Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
Home > Windows > Windows 8 > The Final Insult? Microsoft Explains, Dumps on, Media Center in Windows 8

The Final Insult? Microsoft Explains, Dumps on, Media Center in Windows 8

May 4, 2012 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

I’ve been fielding therapy-like emails from Windows Media Center fans and fanatics alike since last fall when Windows 8 head honcho Steven Sinofsky reveals that next to no one actually uses the software. But with this week’s latest Media Center insult delivered via the Building Windows 8 Blog, Microsoft may have crossed a line for these fans. And I’m not looking forward to the email I’ll be getting about this little transgression.

Put simply, Windows Media Center is no longer apart of Windows though the post specifically says that “Windows Media Center will be available in Windows 8”. That is not entirely factual. Media Center will be available as a paid add-on only for those who purchase Windows 8 Pro. And though we already knew this, I find it hilarious to read the various “confirmed” blog posts that are springing up this week. Microsoft explicitly announced this a long time ago, folks.

We suspected that the version of Windows Media Center that Microsoft would provide at a “nominal fee” to Windows 8 Pro users only would in fact be the exact same version of Media Center that’s currently available in Windows 7, and this week’s blog post does in fact “confirm” that, noting that Windows 8 Pro will “fully support the capabilities of Media Center as it is in Windows 7 ... it will maintain the functionality that was in Windows 7.”

However.

Allow me to string together phrases from this post that add up to what will be perceived as a huge insult to Windows Media Center which, like so many Microsoft products before it, was thrown out there and left to wither on the vine with nary a developer adding features or improvements to it for years on end. It goes like this:

“Windows 8 will deliver a world-class video and audio entertainment experience” that provides “a comprehensive video and audio platform for developers to build engaging and differentiated apps.” It’s “optimized for system reliability, battery life, and performance” and is “a robust platform” that will access the “online sources such as YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, or any of the other myriad of online and downloadable video services” that “the vast majority of” actual users are using.

None of that applies to Windows Media Center.

In other words, that whole paragraph describes the new media features in Windows 8—which, by the way, are absolutely terrible in the Consumer Preview—but Windows Media Center, which was wonderfully fleshed out over a full decade and would have made a terrific all-in-one Metro-style app ... is left to die. Left unsaid: It would have been very easy to add support for online video services to Media Center.

Media Center, Microsoft says, is old-school. It’s about DVD and broadcast TV consumption. You know, the stuff your grandparents do. It’s not new and shiny and fresh. So it’s getting tossed to the side in the fervent push to “reimagine” Windows.

Oddly, this week’s post does expand on how you’ll be able to get Windows Media Center.

Windows 8 Pro users, as we knew, will purchase Windows Media Center. This will happen as part of something called the Windows 8 Media Center Pack. (Pricing TBD).

Windows 8 users, however, will be able to purchase another new package, called the Windows 8 Pro Pack, which adds Windows Media Center as well as some underlying capabilities like DVD playback. (Pricing also TBD). Does the Windows 8 Pro Pack equate to an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro? (It appears so, yes, based on the graphic in the post.) And does the existence of this pack further suggest that Windows Anytime Upgrade will NOT be part of Windows 8? (UPDATE: As many have noted, Microsoft is replacing WAU with something called Add Features to Windows 8," which is a great name for something that will trigger a payment.)

I know, I know. Expecting clarity is a bit much to ask these days. I can dream.

By the way, I just ordered a new Ivy Bridge-based PC this week. And yes, I did get it with an integrated OTA-based TV tuner so I can use Media Center. Just saying.


Discuss this Article 26

Jongarbee
on May 4, 2012
You *could* use WMC, but like any normal person you won't.
SNissen
on May 4, 2012
I don't care about Windows Media Center per se, but I do want Windows 8 to be able to playback video DVDs without having to add a third party codec. Microsoft, you don't add DVD playing to Windows 7, only to take it back out of Windows 8.
exmsde
on May 4, 2012
One really has to put the original goal of Media Center in the current perspective. It was built as a means of turning PCs into living room entertainment devices. When that strategy failed it lived on as one of many ways to use a PC for entertainment, but it had little love. There were multiple attempts to revive it within its original goal, including moving it to the Entertainment and Devices group. But E&D decided that the Xbox was the future of living room entertainment. Where did, where could, that leave Media Center? It is just one too many solution in a portfolio that historically only grows, and it is time for it to shrink. And when that happens we miss the few things it did better than the other solutions, but that doesn't justify the continued investment. What I really want to see out of Microsoft is a consistent media story without use X for this and Y for that and Z for this other thing with none of them actually solving the problem. If Media Center's long goodbye allows for that then I'll be happy in the end. By the way I never really used Media Center for one simple reason, the many times promised and never delivered support from DirecTV meant it was never a TV solution for me. And so it goes.
Waethorn
on May 4, 2012
If the Windows 8 Pro Pack truly is an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro + Media Center, this will be a worthwhile online upgrade offering. Pricing is where they need to get it right though, because Anytime Upgrade was horribly overpriced. The Pro Pack shouldn't cost more than the difference between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, and I'd go further and say it shouldn't cost more than the difference between OEM System Builder copies, which are far less than retail. Also, I'm hoping that the non-present media codecs in a vanilla Windows 8 will bring the price down. I'd like to see retail prices be the same as generic OEM System Builder copies (not royalty/direct OEM, because those require MOQ's), and direct support and transfer rights should be an ala carte option as they are with System Builder copies (you'd need to add a Software Assurance agreement to get those for OEM copies).
JDoors
on May 4, 2012
Waaaah! I like Windows Media Center. But hey, if I'm in the minority, I'm in the minority. Farewell, I guess. It does bring up a pet peeve of mine that applies to many other products and services, where the provider says, "Few people use it," but what they really mean is that a small PERCENTAGE of their customers use it. NetFlix, which I cancelled due to this and other issues, retired many features saying, "Few people use it." I did the math (they revealed that all-important "percentage") and it was MILLIONS and MILLIONS of users. The same with Windows Media Center. A small percentage of Microsoft Windows users may use it with any regularity, but what is that in actual numbers? A BILLION users? More?? Thanks a lot MS. :P
ghosthunter1966
on May 4, 2012
Hi Paul, I've been reading your articles for years and you have some really great information to share, and its's greatly appreciated. This is the death nail in the coffin for Windows 8 for me. We run 2 media centers in the house, along with 8 other PC's (big family) which all connect to share TV, DVD's and recorded TV. Like a lot of MC users, I've spent a lot of money putting this system togehter with the hope that MS would put some time and effort into this product. I dont' mind paying extra for MC being an add-on, but if they plan no further development of the product, that leaves me with little choice but to stick with Windows 7. I understand they need to make a living, but they really missed the boat on marketing MC, and because of this, really fell behind in the HTPC market. I thought it was a briliant move to put it into the Windows 7 OS, get people using it, and then down the road find a way to charge for the feature, maybe by adding new functionality. The problem is, nobody knows about this product! If you take the time to talk to folks at Best Buy or any electronics store, for that matter, they are clueless about its functionality, and consequently, aren't pushing the product. I find it a lot like the Windows 7 phone at my local cell store. The people SELLING the product aren't interested. Why? Because it is SO typically Microsoft to start a product and let it "whither and die". There are a lot of other programs out there (not all of them free) which do a lot more than MC can do, but I'm comfortable with MC, and I've spent a lot of time and effort getting to know the product, updating hardware and purchasing Ceton Tuners, which MS *Highlighted* during the CES a few years ago. Like you, I like Microsoft. I think they make good products that are easy to understand and work with, but if they keep shuffling their feet on whether or not they are going to continue so-and-so product, they are going to lose a lot of customers.
Justin Salvato
on May 4, 2012
I too like Windows Media Center, but if it isn't in Windows 8, I can get over it. My XBOX 360, XBOX Live/Zune subscriptions, Netflix, Zune video and broadcast television fulfills all my needs (and then some).
thalter
on May 4, 2012
WMC was an answer to a question that no one really asked: How can I use an expensive PC (with its attendant Windows license), which requires constant maintenance, updating, patching, hardening, and takes forever to boot up, to do the job of an inexpensive appliance? People who want to time shift shows are better served by a DVR from the cable company. Those who want to screen shift are better served by a Slingbox. Those who want to stream are better served by an Apple TV or modern BD player with apps, and those who want to watch physical discs are better served by a DVD or BD player.
Angel Of Death
on May 4, 2012
I understand that Media Center inside a computer is not the optimal, but there is no replacement for the solution on the market. I could live without having to maintain a computer to run Media Center, but everything is integrated; I can play DVDs and BDs, I can easily access web content, I can access media on other computers and devices, I can watch, time-shift and record broadcast TV from cable, sat and terrestial. What a hassle to have to use one device to watch TV (with abysmal guide interfaces), another to play DVD/BD, perhaps yet another to access web content and some other means to stream media on other deviced. I know that TV sets, BD players and other stuff are making progress, but yet nothing to rival Media Center. Sorry.
richv1
on May 4, 2012
Microsoft may say that broadcast tv and optical media are dying, but I counter with two points. One, it'll take them awhile to die. Two, why limit WMC to those items? I would love to have Amazon VOD, Hulu, etc integrated. I use the Netflix plug-in frequently, but have to pull out the keyboard and minimize WMC to watch Amazon. If they actually continued to develop WMC and promoted it, it could be the entertainment hub it started out to be.
cgeier77
on May 4, 2012
I am not looking forward to the demise of Media Center, especially with the relatively recent introduction of the Ceton tuners. I almost wish that MS would open source the Media Center application if it has no plans to further enhance the software. For those who complain about the "expense" of the solution, an HD DVR from my cable provider used to set me back around $15-$20 a month per box. I have two boxes so that is $280 for the house in a typical year. Add to that the fact that it had a tiny hard drive that was constantly filling up and it would not connect to my Xbox as a extender and it was not a great deal. I paid that price for many years because there was no other choice on FiOS. Even with some issues with the PC it is running on Media Center is a great experience. The Xbox interface is pretty good, but the Win8 music "application" is horrible. Why not redesign Zune and add it as a Metro application and you have something to look at. Overall it just seems that MS is stepping back in time to limit what consumers can do with their PCs. If they want to design an appliance, then they should do so, but not under the banner of "no compromises" there seem to be too many of those in Win8 already.
cgeier77
on May 4, 2012
I am not looking forward to the demise of Media Center, especially with the relatively recent introduction of the Ceton tuners. I almost wish that MS would open source the Media Center application if it has no plans to further enhance the software. For those who complain about the "expense" of the solution, an HD DVR from my cable provider used to set me back around $15-$20 a month per box. I have two boxes so that is $280 for the house in a typical year. Add to that the fact that it had a tiny hard drive that was constantly filling up and it would not connect to my Xbox as a extender and it was not a great deal. I paid that price for many years because there was no other choice on FiOS. Even with some issues with the PC it is running on Media Center is a great experience. The Xbox interface is pretty good, but the Win8 music "application" is horrible. Why not redesign Zune and add it as a Metro application and you have something to look at. Overall it just seems that MS is stepping back in time to limit what consumers can do with their PCs. If they want to design an appliance, then they should do so, but not under the banner of "no compromises" there seem to be too many of those in Win8 already.
BananaJr
on May 4, 2012
Wow, an actual article that covers Windows and critiques Microsoft. Who is the guest writer this week?
yoshipod (not verified)
on May 4, 2012
I think that MS sees the Xbox, not the PC, as the device connected to the TV screen.
jwillis84
on May 4, 2012
So what pray tell did you order? Ivy Bridge-based PC could be a few things. I've been recently eyeing a Lenovo KB330 with Windows 7 Home Premium. Windows 8 is looking more and more lackluster, or its luster lacks. Perhaps VistaR2 would have been a better name? I'm sure I'll upgrade after W8, aren't the odd numbered editions better, even XP SP3 was great. Sounds like a Star Trek curse is decending on Redmond.
WinUser99
on May 4, 2012
So let me get this straight; you have to PAY to get MediaCenter in W8, IF you have the correct version, AND it won't play DVDs? Are you kidding me? Does M$ have any idea how insulting this is to users? WOW.
gruntboy50
on May 4, 2012
This move gives me great incentive to find another platform to live on. I have been toying with Linux. Mythtv and XBMC seem like a good replacement. Not as easy to use, but very powerful and feature rich. The only reason I even have an xbox right now is because of Window Media Center. They abandon this product and to be honest my Xbox goes on ebay. I love broadcast television. Its free, and I can spend my cable bill on hobbies another worth while pursuits. Not to mention Windows Media Center allowed you to skirt the cable companies 20 dollar dvr fee. I like Windows 8 less and less. The only reason I will ever have Windows 8 is if I decide to get a tablet.
AlexFeren
on May 4, 2012
WMC is a fantastic software and there's little else to compete with it on feature-set. XBMC comes close but not all. MS claims that it's little used software and hence doesn't justify further development and built-in license costs. Firstly, it's little used because of awareness and that's dependent on promotion - have you see any? Secondly, "Offline Files" and "Previous Version" (now renamed to "File History") are even less known. Does MS really have us believe that more people are aware or will use the 8's "Storage Spaces" than WMC so, why introduce it? Thirdly, if only codec-pack was an add-on (as was the case in previous versions), it'd give more credence that it's a financial decision. Fourthly, main of WMC is at home - why is Pro (or Pro add-on)a pre-requisite? Fifthly, using WirelessHD/WiDi connecting a PC to a living room TV has never been easier, and WMC is a perfect application for it. Simply, WMC's exclusion is more not obvious and likely to be more sinister.
AlexFeren
on May 4, 2012
WMC is a fantastic software and there's little else to compete with it on feature-set. XBMC comes close but not all. MS claims that it's little used software and hence doesn't justify further development and built-in license costs. Firstly, it's little used because of awareness and that's dependent on promotion - have you see any? Secondly, "Offline Files" and "Previous Version" (now renamed to "File History") are even less known. Does MS really have us believe that more people are aware or will use the 8's "Storage Spaces" than WMC so, why introduce it? Thirdly, if only codec-pack was an add-on (as was the case in previous versions), it'd give more credence that it's a financial decision. Fourthly, main of WMC is at home - why is Pro (or Pro add-on)a pre-requisite? Fifthly, using WirelessHD/WiDi connecting a PC to a living room TV has never been easier, and WMC is a perfect application for it. Simply, WMC's exclusion is more not obvious and likely to be more sinister.
MikeM132
on May 5, 2012
I'd love to sit in on Microsoft's long range planning session. I picture a big "Wheel of Fortune" on the wall. Microsoft seems to want to compete with Apple, which is strongly consumer-oriented and entertainment oriented. Their method to compete seems to be to cancel Zune, strip Windows of anything resembling entertainment and hide the useful features of Windows behind a finger-interface. Bill Gates supposedly never dropped LSD, but whoever is running MS now seems to be a regular user.
Mustang17
on May 5, 2012
I must be one of the few fans of Windows Media Centre, it was for a while my go to player as Windows Media Player still has a couple of unbearable annoyances. 1. It wont stop updating the media from the internet and hogging my system, and 2. If the media streaming option is on, my processor slams up to 100% and drags my system down to a crawl. The amount of searching and going through the process of trying to switch the bloody options off, and still it did it. It also had a habit of replicating my album listings so I had for example 4 Track 1s then 4 Track 2s etc. I have what I want know, but jezzus, they dont make it easy. Media centre looked so slick in comparison. Isn't it true that the look of Windows 8 came from the Media Centre?
jezzarino
on May 5, 2012
Hmmm, my i3 WMC resumes from sleep far quicker than my Denon AVR, new Sony BDP and TV. My PC is ready to go while I wait for the TV to fire up and the home theatre receiver. Infact, I returned the Sony BluRay player because of how SLOW it was compared to the PC. Not to mention the PC just works. I have tried 3 or 4 different networked media players, and not one will play every file in my collection. After biting the bullet and installing the 3rd Media Center in my house, I've never looked back. WMC is in my opinion the one killer feature of Windows. I've been using it since 2004, and will be very sad if its support is discontinued after this product cycle. Maybe I should have ticked the box to send usage data to MS...
albose
on May 7, 2012
Media center is my main source for tv. I watch at most 2 hours of live tv a month while the balance is all recorded via media center. Netflix, etc just does not cut it, especially with the internet data cap looming over my head. Like others have posted I eventually came to the realization that the quickest, easiest, most versatile and cheapest solution was to add a media center pc in the living room and stream from my main pc which does the recording and from the home server. . Long live media center.
elliottlaporte
on May 10, 2012
One subject that received a lot of attention from Steve Jobs' biography was the hint that Apple could be working on a fully fledged TV device. If we can dream Apple would be gracious enough to include a TV tuner (bearing in mind Sony eventually released a tuner for their PS3 and one has just been announced for Boxee) and what you have is a fresh line of competition for the home entertainment hub. Unfortunately my gut tells me that Microsoft will perform just as it has in the past. It releases a feature or product years ahead of the game and then literally seems to get bored with it. It then lets it stagnate to the point where no one uses it and then when the competition comes along with something better, they scramble to catch up again. Tablet PCs, IE6, Windows Mobile, Silverlight, the list goes on. If Microsoft are focusing Windows RT on 'devices' then why on earth are they letting this strong foundation they have in this sector die off? I really do wonder what product strategy team they have sitting in Redmond. Windows Media Center does work and it could be a hit and it's such a shame to see it die. As mentioned before by others, they are going to lose a lot of customers from this.
Leightym
on May 26, 2012
Not to suggest that there is a conspiracy here (OK maybe I am) but why is Media Center being singled out while other REALLY old and useless parts of Windows remain? I get the need to clean out some of the cruft in Windows but this is really good stuff and to the best of my knowledge Microsoft never promoted it. But then again Microsoft can't seen to figure out marketing at all. So since they are getting rid of Media Center why are relics like sound recorder or character map still in windows? I'd love to hear from a fan of sound recorder - what for it... chirp chirp - I thought so. Seriously, Media Center was nearly dead a couple of years ago but 2 things have since happened that should have pulled it back from the edge - cable cards can now be installed by the end user without the need of a cable tech and Ceton. The infiniTV 4 quad tuner is excellent and was the special sauce Media Center needed. Anyway, Microsoft must know there is a devoted fanatical set of Media Center fans out here - myself included, otherwise they would not be making a big deal out of it being removed. As another poster mentioned earlier, Media Center should be open sourced so the folks that want to use it and have the chops to update it can. It would sure be a better way to handle this than just killing it and pissing off their customers.
williamstpeter
on Dec 10, 2012

Hi Paul, I upgraded to Win 8 when it first came out and mostly like it and find it easy to use. My children love it. What I don't like is the seemingly complete lack of support of TV Tuner cards. I have a ComproUSA E750 Tuner card that has no driver for Win 8. ComproUSA are almost completely silent on the issue. The whole internet seems silent on the issue. I cannot find a single card to purchase in the current market place that clearly indicates it will support Win 8. Any ideas?

Please or Register to post comments.

Related Articles

IT/Dev Connections

Las Vegas
September 30th - October 4th

Paul ThurottYou'll have the opportunity to experience:
• 120 Technical
Sessions
• Networking with Peers
• Expert Speakers


Come See Paul Thurrott & Mary Jo Foley in Person!

Register Now

Office 365 InfoCenter

Get the latest insight and info from Paul

Read Now!

What I Use
Apr. 18, 2013
Article

What I Use: On the Road 21

Every so often, I publish an updated version of my “What I Use” document, which details the technology products and services I actually use day-to-day. Since I’m currently on my third business trip in five weeks, this is perhaps an ideal time to discuss the technology products I rely on when I travel and a few related points....More
Mar. 6, 2013
Article

What I Use: March 2013 33

Lots of changes since November, including a new PC-based home server running Windows 8, several new smart phones, new PCs and tablets, new cloud backup, Office 365 Home Premium and a nice doubling of my Internet speeds courtesy of Verizon FIOS....More
WinSuperSite.com
Related Penton Sites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc