Unimatrix Xero Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I fondly remember my first Windows Media Center PC – a Gateway FMC-901X running Windows XP Media Center Edition. Back then, you couldn't buy a retail copy of Windows with Media Center; only OEMs could get it so you had to buy a computer with it preinstalled (of course, there were ways around this, but that was the official party line). We had it hooked up to a big old 58 inch rear projection Sony, and thought it was the coolest thing in the world to be able to record our favorite TV programs onto the computer's hard drive – without paying a monthly fee as our TiVO-using friends had to do. We've come a long way since then, and so has Windows Media Center. By including the Media Center application in Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions, Microsoft finally brought it into the mainstream. And with Windows 7, they've gone one better: Media Center is built into all editions except Starter and Home Basic (although IT admins can easily disable it on business machines). This means far more computer users will be exposed to WMC, which is a great application for organizing and displaying your digital photos and home videos and for organizing and playing your digital music. However, to get the full advantage of WMC, you need a TV tuner card for your computer. This lets you turn your computer into a full-featured DVR. Source+ Pics: http://www.enduserblog.com/2009/08/windows...-than-ever.html EDIT: nice important little feature: You can play the .WTV files on Windows Media Player 12, which comes with Windows 7, as well as through Media Center. And there is a solution for the file sharing problem, albeit a somewhat awkward one. If you right click a .WTV file in Windows Explorer, you get the option to convert it to .DVR-MS, as shown in the figure below. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subject Delta Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Yep, WMC has come on a lot since the early days, the only thing that bothers me about it is that you can't choose what format to save recorded shows in, other than that great piece of software Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591412336 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pc_Madness Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Yep, WMC has come on a lot since the early days Really? It seems almost exactly the same as it was in MCE 2005. The only thing I've noticed in Win 7 are thumbnails for recorded tv and over the air guide. Otherwise it just feels like they re-skin it every new release of Windows. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591413536 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subject Delta Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 They have made UI changes, and other things such as the ability to resume where you left off watching a program (in the event of a crash, closure, reboot whatever), and stuff like Netflix support Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591415802 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Udedenkz Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 There are two things about WMC that make it impossible for me to use, - Doesn't support lots of formats - Slow Otherwise, it is an ok application. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591446120 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pupik Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I like the interface changes (especially the new seek bar), the new guide and pretty much everything else, but one thing annoys me too much. For some reason, every time I restart the media center, it searches for the tuner again upon live tv selection. Takes a few good seconds, and really annoying. Didn't had that issue back in Vista's MC. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591446144 Share on other sites More sharing options...
notuptome2004 Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 There are two things about WMC that make it impossible for me to use,- Doesn't support lots of formats - Slow Otherwise, it is an ok application. 1. true in some days 2. it is fast on my system so it must be your hardware and to the user who siad it is exactly like MCE 2005. i sure hope your joking their have been thousands of little improvements since then in MCE under the hood as well better scaling UI to new screens and newer larger HD sets Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591446148 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 The only real reason I don't use WMC and have to use MediaPortal is that the cable TV in my town isn't listed, and we don't use the same setup as the same proivider in the nearest big city. so I simply can't scan and find my TV channels. And it doesn't support making and scannign your own transponder frequency list. Though this will work itself out, hopefully later this year, as they switch the network over to support HD channels. As we'll then get the same transponder freuqenzies as the nearest big city wich is listed. or that's what I've been told anyway. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591446192 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pc_Madness Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 and to the user who siad it is exactly like MCE 2005. i sure hope your joking their have been thousands of little improvements since then in MCE under the hood as well better scaling UI to new screens and newer larger HD sets Thats my point, little improvements. :p I'm more interested in being able stream TV from other MCE boxes, stream TV to desktop PC's, native Blu-ray support, and making browsing for videos look more like what MediaBrowser + Starkcovers is capable of, http://www.mediabrowser.tv/forum/viewtopic...701&start=0 So pretty :wub: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591446310 Share on other sites More sharing options...
notuptome2004 Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Thats my point, little improvements. :p I'm more interested in being able stream TV from other MCE boxes, stream TV to desktop PC's, native Blu-ray support, and making browsing for videos look more like what MediaBrowser + Starkcovers is capable of,http://www.mediabrowser.tv/forum/viewtopic...701&start=0 So pretty :wub: like i siad 1000s 100s of little improvements witch add up to alot. and 100s or more improvement under the hood of MCE witch runs on the new foundation for windows windows 7 . so compare MCE 2005 to windows7 MCE then well you be crying when you do a usability testing or other stuff. MCE in 2005 tho was basic by todays standards Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591446370 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tp2215 Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 personally, the thing that is annoying the heck out of me is that they (in my oppinion) destroyed the GUI. WMP 11 was beautifull, aero effects, highlights, easy to use. WMP 12 is horridly ugly, the whole GUI blends into itself making it harder for newbies to use, they took out the aero effects, and even the taskbar band was better and easier to use then the preview controls (I know, there is a mod for it now). I would use WMP but I cant stand the GUI of it now. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591752874 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fix-this! Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 tbh ive never used media center on xp, vista or 7. :whistle: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591752896 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuJu Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 its my DVR/ Via xbxo 360. works flawlessly. Still Vista tho. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591758864 Share on other sites More sharing options...
justmike Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 It's great, I've been using the RTM for more than a month, and I'm recording every day. My PC is not super fast Intel 1800, 2gb, 8800gt. I record 2 HD streams at the same time over my network using an HDHomerun, while watching another with my Xbox 360. It has many great options such as record series priorities and it just looks great in HD. I can edit out the commercials with MS Movie Maker 2.6 software, and I can burn with Win7 movie maker. If MCEBuddy ever works with this it will become perfect. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591758950 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted October 26, 2009 MVC Share Posted October 26, 2009 Yeah Im a fan, Its cool with a Remote :) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591759410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambroos Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 The only real reason I don't use WMC and have to use MediaPortal is that the cable TV in my town isn't listed, and we don't use the same setup as the same proivider in the nearest big city. so I simply can't scan and find my TV channels. And it doesn't support making and scannign your own transponder frequency list.Though this will work itself out, hopefully later this year, as they switch the network over to support HD channels. As we'll then get the same transponder freuqenzies as the nearest big city wich is listed. or that's what I've been told anyway. For now: Settings -> TV -> Guide -> Edit channels -> Auto select could work? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/809392-windows-media-center-on-windows-7-better-than-ever/#findComment-591759488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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