Microsoft Launches New Worldwide Platform for Broadcast TV on the PC
Today at IBC2008, Microsoft Corp. announced it has delivered in the marketplace Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA), Microsoft’s new worldwide platform for broadcast TV on the PC. Made possible by the recent release of Windows Media Center TV Pack, the platform for the first time enables the PC-TV hardware ecosystem to integrate virtually any free or premium TV service into Windows Media Center, while satisfying the TV industry’s requirements for strong content protection in the case of pay TV. Among the leading companies rallying behind PBDA at the show are AVerMedia Inc., Buffalo, Hauppauge Computer Works Inc., I-O Data Device Inc., NEC Electronics Corp., NXP Semiconductors and ViXS Systems Inc. — all playing a critical role in driving the forward momentum for PBDA adoption.
The PBDA platform enhances and supersedes the existing Broadcast Driver Architecture (BDA), which has been Microsoft’s standard for digital video capture on Windows operating systems for many years. Now, PC OEMs and tuner-makers no longer need to rely heavily on Microsoft to specifically enable and support the ability to output broadcast services on a one-off basis; they can develop and ship TV tuners for Windows Media Center to target a broader set of TV standards and markets. For broadcast service providers, the flexibility of one consistent platform that supports multiple TV standards specifically for protected content opens the door for more consumer options to be made available.
Source- Microsoft Press Release
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Release Candidate announced!
Just got the mail from the Windows Sideshow team that have released the RC version of Media Center gadgets for Windows Sideshow has been released.
Here is what the mail reads-
Download the Release Candidate build of the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow here:
(download links removed, you would be only able to download only if you were approved earlier to test the product)
Please install this build and provide feedback. The final release will be posted to the Windows Live Gallery in the near future.
While you are there, check out some of the great new gadgets that have been uploaded including Remotebook (for Facebook), AccuWeather, Twitter, System Health and Windows Live Messenger (all available in 9 languages)!
Support for Media Center Extenders:
Extenders are now supported if you are using a SideShow device that can pre-enable the gadgets. The Ricavision Vave100 remote control is an example of a device that pre-enables the Media Center gadgets.
Try this with your Xbox 360 or other extender device and provide us with any feedback. Additional instructions have been added to the Installation Instructions page about using the gadgets with an extender.
Connect Site Links:
Installation Instructions
Gadget general information and known issues
Send Feedback
Want to write your own Gadget in Managed Code? It’s easy!
You can download and install our easy to use SDK, which includes templates for a gadget that integrate with Visual Studio (2005/2008 including express editions). You can build and run the template Gadget right out of the box giving you an easy place to start to tailor your own gadget. Download this today from Microsoft Download Center:
Windows SideShow Managed API 1.0 SDK
Have a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 phone?
Download and install Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview
Your feedback has greatly increased the quality of this release! Thank you so very much from our entire team for taking part in the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Beta.
Thank you!
The Windows SideShow team
Microsoft to Detail Windows Fiji - Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, In a month
Windows Codename Fiji is the prime example of Microsoft sticking to an absurd policy when it comes down to communicating details about its products to the general public. Even at just one month from the release of Windows Fiji, the Redmond company is keeping a tight lid on all details much to the frustration of Windows Media Center users. This, especially since Fiji was released to manufacturing in July as the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008. However, the RTM of Windows Fiji has changed nothing for Windows Media Center end users who, with the exception of a limited pool of testers involved in the Beta development milestones of the products, are being kept completely
in the dark.
Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 RTM is Build 6.1.1000.18273, designed for implementation on top of Windows Media Center in Windows Vista RTM or Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The gold bits have been available since July 16, according to the Redmond company. But even so, Microsoft will only offer the first details on Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 on September 3.
Charlie Owen, product manager on the Media Center team, has invited users to post questions related to Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 on his blog, but indicated that no answers will be provided until next month.
"What questions do you have about the Windows Media Center TV? I can’t answer or comment on any of them until the official announcements happen at CEDIA. But I can think about the answers before then. If you have specific questions about the Windows Media Center TV Pack leave them in the comments," Owen stated.
The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association Expo is scheduled to take place between September 3 and 7 in Denver. According to Mary Jo Foley, Windows Media Center users are in rather for a nasty surprise than a treat. Windows Fiji/Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 is not a major update to Windows Media Center in Vista RTM and SP1 as the most relevant features were postponed and will be included in Windows 7. In this regard, the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 will not deliver Direct TV and H.264 video-compression support and furthermore will be an OEM release only.
Source- Softpedia
Visit NBCOlympics.com on MSN and Watch the Summer Games You Want, When You Want
NBCOlympics.com on MSN is the exclusive U.S. online destination for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. A number of Microsoft Corp. teams have worked together to create a rich and immersive experience for Olympic fans that enables them to watch the summer games they want, when they want. MSN, Silverlight, Windows Media Center, Zune and Xbox all provide unique options that let viewers experience the Olympics in a way they never have before.
What: Check out NBCOlympics.com on MSN and watch more than 3,500 hours of live and on-demand video that will let you experience the Games like never before. Now, you can conveniently watch the games you want, when you want whether you are at home, at work or on the go.
•MSN. NBCOlympics.com on MSN is the best destination to catch all the action with a 24×7 Olympics module on the MSN home page, complete with the latest news, live medal counts, statistics and videos that will make catching up on your favorite event or athlete quick and easy. Now, sports fans can keep the adrenaline pumping with non-stop action, news and videos on MSN.
•Silverlight. Silverlight 2 enables NBC to provide online viewers with Olympics content in a rich, interactive viewing experience that includes some of the highest-quality video on the Web today. Users can view up to four events at the same time with picture-in-picture controls, and customize the player to capture their favorite events. In addition, dynamic overlays will provide expert commentary, and users also will be able to access statistics, play-by-play captioning, and athlete profiles through Silverlight as they watch their favorite event.
•Windows Media Center. Olympic enthusiasts can take NBC’s coverage of Olympic events wherever they go with “NBC Olympics on the Go,” powered by Wavexpress’ TVTonic Internet video, a free service that allows sports fans to download NBC Olympics video of their favorite sports to their laptops in up-to-high-definition quality. Fans who are looking for the highlights from Beijing will be able to download these videos through “NBC Direct.”
•Xbox. During the Olympics, users will have access to a daily wrap-up of the day’s events from NBC Sports. Wrap-up content will be priced at $1.99 under the NBC Network, with a complete Olympic wrap-up available at the end of the Games.
•Zune. On Aug. 8, Zune Marketplace will kick off a series of daily 2008 Olympic Games videos from NBC Sports, giving viewers special on-the-go access to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. For approximately 99 cents–$1.99 per episode (with post-Games content TBD), footage will include memorable highlights from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, “best of” compilations, “best match” replays and a post-Games wrap-up feature. Users will be able to download each episode onto their Zune device for viewing whenever and wherever they go.
•Live Search. Live Search will provide an xRank of Olympic athletes showing which athletes are being searched for the most on Live Search, who is on the rise and who is declining in search popularity. It will also provide detailed “instant answers” on Olympics-specific search queries performed at Live.com or via Web search on NBCOlympics.com on MSN. Queries to try include an athlete’s name or “Olympic medals,” or medals for <country> and/or <sport> e.g., “Medals for USA” or “USA medals for swimming.”
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Beta!
We’re excited to announce the Beta release of the Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow! Click the following link to join our open Microsoft Connect program for the Media Center Gadget Beta:
http://connect.microsoft.com/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=2380&SiteID=312&InvitationID=GPB-79MM-RFJ2 (This link can be used only once. Login to Microsoft Connect after joining to access this program.)
You can use these gadgets from any SideShow device. If you have a Windows Mobile device, you can download and install our developer preview.
4 gadgets are included with this beta that allow you to:
- Browse the TV Guide and schedule recordings. Browse Recorded TV by thumbnail.
- Browse your music library and control music playback.
- Browse Picture and Video libraries.
- View "now playing" information and control Media Center with playback controls.
Connect Site permanent links:
Download
Installation Instructions
Gadget general information and known issues
Send Feedback
Source- MSDN Blog
Reliability and performance update is available for Windows Vista SP1
This update resolves issues that may affect some Windows Vista SP1-based computers. These issues have been reported by customers who use the Error Reporting service or Microsoft Customer Support Services.
This update improves the performance, responsiveness, and reliability of Windows Vista in various scenarios.
This update includes the following improvements on a Windows Vista SP1-based computer:
•This update improves the stability of Windows Vista SP1-based computers by addressing some crashes that may occur when you try to check e-mail by using a POP3 e-mail client such as Windows Mail or Mozilla Thunderbird. The crashes may occur on a Windows Vista SP1-based computer in the following scenario:
•Incoming POP3 and outgoing SMTP traffic monitoring is enabled.
•Both a third-party antivirus application and an antispyware application are installed, such as the following applications:
•ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
•SpySweeper by Webroot Software, Inc.
•This update improves the reliability of the Windows Vista SP1 based-computers by addressing some problems that occur when you delete user accounts by using the User Accounts item in Control Panel. When this problem occurs, the system may stop responding (hang).
•This update improves the reliability of Windows Vista SP1-based computers that experience issues in which large applications cannot run after the computer is turned on for extended periods of time. For example, when you try to start Excel 2007 after the computer is turned on for extended periods of time, a user may receive an error message that resembles the following:
EXCEL.EXE is not a valid Win32 application
•This update improves the reliability of Windows Vista SP1-based computers by reducing the number of crashes that may be caused by the Apple QuickTime thumbnail preview in Windows Live Photo Gallery.
•This update improves the performance of Windows Vista SP1-based computers by reducing audio and video (AV) stuttering. Such AV stuttering may occur when the audio or video component is streaming high definition content from a Windows Vista SP1-based computer that has a NVIDIA network adapter nForce driver version 67.5.4.0 that is installed to a Windows Media Center Extender device.
Source: support.microsoft.com
Microsoft Expands TV Signal Support in Japan
Microsoft made plans public on Friday in Japan (late Thursday in US) for the release of a product called “Windows Media Center TV Pack” as a part of their increased TV signal support in the country.
(Image via Masaru Kamikura’s tumblr)
What is the Windows Media Center TV Pack? Well, that’s up to the translated press release to tell us (Original press release).
- Google Translation: TV Pack….“Provide PC manufacturers, PC manufacturers from terrestrial digital broadcasting is PC compatible with Windows Vista(1)”
(1) Note: and provide the package, Windows Update, and by extension will not only provide.
- Yahoo Babelfish Translation: TV Pack…“PC manufacturer, from the PC manufacturer Windows Vista loading PC which corresponds to terrestrial digital broadcast, it is the schedule which in the future is shipped(1)”
(1) Note: offer in package edition and offer etc only of the extended function with Windows Update there is no.
Source- Chris Lanier’s Blog
Windows Fiji : Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 leaked screenshots
We have just got the Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 which has been leaked on the net which was supposed to be available for download later this year and currently is in private beta.According to the information, the version of this new Windows Media Center is 6.1.1000.18182 (longhorn_mc_dev_fb0(wmbla).080410-2208) and the licence also mentions it as Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008.
In addition to this it adds a New built-in Update engine which is seperate from Windows Update named as “Windows Media Center Update”
Just take a look at some of the screenshots-
For obvious reasons I cannot post the download links so please don’t ask for any download links.
