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News Microsoft confirms Windows Media Centre's demise

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Gareth Halfacree, 5 May 2015.

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  1. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Gareth Halfacree, 5 May 2015
    #1
  2. Corky42

    Corky42 Where's walle?

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    Decreased usage doesn't necessarily mean people don't want media centers, it may just mean yours isn't comparable or better than the competition.

    Good job they didn't take the same approach when IE started to lose market share, or have they done that with Edge? :confused:
     
    Corky42, 5 May 2015
    #2
  3. fingerbob69

    fingerbob69 Minimodder

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    What are ppl using as an alternative at the moment?
     
    fingerbob69, 5 May 2015
    #3
  4. Atomic

    Atomic Gerwaff

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    Plex or XBMC/Kodi.
     
    Atomic, 5 May 2015
    #4
  5. Herbicide

    Herbicide Lurktacular

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    NextPVR, for its windowed interface.
     
    Herbicide, 5 May 2015
    #5
  6. GaryP

    GaryP RIP Tel

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    Utter retards. Now is the time there will be even MORE demand given the right software.

    I use PLEX as a home server for Flims and TV series.
     
    GaryP, 5 May 2015
    #6
  7. Jimbob

    Jimbob Minimodder

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    Idiots, usage dropped for 3 very good and obvious reasons.

    1, You needed Windows Pro to begin with which adds over £50 already to the cost.
    2, It was difficult to add in Windows 8 unless you specifically knew tot search for it (the £6.99 was a bummer)
    3, Importantly, it add nothing to the Windows 7 version except you could no longer boot straight to WMC which was a pain, so most people stuck with Windows 7.

    Stupid Microsoft.
     
    Jimbob, 5 May 2015
    #7
  8. SexyHyde

    SexyHyde Minimodder

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    I never used it above testing. It's just a bit clunky compared to a good SmartTV / Chromecast / NAS.
     
    SexyHyde, 5 May 2015
    #8
  9. dark_avenger

    dark_avenger Minimodder

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    XBMC/Kodi :thumb:
     
    dark_avenger, 6 May 2015
    #9
  10. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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    I used WMC --it was brilliant, until the most recent version when they started 'fixing' things that weren't broke and made setting up clean and stable channels more of a chore --and more complex for the average user.

    But, you know, this is Microsoft. Just when low-power, compact PCs are hitting the market at an affordable price, and the demand for smart media networks and home entertainment systems combining OTA and internet TV is emerging, and smart home is the next thing, they cancel the software that would be a perfect platform for that.

    I guess it hasn't learned from cancelling Zune, only to be lagging behind a far more sophisticated competition now with the awful Xbox Music.

    Ah well, will be going to Kodi...
     
    Last edited: 6 May 2015
    Nexxo, 6 May 2015
    #10
  11. Snips

    Snips I can do dat, giz a job

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    I have to say, the negative tone on everything Microsoft is in stark contrast to other sites. Microsoft issue over 12 different pieces of news over the last 7 days and the only two you mention, in really negative ways. The new Surface removing the "RT" tag with fully functional 8.1, the acquisition of N-Trig Ltd who specialise in pen technology, Hands on invite for Halolens, Release of beta 10074 of Windows 10, Their demonstration of Andriod and iOS apps working fully on WIndows 10 devices and systems, Spartan now formally known as Edge.

    I'm sorry guys but for any other company, you would be jumping up and down on these topics.
     
    Snips, 6 May 2015
    #11
  12. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Really? How about the bug bounty? Windows Nano Server? Xbox price cut? Surface 3 launch? Project Spartan public beta? Halo 5 launch date? The Windows 10 launch date? Its space-saving features? How about its neat peer-to-peer patching functionality? Cross-buy support for apps and games? DirectX 12's rumoured multi-GPU 'crossfire' support? I rather think you'll find the majority of our coverage is positive in nature.
    You apparently failed to notice that there were only three pieces of news posted in the entirity of last week. There's a reason for that: I was on holiday. Had Microsoft announced positive things this week instead of last, they would have been covered. As it was, I was enjoying a week with the family at Centre Parcs. Which was lovely, thanks for asking.
    You mean the one I wrote about back in April? That one? Poor first example, there, chap.
    Doubt I would have written about that - 's a bit boring, don't you think?
    Now that I might have written about, had I not been on holiday, although I've already covered Hololens itself back in January in my extremely positive coverage of the Windows 10 unveil.
    I'm not writing a new story every time there's a new Windows 10 beta out.
    Yeah, I might have written about that on a semi-slow news day.
    You're behind the times, Snips: I covered that back in March.

    Any other feedback you'd care to offer?
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 6 May 2015
    #12
  13. jinq-sea

    jinq-sea 'write that down in your copy book' Super Moderator

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    I for one am very sad about the demise of Media Center. I've used it since the days of XP MCE, when I had a PC with a PCI dual tuner DVB-T card and an S-VIDEO (IMAGINE THAT) connection to a CRT TV.

    My current setup includes DVBLink, MyMovies, and I'm still using Media Center (on Win 8.1) it but I think, given the clear message given by MS, that it's time to move on.

    Kodi, anyone?
     
    jinq-sea, 6 May 2015
    #13
  14. Maki role

    Maki role Dale you're on a roll... Lover of bit-tech

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    To be fair, Microsoft's weak point has always been their software...

    :p
     
    Maki role, 6 May 2015
    #14
  15. Mister_Tad

    Mister_Tad Will work for nuts Super Moderator

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    I used MCE in the XP and Vista days and it served its purpose, but IMO has now been comprehensively surpassed by either appliances for light usage (e.g. Apple TV, Fire TV etc) or more the likes of Kodi and Plex for heavier usage.

    Windows Media Centre was never going to compete with the appliances on cost, and I can't see MS ever competing with the likes of Kodi if what you want it something all-encompassing.

    A loss, yes, simply because the choice is nice, but realistically it's not something I would ever consider using again if it was still around.
     
    Mister_Tad, 6 May 2015
    #15
  16. Snips

    Snips I can do dat, giz a job

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    Please don't take that the wrong way Gareth, which it appears you have and I sincerely apologise. I know we've had the rumour or initial details from you, it was the official releases and you can't be blamed for taking a holiday, christ knows you deserve it ;)
     
    Snips, 6 May 2015
    #16
  17. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Apology accepted. I get irritated when people accuse me of bias. I mean, I am biased - everyone is - but I at least try to keep my coverage neutral. That doesn't mean that I won't tear a strip off a company if it's done something stupid, though - and equally it doesn't mean that I won't write a story the very next day praising the self-same company for doing something right. Just look at my recent Lenovo coverage for evidence of that.
    Official releases of what? Spartan hasn't been 'officially released' yet, it's a beta and one I've already written about, and that won't change until Windows 10 launches in the Summer; the Surface 3 doesn't launch until tomorrow, and my earlier coverage was of Microsoft's official announcement rather than a rumour; and last I checked you still can't buy Hololens on the open market, so that hasn't been released either. Which 'official release' were you referring to?
    Ta! It was very lovely, although BLIMEY it's expensive. We wouldn't have been able to afford it normally, even for a week, but we shared a villa with another family to bring the cost down. Also, I think I've undone all my good work losing weight - the restaurants at Center Parcs Nottingham Forest are pretty lovely!
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 6 May 2015
    #17
  18. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    Couldn't this just be a precursor to their acquisition of some small independent software house that does a better job of producing media playback and storage software?
    Was that the one up by Rufford Park / Edwinstowe? Did you visit Go Ape too?
     
    David, 6 May 2015
    #18
  19. ArcAngeL

    ArcAngeL What's a Dremel?

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    They should integrate basic tv features into spartan. Pvr, Cortana Chanel select, media playback. Then they would have a competitive browser
     
    ArcAngeL, 6 May 2015
    #19
  20. yodasarmpit

    yodasarmpit Modder

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    I'm now using Plex which I must say is rather nice, took a little setting up but I now have it working the way I want.
     
    yodasarmpit, 6 May 2015
    #20
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