psyko666 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 This past week was filled with Microsoft related announcements as the company held its premierdeveloper conference in San Francisco. While nearly all the announcements were forward looking, for Windows Media Center fans, this week included the final blow to the platform.Microsoft has confirmed that the media software is dead and if a user upgrades to Windows 10, their PC will lose this functionality. It's not a huge surprise that this platform is now being put to rest, and as Microsoft did not introduce any updates with Windows 8 or with Windows 10, it will no longer be compatible. But, the timing is a bit odd, with the rise of cord cutting, Media Center seems like a great companion for those who want cable-box like features, without the service.Of course, the company's Xbox One is a good solution for cord cutters as well, which now even has the option to connect a tuner directly to the console. Seeing that for Media Center to work well, you would need to put a PC in the living room, the Xbox One is likely a more cost effective solution than a Windows Media Center setup. Yes, we know the Xbox One is not a perfect solution, but if you are looking for similar capabilities in your living room, this is the best device for the job. Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyko666 Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Windows Media Center won't be included in Windows 10News, both big and small, continues to filter out of Microsoft's Build conference, which took place this week in San Francisco. According to a post today by Ed Bott over at ZDNet, Microsoft's Windows Media Center, which was once full of promise but fell into disfavor due both to a small user base and the lack of a clear story for where Microsoft wanted to take the future of connected TVs. At one time, Windows Media Center (WMC) was going to be the future of an internet connected TV experience, bringing pictures, music, videos and live TV all within one PC experience. It never took off, and Microsoft moved to concentrate its efforts on expanding offerings on the Xbox to include many of the same features. WMC debuted in 2002 with Windows XP, and for a time was featured as the future of connected entertainment, but when Windows 8 launched, WMC was missing, only to be added in as an extra later with a Media Pack, after some vocal outcry from a small cadre of enthusiasts, and the lack of a coherent replacement experience.Microsoft has been largely silent about the fate of Windows Media Center, although the writing has been on the wall for quite some time. The WMC team was disbanded back in 2009, and although the Windows 8 media pack was released, no new features were included.But until this week, Media Center lovers have been holding on to faint hope that it would continue on, but according to a conversation Bott had with a Microsoft executive, it's gone in Windows 10: In a private meeting this week at the Build developers' conference in San Francisco, a Microsoft executive confirmed to me that there will be no update to the company's Media Center software for Windows 10.... Any PC that is upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 will lose the Media Center functionality, and there's no way to get it back. At one time, there were rumors of an "Xbox Lite" device that would add connected entertainment features into the living room without the hard-core gaming experience, or the high cost of the Xbox One, but that never materialized.So for now, Microsoft aficionados will have to choose between and Xbox 360 or Xbox One, or keeping an old Windows 7 or Windows 8 with Media Center Pack around, or perhaps using the Xbox app on Windows 10 as its features fill out for their connected entertainment needs. Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onixra Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Too bad :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacius Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 In the eight years I've had a computer with Windows Media Center, I've never once used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Think now you can just turn your tv into a computer and add some extra storage pretty easy. http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurch234 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 In the eight years I've had a computer with Windows Media Center, I've never once used it.Neither have I.It never took off, and Microsoft moved to concentrate its efforts on expanding offerings on the Xbox to include many of the same features.To be able to use this functionality you either need an internal or an external tv tuner. You cant watch much less record tv shows straight from your pc without them. Which means you had to buy hardware.And the hardware usually comes with its own software. So its no wonder that it never took off.Bye bye bloatware Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banned Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 For a decade or longer, I've used a TV tuner card installed in my XP PC, and it was great. I could browse the web or whatever whilst having a little TV open on my monitor at the same time. My cable company recently decided to encode all of the channels, which now requires me to pay an EXTRA FEE for set top box each month...all for nothing. Not only that, the new configuration prevents me from using the TV card's remote (or PC mouse) to switch channels anymore. That really grinded my gears, and it's a shame having to ditch the whole media-center-PC concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyyahblah Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 In the eight years I've had a computer with Windows Media Center, I've never once used it.^ This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 I have a PC dedicated to my TV - I use media centre and like it. It does the job very well - and as suggested earlier in this thread - it can be useful having TV in a window whilst doing other things. I shall miss it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dMog Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 apple tv and a chromecast and the fact tv's have wifi built in pretty much was death of windows media center,,,aside form the fact hardly anyone used it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamslammer Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 I really hate to hear this news as I use it every single day for my tv and as a kick ass DVR. I can't understand why they didn't use the same concept as with Windows 8, have it as an option extra add on, I'd be willing to pay extra for it myself. I was looking forward to upgrading to Windows 10 as the Insider Preview is looking pretty good, guess that I'll be staying with Windows 7 for the foreseeable future. Thanks again Microsoft!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
november_ra1n Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 If you have TV Tuner Hard Drive then WMC useful at least you can watch the TV channels inc HD on your PC in the comfort of your own bedroom like me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNM Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 In the eight years I've had a computer with Windows Media Center, I've never once used it.Never used it here either....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliBean Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I use Windows Media Center for my InfiniTV 4 on Windows 7. Hope there's an alternative for Windows 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davmil Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 In the eight years I've had a computer with Windows Media Center, I've never once used it.It was never promoted or explained properly. I think it had potential - especially 'back in the day" b4 TV's & XBox One evolved into their present capabilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricktendo64 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I have two hybrid AVerMedia TV tuners in my PC and I use it to watch/record (1 or 2 channels @ once of) live unencrypted HD TV (thankfully my cable co still has Starz, HBO, and Cinemax without the need for a cable box)I love WMC also for watching movies, its the best way to watch if you have a WMC remoteHopefully somebody can take (port) it from the current preview builds, patch it and make it work on the final build of Windows 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anuseems Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 Now that Microsoft confirmed that Windows Media Center won't be part of Windows 10, it is time to look at suitable alternatives for the build in program. Microsoft called Windows Media Center an "entertainment system" for the whole PC. http://www.ghacks.net/2015/05/05/top-alternatives-for-windows-media-center/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugurano Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 im no used xd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I'm experimenting with Kodi and so far am underwhelmed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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