Internet TV got an upgrade that introduced interactive ads, a feature that I thought would give Microsoft a leg up in streaming Alas, Microsoft has failed to secure any additional web content. Even Netflix, which is on the Xbox 360 didn’t get ported to Media Center (while unofficial plug-ins fill the gap for users). Windows 7 hits hard on integration of broadcast and broadband, but that only goes as far as the content you have to offer.

My advice to Microsoft, buy boxee and integrate it into Media Center, Xbox 360, and Zune. Unless you have some big partnerships in the works (CES would have been a good place to unveil those), your platform is effectively dead for online content delivery (broadcast isn’t looking that hot either).

Media Center Gets Blu-ray, Just Not From Microsoft

chrisl — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:37:00 GMT

I’ve talk about Microsoft and Blu-ray more times than I can count and it never fails I end up saying they will not be the ones to build Blu-ray support in Windows. My thoughts have officially come true with yesterday’s announcement that Microsoft is outsourcing Blu-ray support in Windows 7 to Cyberlink.

According to the press release, PowerDVD “automatically integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full Blu-ray playback capability on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware.” The extent of that integration remains to be seen, but I’m hoping for full integration using Media Foundation and PVP (aka real integration). That's a lot of wishful thinking on my part, what we will likely end up with is Media Center launching PowerDVD in a Play Movie-esk way.

I guess this is a good start and I’m interested to see what the product will look like but I’m not getting my hopes up too high just yet for it being the perfect solution.

CyberLink to Demonstrate PowerDVD with Microsoft at CES 2009

chrisl — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:38:00 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan - CyberLink Corporation is pleased to announce that PowerDVD will be utilized by Microsoft Corp. in a demonstration of their newest version of Windows Media Center, for Windows 7. This demo will be shown in the Microsoft booth (7144), in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Additional demonstrations of the forthcoming version of PowerDVD will be available to PC and Consumer Electronic manufacturers and members of the press by appointment, in CyberLink’s private suite in the Hilton Hotel.

CyberLink has been working closely with Microsoft to support many of the advanced capabilities of Windows 7. PowerDVD Cinema mode has been designed to automatically integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full Blu-ray playback capability on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware. PowerDVD Cinema mode integrates seamlessly with the advanced user experience that Windows Media Center provides and allows consumers to be able to use a remote control to select and watch Blu-ray titles from the comfort of their couch. PowerDVD also provide a great user experience when launched directly from Windows, with new and exciting ways for everyone to browse and enjoy movies and video files on any Windows desktop or laptop PC.

TrueTheater™ HD, one of the new video technology CyberLink will demonstrate in PowerDVD, provides the capability to up-sample videos and transform standard definition video files, or DVD titles into high-definition quality. This would allow users to enjoy DVDs today in high definition quality.

“We are proud that PowerDVD is Microsoft’s choice to support Blu-ray Disc playback for Windows 7,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “PowerDVD is the leading DVD, Blu-ray Disc and AVCHD movie player software application, chosen by top-brand PCs and optical disc drives purchased by consumers and businesses around the world. We are excited to demonstrate the smooth integration and the incredible sights and sounds of Blu-ray disc movies for Windows 7 at the coming CES.”

Random Notes from Microsoft’s CES Keynote

chrisl — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:06:00 GMT

Media Center

10 million Media Center users a month
Average Media Center session time is ~90 minutes

Xbox 360

Xbox LIVE membership that has grown to 17 million active members.
Xbox 360 has sold 28 million consoles sold to date
More than $1 billion spent on Xbox LIVE since the launch of the Xbox 360
Xbox 360 has largest game attach rate
Xbox LIVE Primetime channel brings together the best of TV and gaming in an interactive way.
Primetime will create scheduled programming, offer interactive and social features.
Average Halo player playing 150 hours on Xbox LIVE
Two new Halo titles this year. Feb 28th release for Halo Wars. Halo 3 ODST in 2009.
Since NXE launch, downloads of video content up 60%
Over 45 movie/TV studios providing content on Xbox LIVE
Over 60 millions song downloads on Lips and other music games.

Mediaroom

Mediaroom platform has reached nearly 2.5 million subscriber homes worldwide (250% growth over last year)
Mediaroom Anytime lets you watch previously aired content
Mediaroom adds interactive third-party application support (BBC Top Gear as an example)

Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile is getting new Internet Explorer with Adobe Flash support
Lots of new phones shown
Microsoft/Netflix will offer software that enables Windows Mobile customers to update and view their Netflix movie queue.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is up on MSDN/TechNet. Public beta on Microsoft.com on Jan. 9

Other

Ford Sync will get updated with TellMe support
Zune Social is up to 2 million users

Microsoft’s Ballmer Announces Availability of Windows 7 Beta and Windows Live

chrisl — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:39:00 GMT

Company previews simpler, better Windows operating system and highlights connected entertainment offerings at CES.

LAS VEGAS — Jan. 7, 2009 — In a keynote address at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the beta availability of the Windows 7 operating system as well as the availability of the latest version of the Windows Live, a suite of personal communications services and applications.

“I’m thrilled to announce the availability of the Windows 7 beta, which is on track to deliver simplicity and reliability,” Ballmer said. “Windows 7 and Windows Live are part of an incredible pipeline of consumer technology that is making it easier than ever for people to communicate, share and get more done.”

The beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft’s next-generation PC operating system, can be downloaded today by MSDN, TechBeta and TechNet customers. Consumers who want to test-drive the beta will be able to download it beginning Jan. 9 at http://www.microsoft.com/windows7.

Microsoft also announced the global availability of Windows Live, a free suite of communications and sharing applications. Windows Live makes it easy for people to communicate, share and keep their online lives in sync and in one place with one login. The new and enhanced Windows Live services — including PCMag.com 2008 Editors’ Choice winner Windows Live Messenger — along with Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Photo Gallery are designed to work seamlessly with more than 50 popular Internet services. Ballmer also announced new alliances with the following companies:

Dell Inc. In February, to offer a comprehensive experience for consumers to connect, share and personalize their content, Dell will offer preloaded Windows Live Essentials (a free suite of applications for instant messaging, e-mail and photos that complement Windows Live on the Web) and Live Search on a majority of its new consumer and small-business PCs globally.

Facebook. In the coming months, Facebook users can choose to share content they post on Facebook, including photos, directly into Windows Live.

Verizon Wireless. Under a new five-year relationship that covers mobile search and advertising, Verizon subscribers in the U.S. will be able to use Live Search to search for local business and shopping information; access maps and directions; perform general Internet searches; and find ring tones, games, wallpaper and other online mobile products and services.

Read Full Press Release

Windows Helps Consumers Connect to the Digital World

chrisl — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:36:00 GMT

At CES 2009, Microsoft announced advances in Windows 7 beta, Windows Mobile, Windows Live – all designed to help consumers connect and live a ‘life without walls.’

LAS VEGAS – Jan. 7, 2009 - At the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft is shining a spotlight on something besides the biggest LCD screen or the coolest new tech gadgets: It’s showing consumers how Windows can make their lives easier, more productive, more enjoyable.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer opened the show with news that a beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest operating system, will be widely available for download on Jan. 9. He also announced the final availability of Windows Live – free software and services designed to bring a person’s online world under one roof and help them keep their life in synch.

Along with a new version Internet Explorer Mobile that helps today’s mobile phones connect to the Web in a more powerful way, these announcements underscore Microsoft’s efforts to design software that connects the PC, the web, the phone and even the television in a way that is easy to use and fun. It’s all part of Microsoft’s technology vision to deliver a “life without walls” for consumers.

Says Bill Veghte, senior vice president of the Windows business group at Microsoft: “We are excited to have the strongest pipeline of new technology for Windows in our company’s history. We really listened to what our customers want. And we think what we’re showing at CES gives consumers choices and experiences they haven’t had before.”

Windows 7: Available in Beta Today

With Windows 7, first shown at the D: All Things Digital Conference his past May, Microsoft is confident it has an operating system that reflects what customers want. Windows 7 designers have surveyed more than a quarter of a million people to learn more about how they use a computer and digital devices. The Windows Research Team also conducted thousands of online interviews, and enlisted 3,600 customers for user research and usability studies.

One thing they learned was that while people enjoy the convenience and features of the many digital devices they have these days – from cameras to music players – they also want it to be easier to use their devices with their PCs, to do everyday tasks such as moving pictures from a camera to multiple PCs, or sharing music, or printing to a network.

Read Full Press Release

’08 Disappointments: TV Pack

chrisl — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:26:00 GMT

The biggest disappointment of 2008 has to be Microsoft’s failure to produce a follow-up release to the RTM release of Vista Media Center. The TV Pack, which was previously codenamed Fiji was delayed well over a year with no information give by Microsoft as to the reason why. Things finally settled down and Fiji was released as the TV Pack in August (officially at CEDIA in September).

Of course the disappointments set in a few months early, with DIRECTV and H.264 being dropped, and then the announcement that Microsoft planned the TV Pack to be OEM-only. Then came some bugs, torrents getting leaked, all around poor communication from Microsoft, broken third party and first party functionality, and I’m sure you know the story by now.

Not only was the TV Pack a disappointment, it was nothing short of a failure. In my opinion it has been the worst coordinated project to come out of Microsoft since I’ve had a chance to cover the company.

Given the long delay and ultimate fate of what became the TV Pack I wish Microsoft would have just waited or simply released a scaled down Update Rollup in places like Japan where it added a bit more value. Luckily the TV Pack functionality will be rolled into Windows 7 which I’m sure the eHome team was working on concurrently with the TV Pack anyway. To those not running the TV Pack, I’d just write it off and wait for Windows 7 to bring a more stable and polished product.

The TV Pack has been a huge disappointment of 2008.

Can DISH Network One-Up DIRECTV?

chrisl — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:16:00 GMT

Now that we are fairly certain that DIRECTV will not ship with Windows 7, the big question remains to be will DISH Network? Around the time the TV Pack started beta testing, I did hear that some testers had been contacted about testing DISH Network Tuners, and that talk has popped back up in the past few weeks.

Going under my theory that Microsoft has all the plumbing in-place for DIRECTV support, there is no reason that same framework can’t work for DISH Network. If DISH Network wants to make a Media Center tuner, they can using this framework, and they might have already.

Looking around, their are some other hints about the possible DISH Network Tuner. Ben's photos of the eHome Lab show Windows 7 running with a branded Start Menu saying “TV with DISH Network.” In addition to that, several people, including Dave Zatz have brought up the possibility that the unmarked white box in the photo below is a DISH Network tuner. Of course, the tuner being in Microsoft’s Lab means nothing as Microsoft as evidenced by the suspended DIRECTV HDPC-20 tuners also present.

(Photos via Engadget HD)

Back to the framework which I believe is complete to ship with Windows 7, here is something Microsoft showed at WinHEC. That is premium Pay-Per-View TV being ordered via Media Center. We know that’s not from a CableCARD as tru2way tuners don’t have any specs from CableLabs yet. It chould be DIRECTV, but considering that Channel 510 happens to fall in the range of DISH Networks PPV and most PPV content on DISH Network happens to be $4.99, there is a good possibility you are looking at working PPV via a native DISH Network Tuner.

So, should you jump and switch to DISH Network because of this? I wouldn’t suggest it. Should you keep checking back to see when we get more details? I'd suggest it. I’m a DIRECTV customer, so even if this DISH Network tuner is real I likely wouldn’t be testing it. That said, I’m looking forward to see what happen with this. Given DISH Networks TurboHD package for $24.99 has every channel I’d ever watch, and the fact I can get ATSC HD using an antenna in Media Center saving me from having to add HD Locals to the package, DISH Network does look like a good deal if I could get a native Media Center tuner.

DIRECTV and Microsoft: What Went Wrong

chrisl — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:22:00 GMT

Now that DIRECTV has suspended development on their HDPC-20 Tuner where does that leave us? There are a lot of differing opinions going around about why DIRECTV canned the tuner, whose fault it is, and where do we go from here. Most people are pointing the finger at Microsoft, and with their history of releases how could you not? This doesn’t mean however that Microsoft is totally at fault, but let’s look at the whole situation to see how we got here.

Timeline

January 2006 – Microsoft and DIRECTV announce partnership to “develop new ways to expand the reach of digital music, television and movies throughout the home and to portable devices.” Nothing is said specifically by either party about a Media Center tuner.

January 2006 – Microsoft employee Sean Alexander says “In the future (timing wasn't discussed), you'll be able to have an installer come out and install a DirecTV tuner into your Media Center PC and get your local channels complete with DVR.” This however, was not an official Microsoft statement.

January 2007 – We really start asking for information about the assumed DIRECTV Tuner. DBSTalk.com does Q&A with DIRECTV at CES, DIRECTV says “Still in progress, internal beta testing” when asked about HTPC Tuner cards. Confirmation that a tuner card is in the works.

December 2007 – Microsoft states in an online job posting that they are “working with newly developed dual satellite tuners” for the next Media Center release.

January 2008 – CES comes around again and DBSTalk.com gets a flyer from the CES floor for the HDPC-20. This is the first official confirmation that the tuner exists. CES attendees hear information about the public unveiling of the tuner to be scheduled later at CES. This didn’t happen however, leaving several people confused. No one from Microsoft or DIRECTV is talking now. DIRECTV had the flyers to give out at the show, so something happened that caused either Microsoft or DIRECTV to back out of the public announcement.

February 2008 – Top Media Center OEM Niveus Media now lists “HD Satellite” tuner option on their website with “TBD (To be determined)” availability.

March 2008 – Microsoft started sending out e-mails for the Fiji (codename for TV Pack) beta program. Several leaks happened around this time including an e-mail asking select beta participates for information about their DIRECTV account.

July 2008 – Fiji beta testers leak more information including DIRECTV and H.264 support being pulled from the release. It is suggested by some in the beta that they never received tuners from DIRECTV.

July 2008 – It is reported that Microsoft will be releasing a second Media Center update in 2008 with nothing to backup the statement. The proposed purpose of the second update was to add H.264 and DIERCTV support. This didn’t happen.

September 2008 – Subscription news service Consumer Electronics Daily (CED) reports that Microsoft "continues to look at ways" to make the tuner happen and that news will be announced at "the appropriate time.” DIRECTV made no comment in the article.

November 2008 – Ed Bott finds a driver for the HDPC-20 in the PDC build of Windows 7.

November 2008 – Microsoft invites several bloggers and journalists to tour the eHome Labs (no, I wasn’t invited). Ben Drawbaugh scores pictures of the DIRECTV HDPC-20 working in Microsoft’s Labs.

December 2008 – DIRECTV e-mails several in the community to tell us that DIRECTV has “suspended the development of the HDPC-20 tuner…after assessing the impact of missing the August 2008 release of Windows Media Center update [Fiji, TV Pack] and considering timing of the next release.”

Talking a Step Back

The big question now is what does all of this mean and who is at fault. Let’s explore a few things here.

Microsoft is a software company; they don’t make hardware (generally speaking). Microsoft’s main goal is to produce various software frameworks so that other companies can come in and produce hardware to work with their platform. I’d actually say that this is the reason Microsoft has been successful as a company, but it is also their largest fault.

Anyway, Microsoft makes software and third parties make hardware (and most of the time drivers to go with this hardware). Seeing as Microsoft is going to produce the software aspect of this DIRECTV Tuner, it means they want to produce a common framework to allow third parties to integrate a number of different things into their Media Center platform. I’ve gone over this time and time again, but to refresh I’m talking about things like H.264, Pay-per-view order, content protection, etc. DIRECTV on the hand has to make the hardware (or contract it out) to pair with Microsoft’s software framework.

DIRECTV has suggested that they are suspending develop of their hardware because of the impact of H.264/DIRECTV support not shipping in the TV Pack and the wait until the next release. (Windows 7, highly publicized to have a 2009 ship date)

DIRECTV-less TV Pack, whose fault?

This is a bit hard to answer because outside of DIRECTV and Microsoft no one really knows. What we do know (or rather, think we know) is that Microsoft had plans of shipping DIRECTV support in the TV Pack as evidenced by the beta e-mails. We also know (or think we know), that neither Microsoft nor DIRECTV shipped tuner to beta testers. Microsoft then cut H.264 and “subscription-based satellite TV support” before the TV Pack ship date. Notice they never said they cut DIRECTV support.

The main thing we don’t know here is why beta testers reportedly didn’t get tuners. Hundreds of options here, but here are three main ones.

Possibility that DIRECTV didn’t have stable hardware/drivers
Possibility that Microsoft had issues with H.264 support in the TV Pack
Possibility that Microsoft had issues with other software aspects in the TV Pack
Possibility that Microsoft and DIRECTV are fighting like kids about something

There are various possibilities about why beta testers might not have been shipped tuners and why support was cut from the release. I don’t think you can make a clear judgment about who was at fault knowing what we do.

On the Road to Windows 7

Given on how Microsoft operates, we knew that the next chance for DIRECTV support was in Windows 7. Microsoft doesn’t push out Media Center updates to add functionality months after a major release. Things were now looking good for Windows 7 DIRECTV support, at least from the outside. CED published reports saying DIRECTV and Microsoft are still working together, and Windows 7’s projected release date keep moving up.

Ed Bott finds the drivers in the Windows 7 build, and then Ben gets pictures of the tuners in the lab. We are all thinking that Windows 7 with DIRECTV is a-go. DIRECTV then says they are “suspended development” of the tuner and points to the conflicts with the TV Pack as a prime reason along with the “timing of the next [Media Center] release.”

What’s DIRECTV Hiding?

Lets say Microsoft and DIRECTV missed the TV Pack ship date, again we really don’t know why. In the e-mail statement DIRECTV is basically implying that they are done with their part and just waiting on Microsoft. Is this really the case? I fully believe that Microsoft had 90% of the software framework in-place to ship with the TV Pack. In fact, if you look in your RTM TV Pack registry you can find some DIRECTV bits hiding pretty well.

If DIRECTV was ready and willing to release their tuners, why cut the project after all your initial expensive and development? The tuners seem to be real, and if it was Microsoft who screwed up the TV Pack you would think that DIRECTV is sitting on a near finished product waiting for Microsoft. DIRECTVs enginners can jump back on a new project and leave their efforts intack for Microsoft to start Windows 7 beta testing (which is basically 6 months after the TV Pack release).

I’m thinking that DIRECTV might not be a clean in this whole ordeal as some might think.

DRM, Doubtful to Blame

Whenever there is a hold-up on a product like this the first thing in peoeple’s mind is that Microsoft is DRMing it up and thus causing massive delays. Considering CableLabs approved Windows Vista with their very strict content protection guidelines I think it would be a huge stretch to think that Microsoft was holding up the project in this way. Their system already works, and has been for two years (mostly, DRM might actually be too protective given the bugs).

It has been suggested to me that DRM might be to blame because DIRECTV offers service outside of the US. I was personally expecting to see the DIRECTV Tuner be US-only, but if it was international this would be a contract issue between DIRECTV and their content providers.

Who needs who?

Media Center is hardly the platform it should be, and DIRECTV might have misevaluated the commercial need of such a tuner. It is also possible that their DIRECT2PC, TiVo partnership, and their own Multi-room Viewing features could be playing into things (along with the economy).

Microsoft has no leverage here. They have a platform that hasn’t lived up to expectations of any market and they have to be pleading with broadcaster providers to help them save their platform.

Maybe DIRECTV has come to the conclusion that there focus should be elsewhere. Of course, if it turns out that DIRECTV was not prepared to ship with the TV Pack this is a godsend for us users. I want a stable platform, and with DIRECTV in charge of hardware/drivers for this they need to have their heart in the game before I want to play.

Ben argues that DIRECTV only released a statement because they want to downplay expectations about the tuner. I don’t follow the concept because DIRECTV has no visible reason to do any sort of damage control. This is where Microsoft should have stepped in, but alas has failed to do. When/if Microsoft makes a statement (which they need to), it will likely be very simple and there is a good chance it will not mention DIRECTV by name.

As far as I know, Microsoft’s framework is done for third parties to integrate DVB-S tuners into Media Center. What third parties (eg. DIRECTV) do at that point is largely up to them. The only thing I’ve been told by Microsoft is that when two companies are involved they can’t say anything. NDAs are play there just as they would be in any business partnership.

Bottom Line

I firmly believe both companies at a fault, but Microsoft will always take the most abuse because they can’t seem to conjure up a good Media Center release. This is not DIRECTVs platform falling apart before our eyes, it is Microsoft’s.

Given that I think the framework is there, we might see other providers step up to the plate and offer solutions. I strongly suspect others have like projects in development, but then again so does did DIRECTV, so I guess we have to wait for an official word at this point.

DIRECTV Kills Media Center Tuner; Windows 7 to be DIRECTV-less

chrisl — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:21:00 GMT

DIRECTV has informed several bloggers and journalists in the Media Center community that they suspended development of the HDCP-20 Media Center Tuner. Windows 7 will not include native DIRECTV support, which will servely impact the Media Center platform as a whole.

I’ll have more on this later tonight, but I wanted to go ahead and get it out there.

Upcoming Windows 7 Media Center Feature: Broadband TV Services

chrisl — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:44:00 GMT

By now you have most likely seen what some of the new features of Media Center in Windows 7 are, but don’t think it stops there. In this series I will go over some of the upcoming features of Media Center in Windows 7. These features should start appearing in later builds, although some of them will be limited to specific testers.

I’ve been saying for some time now that Media Center needs to get serious about Internet and Web TV. Microsoft will be taking another step toward this in Windows 7 by integrating online services in the standard EPG (Guide). Below is a screenshot of the type of integration you can expect. Wouldn’t it be sweet to get Hulu in here?

Short Bits: Windows 7

chrisl — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:16:00 GMT

So the big question in my e-mail Inbox is where have I been hiding. The answer is that I’ve been crazy busy with school and work, so blogging had to go for a bit. That doesn’t mean it is over, so let’s start it up again.

The biggest news that I missed covering was the big Windows 7 unveiling at WinHEC. Charlie Owen write a great blog post going over some of the new looks and features, and I hear there is more to come in later builds. Of course, the focus of some posts about Media Center in Windows 7 is the UI changes. The UI has never been the problem with Media Center. Some will like the changes and some will not, but at the end of the day Microsoft’s failure to execute is the real issue.

Having said that there is a lot of goods stuff in Windows 7 including a signed driver for the DIRECTV Tuner (you didn’t think it was dead, did you?), MPEG-4 support (H.264, MPEG-4 ASP), and much more. You might even have a chance to beta test it or other Media Center products.

More coverage on We Got Served, GeekTonic, Missing Remote, and Ian Dixon.

TV Pack Questions Answered by Charlie Owen

chrisl — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:51:00 GMT

Charlie Owen will be answering questions about the Media Center TV Pack (Fiji) as soon as Microsoft makes the official announcements, so if you have any questions about things that may have been rumored now would be the time to submit them.

I will also finally be able to talk in depth about stuff including what is in/out of Fiji, the possibility of a second Media Center release, and Windows 7 around this timeframe. If you have questions or comments for me to get a non-Microsoft response let me know.