Mark's MCE Blog - Vista

Vista Q&A Content

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:49:35 GMT

A few months back I wrote an editorial for the Windows Vista Offical Magazine about the newly released version of Media Center found in Windows Vista (if you read that magazine my bit starts on page 64 in this months editon). I don't think I would get away with posting what I wrote here since I don't own the copyright anymore. However they did post some content from it free online. I was asked to come up with a list of Q&A questions so here is my current pick of 9 questions someone new to Media Center would have buying Vista.

http://www.windowsvistamagazine.com/4352741770014745542/windows-media-center-help-and-questions-answered.html

August 2006 Vista CTP Download

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:21:38 GMT

For a limited time (first 100,000 downloads) you can obtain an updated Pre-RC1 build of the Vista beta (5536). Over beta 2 this has a decent performance increase, and a few nice touches in the MCE UI as well such as greater use of the thumbnail facility in My TV. This will also be available via MSDN . If by the time you read this the download limit has been reached, don’t worry RC1 should be coming in the near future.

Public Download: http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/prerc1/en/download.html

Vista Media Center Extender in Europe

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:01:25 GMT

So far during the Vista Beta the extender functionality for Xbox 360 has been limited to the US and Canada. However the recently released 5472 build of Vista has opened this up to other regions. Unfortunately you need to be a member of the tech beta or MSDN (en_windows_vista_beta2_July2006CTP_x86_dvd.iso) to get access to this. Currently the next public build that will include the European functionality is RC1.

What happened to Messenger?

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 19:37:18 GMT

In Media Center 2005 a feature called Media Center Messenger was added which incorporated Messengers functionality into overlay windows. If you’ve had a play with the Vista beta’s you might of noticed that the feature has disappeared. The reason for this is that the feature was written to use the API (application programming interface) of Windows Messenger 4.7/5.0. In Vista there is no built in Messenger client, and all the MSN versions of Messenger (until recently, but see closing comment) do not contain the correct API to allow MC to hook in. For the time being this appears to be a lost feature in Vista, even installing Messenger 4.7 will not make it come back. Part of the reason why Windows Messenger got removed in Vista is because no team is actively developing it anymore. Home users get served by MSN, Business have a better client in the form of Office Live Communicator. So the obvious choice might be to hook into the MSN ‘Live’ client instead, however that would mean placing a dependency from a Widows Component on a product that isn’t included with Windows, and very likely doesn’t meet the same bars that are required of Windows components. Never say never, but it’s probably less likely.

Annoying Vista Audio

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 01:02:43 GMT

I've been having a little trouble with my sound in Vista over since Beta 2 came out. When it works it is great until there is a crackle and everything goes dead (usually 12-24hrs) which can only be cured by restarting either the Windows Audio Service or the machine. Of course this only happens on the system with the flagship Creative audio card installed, it's my own fault I know :) Curiously as ATi and Nvidia seem to be throwing beta drivers at us, Creative are still providing ones from November 2005 designed for build 5308. We can hope for Vista they actually come up with some decent software that doesn't cause their users to start petitions.

Signup for 360 Extender Beta

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:53:33 GMT

Interested in testing the new Vista version of the Extender software for Xbox360 and live in the US?

More Details
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2006/0530-beabetatester.htm

[This test is now full]

v1 Extenders and Windows Vista

Wed, 31 May 2006 20:17:55 GMT

As revealed in the Beta 2 release notes for Windows Vista no current Media Center Extender other than the Xbox 360 will be compatible with Vista Media Center

‘Q: Will my current Media Center Extender be obsolete once Windows Vista PCs are available?

A: As Windows Media Center Edition has reached well over 10M units and become a popular way to PVR TV and download movies, there have been greater demands and requests from content providers (Hollywood Studios, cable and satellite TV providers, and TV industry groups) to make the Windows Media Ecosystem more secure than was present in Windows XP. In Windows Vista, there are new architectural elements present to safeguard the rights of content owners. These architectural elements require associated new elements on the side of Media Center Extenders in order to continue to work in the highly protected environment. Customers of XBOX 360 will have their box updated by Vista automatically. When we get closer to the Windows Vista timeframe we will announce a program to make sure that early adopters who purchased a v1 Media Center Extender (from Linksys or HP) are accommodated. Current XBOX v1 Extender customers are encouraged to upgrade to XBOX 360 if they wish to ensure compatibility with both Windows Vista and Windows Media Center Edition 2005.

What does this mean?

Those with Xbox 360s will be fine (The .xex file that will provide Extender functionality for the Xbox 360 will be updated for Vista);
Those with HP x5400 and Linksys WMCE54AG extenders will need to get new extenders (either an Xbox 360 or a v2 Extender) for use with Vista. There will be a program to accommodate these people announced closer to Vista's launch date. Alternatively, they can continue to use Windows Media Center Edition 2005; and,
Those with Xbox v1 Extenders will need to get new hardware (either an Xbox 360 or a v2 Extender if they want to use Extender functionality with Vista). Alternatively, they can continue to use Windows Media Center Edition 2005.’

Media Player 11 Beta Out

Wed, 17 May 2006 21:49:38 GMT

Today Microsoft shipped a test version of Media Player 11 which will be out for Windows XP later this year and ship with Vista. First impressions have been good particularly in the navigation and search because of the new library database. It also fixed the annoying issue I had synchronising content to my SmartPhone where it would end up as a postage stamp in the middle of the screen. It is a little premature for a review, but it’s well worth taking a look at simply because IMO the experience is much better than Media Player 10.

It should be noted though that the improved library performance does not cross over from Media Player into Media Center. Vista will be the first version of Media Center to take advantage of WMP11 properly because it is being built with it in mind. This beta will only install on the 2005 Edition of Media Center and not 2002 or 2004. You must also pass Windows Genuine Advantage to install it.

Find out more
http://microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/default.aspx

Download
http://microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx

Updated Tuner Priority for Vista

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:07:28 GMT

I've uploaded an updated version of the Tuner Priority application today, there are no major bug fixes in it. The main aim of it was to work with the Vista beta. If you use it please ensure you have completed the configuration of at least 1 set of supported tuners otherwise you may encounter an error due to registry changes. I am holding off until beta 2 so that the Media Center registry is in somewhat more of a final state before I fix that.

Download
http://www.salloway.org.uk/mediacenter/util/index.htm