Microsoft Should Cut Windows Media Center from Windows 8 - Ben Wade

Yea I said it: Microsoft needs to remove Windows Media Center from Windows 8 and head down a new path. They need to burn that bridge, Indiana Jones with a machete style… Why Ben? Why would you publicly state something so outrageous and provoking on a Media Center focused site? Before you set Twitter aflame and curse Josh for signing a traitor on to the DMZ team, take a look at my eight reasons for wanting to ditch WMC for the new Windows 8 Start screen.

Developing for WMC is an Atrocity
You should congratulate Netflix, MyMovies and MediaBrowser for having successfully developed WMC UIs that work and look beautiful. Anyone who has seen MCML or looked at how many different files it takes just a get a basic WMC plugin knows that developing for this platform is a disaster at best. Eight different files using unique, unfriendly XML and .NET variant code are all it takes to make a WMC app with a button our two. Documentation for developers is relatively non-existent. This is why you don’t see lots of apps for Media Center, why it take forever to update the apps that are out there and why Media Center has not flourished like we all hoped it would.

Clearly no one on the Media Center team was listening when Balmer said “Developers! Developers! Developers!” You can have an Android app up on the entire Android platform with a single XML file and a Java file. WinRT is what all Media Center apps should be based on. HTML, JavaScipt, C#, C++, Silverlight. Done. Programmers, n00b and veteran, can understand and learn these languages easily. File structure is greatly simplified. As seen in the developer preview, Visual Studio 11 will have great WinRT UI WYSIWYG tools for Metro UI development. WinRT removes or lessens the barrier to developing great home theater applications, thus we could finally get the home theater support and app market we Microsoft fanatics all want and deserve.

Metro UI is WMC 2.0
The hubs and tiles of the Metro UI Windows 8 start screen respond to remote commands much like in Windows Media Center. Hubs and tiles are easily customizeable through a couple clicks of the mouse in the sub-menus of the Metro UI. There is no need to start a separate application when Windows starts, it is Windows already.
Today, Windows Media Center is pretty much uncustomiseable. If you install any new plugins, usually a new strip is created and eventually the whole system gets cluttered up. Yes, you can use Media Center Studio, an unsupported, crashy WYSIWIG editor for WMC. But that is for us hardcore Media Center fanatics, not the average Joe.

The Windows 8 Browser
You can have nearly the entire Internet at the buttons of your TV remote. Just hit the IE tile and up pops the Metro Internet Explorer. Now you can manage your streaming services, check your email or Twitter account, or pop up a YouTube video. The Win8 browser has its limits though. No support for plugins (not even Silverlight) will prohibit you from watching Netflix, VUDU or Amazon. Not to feer, that is what WinRT is for!

The Windows Store
Windows Media Center lacks a centralized location for managing, discovering and updating plugins. Yes, there is the Extras Gallery, but no one puts their apps there. Yes, the Digital Lifestyle had the right idea with their Made for Media Center app store, but it does not come pre-installed, it has no payment system for developers, and it is rarely updated. The Windows Store in Windows 8 comes pre-installed and provides a full-featured app store supported by Microsoft. This is where you will get your Netflix app and Your VUDU app and your Amazon Instant Video app and your MyMovies app. This is where you will get your à la carte movies and TV from Microsoft once they kill Zune.

Browsing Local and Network Media
Music, Videos, and Pictures are all represented as hubs in the Win8 Metro UI. However, we all know that MediaBrowser and MyMovies have much prettier UIs. There is no reason why they can’t build WinRT hubs that look beautiful and function in similar ways. If they could hack together MCML to build their rich interfaces, then doing an even better job with HTML, JavaScript and C# should be no problem.

Skype Integration
In 2011, Microsoft bought Skype in an attempt to either block others from gobbling it up or to gain some serious brand recognition in the teleconferencing market. Either way, it is inevitable that a robust Skype app will appear in the Windows Store on Windows 8. While there is a WMC plugin for Skype, a free native Windows application has to give the user a better experience.

Streaming Services
Streaming services are a primary function of home theater PCs. Netflix is already built into Windows Media Center. But what about VUDU, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes and the soon-to-be Redbox/Verizon service? For that stuff, you either have to go through a browser or hack WMC to display an icon for a separate app that works with a streaming service. Ridiculous. Why not just replicate their HTML/JavaScript code from their websites into WinRT apps? Done. But why didn’t these companies make apps for Media Center? See my first point.
Click to expand...

Read more at:
Microsoft Should Cut Windows Media Center from Windows 8 | The Digital Media Zone
 
Click to expand...
...or simple reasons why they should not remove it: It works awesome for me and I think its awesome.

Not interested in all that other stuff the author try to push and I suspect there are tons of people like me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
Personally I completely agree with the first six points. The final two are irrelevant to me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
No they shouldn't remove it. They should definitely improve it. I mean if they can remake it then fine but if they are gonna pull a start screen on us and removal of start button without a real solution then no.
 

My Computer

System One

Creating separate apps to replace WMC which already works perfectly seems pointless to me especially when you would need to pay for each and everyone of those apps and WMC "was" free.

WMC rules and no single app will be replacing it anytime soon. I with GMAN on this one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
chev65 said:
Creating separate apps to replace WMC which already works perfectly seems pointless to me especially when you would need to pay for each and everyone of those apps and WMC "was" free.

WMC rules and no single app will be replacing it anytime soon. I with GMAN on this one.
Click to expand...

Currently I'm only using two WMC for two plugins, Media Browser (free) and a Blu-ray playback program.

Currently they are working on a Metro version of Media Browser, which will cut out the middle man.

Then all I need is a half-decent blu-ray disk player (which handles DVD)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
IceFire said:
chev65 said:
Creating separate apps to replace WMC which already works perfectly seems pointless to me especially when you would need to pay for each and everyone of those apps and WMC "was" free.

WMC rules and no single app will be replacing it anytime soon. I with GMAN on this one.
Click to expand...

Currently I'm only using two WMC for two plugins, Media Browser (free) and a Blu-ray playback program.

Currently they are working on a Metro version of Media Browser, which will cut out the middle man.

Then all I need is a half-decent blu-ray disk player (which handles DVD)
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that someone is working on a version of WMC for metro, but why is it required when it already works as "free" software on all versions of Windows. Yes, I need a decent Blu-Ray player/burner for both my regular PC and my Media center PC, and they aren't cheap. I just play Blu-Ray's on my Sony Blu-Ray player for now.

In the mean time I have yet to see any App that can replace "all of the" functionality of WMC, movies, music, streaming TV on and on.

It would take one hell of an App to get me to exchange my current Media Center PC for Windows 8 and some type of Media player App. As is, I set my Windows 7 Media PC to open up with WMC already on full screen, I'm not so sure that Windows 8 will allow that even with WMC installed or with an App.

I think it may be a while before we see such an App. I'm kind of hoping that the WMC add on for Windows 8 will only be a buck or two so this may turn into a non issue anyway. :geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
chev65 said:
Yes, I need a decent Blu-Ray player/burner for both my regular PC and my Media center PC, and they aren't cheap. I just play Blu-Ray's on my Sony Blu-Ray player for now.
Click to expand...

Have you tried Media Player Classic Home Cinema? I know for a fact it can play the codecs very well with hardware acceleration. What I am not sure of is if it keeps the BluRay format so you can just load the disc instead of choosing the .m2ts files. I don't have any physical BR discs or 1:1 copies on my HDD to try.

Basically, it for sure will play but not sure if can include menus or play "automatically" without selecting specific files in Windows Explorer...etc...

If you ever go the purchasing route, PowerDVD 11 is the goods, once you tweak all its bloat to be disabled in the registry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
chev65 said:
IceFire said:
chev65 said:
Creating separate apps to replace WMC which already works perfectly seems pointless to me especially when you would need to pay for each and everyone of those apps and WMC "was" free.

WMC rules and no single app will be replacing it anytime soon. I with GMAN on this one.
Click to expand...

Currently I'm only using two WMC for two plugins, Media Browser (free) and a Blu-ray playback program.

Currently they are working on a Metro version of Media Browser, which will cut out the middle man.

Then all I need is a half-decent blu-ray disk player (which handles DVD)
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that someone is working on a version of WMC for metro, but why is it required when it already works as "free" software on all versions of Windows. Yes, I need a decent Blu-Ray player/burner for both my regular PC and my Media center PC, and they aren't cheap. I just play Blu-Ray's on my Sony Blu-Ray player for now.

In the mean time I have yet to see any App that can replace "all of the" functionality of WMC, movies, music, streaming TV on and on.

It would take one hell of an App to get me to exchange my current Media Center PC for Windows 8 and some type of Media player App. As is, I set my Windows 7 Media PC to open up with WMC already on full screen, I'm not so sure that Windows 8 will allow that even with WMC installed or with an App.

I think it may be a while before we see such an App. I'm kind of hoping that the WMC add on for Windows 8 will only be a buck or two so this may turn into a non issue anyway. :geek:
Click to expand...

There's XBMC . which does virtually everything WMC does.

And do you use all of WMC's features? Do you actually have a TV tuner installed and record and watch all of your shows on it? Even then, those with services such as IPTV (like Telus TV) is completely incompatible.

And WMC isn't completely "all in one." It doesn't do blu-ray without a plugin, nor does it handle your own movie and TV collections perfectly without a plugin. An "all in one" solution isn't really the best, anyways. Not everyone uses every single feature, such as sports lookup, Radio (which requires a radio tuner installed), or Recorded TV (which doesn't allow you to use your own videos.

Metro, on the other hand, allows you to place components and third-party applications you use fornt and center, and hide those that you don't.

Prove to me that you absolutely NEED WMC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
Just rip out WMC, like Icefire said, it's not a complete all in one and only 6% of the population use it. Why would you use it on a laptop or a tablet, it's meant for TV's. The main reason I use WMC is for music and occasionally ripped movies on my NAS.
For movies XBMC is the best and for BluRay the best paid solution is Power DVD. There are other free solutions for people who need free.
I'm looking forward to what Metro can bring to the table, I get bored easily on computers so new Apps new OS's keep me interested. One of the main reasons I can't stand Macs, is that they bore me to death, if I want to rip out my motherboard I can do it, if I want a new video card I can do it, upgrading is simple and cheap.
In my opinion rip out everything that is not necessary to the majority of the people and make the OS as as light and nimble as possible. Then offer either free features or low paid ones to the people who need them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro/Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 64 Bit64Bit/Windows XP
Leave WMC as it is for the few people that DO use it.

But Microsoft is going to be announcing their new "Zune-like" media service. Hopefully, this might mean a new media player of sorts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
One thing I can't stand is messing with and having to relearn a third party application when there is already a Windows version that works perfectly for me. Why change when there is no reason to change? I'm not looking for a replacement anyway. As for this mysterious App that replaces WMC, just like Windows 8 replacing Windows 7, why fix it if it's not broke.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
chev65 said:
As for this mysterious App that replaces WMC
Click to expand...

I think if anyone is going to have an argument for WMC being replaced by something, that something should be an actuality and not some far off concept so potential users can decide if it is right or not for them.

An analogy to these people: I want to replace your car. In the future, there will be Jetson-like personal air vehicles that we currently don't know how well they will work or not. So let me take away your car now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
GMan said:
chev65 said:
As for this mysterious App that replaces WMC
Click to expand...

I think if anyone is going to have an argument for WMC being replaced by something, that something should be an actuality and not some far off concept so potential users can decide if it is right or not for them.

An analogy to these people: I want to replace your car. In the future, there will be Jetson-like personal air vehicles that we currently don't know how well they will work or not. So let me take away your car now.
Click to expand...

technically Windows 8 isn't official yet and you're free to stay with 7 for a while, And there is XBMC (a Desktop mode application like WMC, but better) now, besides the Media Browser Foundation working on a Metro version.

It's more like having new cars coming out just when you are ready to sell your old car.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
IceFire said:
It's more like having new cars coming out just when you are ready to sell your old car.
Click to expand...

Ya, thanks. Don't need any car salesman pushing something that he doesn't even know what he is pushing yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
GMan said:
IceFire said:
It's more like having new cars coming out just when you are ready to sell your old car.
Click to expand...

Ya, thanks. Don't need any car salesman pushing something that he doesn't even know what he is pushing yet.
Click to expand...

Just because you don't know anything about XBMC Doesn't mean that the salesperson doesn't. You can install it on your computer right now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
@icefire, I have been using XBMC for many years, it should be made compulsory for anyone owning a HTPC. Unfortunately it doesnt play Blu-Ray unless you convert it to MKV. It doesnt need a salesperson, it just needs to be put on your PC to see how good it is.

But I still like WMC for music, but do me a favour Microsoft take it out of the OS, not enough people use it, I'll pay if I have to, but would rather see it as a free add on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro/Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 64 Bit64Bit/Windows XP
IceFire said:
Just because you don't know anything about XBMC Doesn't mean that the salesperson doesn't. You can install it on your computer right now.
Click to expand...

I never claimed anything for or against (nor implied) and don't doubt it's the goods. You're right though, I never have tried it ever.

BillWindows said:
You've just described Steve Jobs.
Click to expand...

lol but only from a standpoint of not really knowing anything about him at all....so it's not an educated lol. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
    CPU
    P4 3.4 GHz HT
    Motherboard
    MSI-7211
    Memory
    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
GMan said:
IceFire said:
Just because you don't know anything about XBMC Doesn't mean that the salesperson doesn't. You can install it on your computer right now.
Click to expand...

I never claimed anything for or against (nor implied) and don't doubt it's the goods. You're right though, I never have tried it ever.

BillWindows said:
You've just described Steve Jobs.
Click to expand...

lol but only from a standpoint of not really knowing anything about him at all....so it's not an educated lol. :)
Click to expand...

Read his book, its a good read, I dont like the guy and I really dislike Apple, but I did like the book. If you dont like him now you'll like him even less after reading the book.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro/Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 64 Bit64Bit/Windows XP
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top