Media Center is a Desktop Apps ????

[area 66]

Wow that sucks I was expecting something that looks different or at least updated. On my windows 7 the media player has a bug and the visualization is cut off or something (forgot I have it saved) and it's so irritating that they haven't updated windows media player.

finally someone who understand me.....lol

 

[MisterApathy]

I must admit I was surprised they didn't do anything to differentiate it as well, but I guess given that the initial plan was to just not include it at all we should be thankful they bothered?

Honestly though since I have been using Windows 8 for the last few months I decided to give XBMC a chance again, and after quite a bit of fiddly configuration I would never go back to Media Center again, not even with MediaBrowser installed, XBMC is just so much better in every regard... and is finally getting some DVR love!

 

[Mystere]

It's not really surprising at all. In fact, Microsoft was originally going to deprecate media center. They were going to get rid of it all together, but they received a lot of feedback that people still wanted it. This is why they made it an add-on.

 

[kcmike]

I'm happy the way it is. I just want to be able to record shows. I don't need all the bells and whistles. I dumped cable 4 years ago and very satisfied with Media Center as my DVR.

 

[area 66]

It's not really surprising at all. In fact, Microsoft was originally going to deprecate media center. They were going to get rid of it all together, but they received a lot of feedback that people still wanted it. This is why they made it an add-on.

finally someone who may have THE good reason.

 

[MisterApathy]

We all know why it is still there, and that they don't really care about it.
I simply meant I was surprised they didn't change ANYTHING, its a massive missed opportunity to slap a more metro feel on it (especially odd given that Media Center was one of their first apps to have something resembling what Metro is now)

 

[area 66]

I was surprise too, it's why I start the tread, another sign that MS really cut some corners with Windows 8

here other examples :

1- the Task Manager don't show properlly 8 cores AMD CPU
2- The Windows 7 files recovery ( was too lazy to change the title)

 

[dirtyvu]

WMC8 is not the same as WMC7. It's pretty much similar in terms of features and the interface.

But it's more responsive than before. The Internet streaming stuff is now gone (no more CBS streaming for example). Setup is more streamlined and faster. I have 4 tuners in my system. With Windows 7, I could go take a break while it scans all the channels. Windows 8, it's much faster.

 

[dirtyvu]

Why would anyone use media center anyway....??? There are way better media players out there.

because other media players can't use TV tuners or are terrible at it. other media players are terrible at scheduling. other media players can't stream to the Xbox. other media players aren't good with remote controls.

 

[tseven]

They definitely should not discontinue it. They could be working on marketing their media department a bit more. They should be updating it with both metro and desktop updates. Adding new features and reworking the look of it. I'm sure there are changes but probably not big enough for an update that was this long apart. They focus so much effort on bing which is nice but media is also important. I mean for most casual users it's basically internet/media consumption. It's great they've done their best with xbox but what about music/video/other media? There are definitely a lot of other players but most casual users will not be searching online for another media player. If they create a convincing program they will definitely be able to reel in users and such. It's a missed opportunity for them. Not everyone is going to be using the metro. Even if I got a windows 8 I would spend all my time on the desktop because that's how I do my work. I would not be using a metro media player because it's just awkward unless I'm in the metro touch side of things. They need to rework things so that there is a program that is used on the desktop and on the tablet but built with those different interfaces in mind.

 

[crawfish]

They definitely should not discontinue it. They could be working on marketing their media department a bit more. They should be updating it with both metro and desktop updates. Adding new features and reworking the look of it. I'm sure there are changes but probably not big enough for an update that was this long apart. They focus so much effort on bing which is nice but media is also important. I mean for most casual users it's basically internet/media consumption. It's great they've done their best with xbox but what about music/video/other media? There are definitely a lot of other players but most casual users will not be searching online for another media player. If they create a convincing program they will definitely be able to reel in users and such. It's a missed opportunity for them. Not everyone is going to be using the metro. Even if I got a windows 8 I would spend all my time on the desktop because that's how I do my work. I would not be using a metro media player because it's just awkward unless I'm in the metro touch side of things. They need to rework things so that there is a program that is used on the desktop and on the tablet but built with those different interfaces in mind.

One thing is clear, and that is, Microsoft does not think the way you do. The HTPC is a failed experiment in their eye, and Xbox in the living room and touch devices for everything else are the future. Nothing would be more surprising than for Microsoft to revive Media Center or something like it (10' interface, CableCARD support, etc) at this point. It's almost unimaginable. I say that as a Media Center user for DVR since 2006 and CableCARD since 2011.