XBMC?  Does this play DVD movies that are downloaded on a PC.  XBox being an extender to play on my TV.  I want to be able to download my DVD's to my PC hard drive and play them on my extender in another room.  Does the XBMC do this and I assume I need a XBOX 360 instead of a Linksys Extender.  I need answers please Help!!

I have at this point lost ALL hope, faith, and interest in Media Center.

Microsoft has simply let this product die.  They just haven't admitted it.  To expect people to wait 3-4 years for the DirecTV solution with absolutely no progress reports is at best foolhardy.  Perhaps if they had shared a single piece of information with the public over the last few years I would be open to hearing what they have to say if./when they ever do release something.

But at this point it is completely clear they simply don't care.  So neither do I.

And this is completely excluding the issues with DVD streaming, softsled, and digital subchannels.

Worst.  Product.  Strategy. EVER.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/11/10/windows-7-includes-a-driver-for-the-directv-hdcp-20-usb-tuner/

There ya go.  Inclusion of the driver in Windows 7.  Screenshots ahoy!  I'd guess the D* tuner will ship around the time Windows 7 does, which I've seen several places may be mid-2009.  If it ships without the OEM requirement of CableCard, then boo yaaaaa!  DirecTV looks like the place to be in 2009. 

USB dual HD tuner for Win7 Media Center, and Tivo interface coming back to DirecTV in late 2009.  Not bad, DTV.  Not bad.

poddie:

I have at this point lost ALL hope, faith, and interest in Media Center.

Microsoft has simply let this product die.  They just haven't admitted it.  To expect people to wait 3-4 years for the DirecTV solution with absolutely no progress reports is at best foolhardy.  Perhaps if they had shared a single piece of information with the public over the last few years I would be open to hearing what they have to say if./when they ever do release something.

But at this point it is completely clear they simply don't care.  So neither do I.

And this is completely excluding the issues with DVD streaming, softsled, and digital subchannels.

Worst.  Product.  Strategy. EVER.

"Softsled" never a product and never promised.
DVD streaming: legal quagmire
Digital subchannels (like 5.1 on ATSC I assume?) implemented in Fiji.

As to status updates: we're not in the business of doing status updates. DirecTV and other premium service support is a collaborative effort between MSFT and our partners. As such we are very limited in what and when we can communicate what is going on.

To say we do not "care" is just wrong. There is a substantial team dedicated to making DirecTV work, and work right with Media Center. There have been some serious technical roadblocks to overcome to get these services running on the Windows platform. I imagine if we were shipping a closed box this would have been working a long time ago, but that is not the case.

The wait sucks, and we realize that.

---

Ian Kennedy - eHome TV Playback Test Lead
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Box:P5B-E,8600GT,E6600,2GB,Seasonic PSU.Zalman HD160. 1x WD SE16 1TB, 1x OCZ 32GB SSD. 2x OCUR /w CableCard.

iank:

To say we do not "care" is just wrong. There is a substantial team dedicated to making DirecTV work, and work right with Media Center. There have been some serious technical roadblocks to overcome to get these services running on the Windows platform. I imagine if we were shipping a closed box this would have been working a long time ago, but that is not the case.

The wait sucks, and we realize that.

Ian -

While I don't agree with the tone and furvor of some of the posters you at least acknowledge that those of us who are still here have had a tough road (extra for those of us with families).

I can only speak to my experiences...

I have been a user of MC since the earliest iterations of MC.

I have seen it grow into a good product, only to leave more and more technology behind at every new version.

I know its not the fault of the eHome programmers, but the problems just get worse and worse when you are tied to a devlopment schedule for an OS.

Do I think the product is dead like the Previous poster? No, but I do think that each new version has moved a bit further behind.

I will grant you that each version has some nice additions (if Win7 keeps what it is reported to have COULD be the best yet)... but it is the lack of some features that the people who really try to use the software to its fullest potential have to hack or are unable to use.

Not to mention the debacle of TVPack and 3rd party stuff when the back end changed.

But, I do hold out hope that maybe things will be better this time around. I am actually counting on it as this is the last chance my wife gives MC before we go to Sage. We have DirecTV and want to see HD... in HD.

---

My VMC setup:
(2) Xbox360s
System 1 -
Dell XPS410 (2.6Ghz C2D, 2GB Ram,Nvidia 8600GT, Blu-ray internal, HD-DVD external (X360 drive), (2) Vboxx DTA150s (OTA HD), 1 HVR-1150 (OTA HD) and Dish Network

Ian,

Can you PLEASE confirm one thing for me ? Will DirecTV (as we see the driver in Win 7, so it's coming), need a new machine like cablecards ? If so, will current cablecard machines work ?

I'm sure you guys know this much, it's an investment in a new machine I plan to be making ASAP, I'd like to know where to go with my limited funds.

Thank you !!!

---

-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)

What kind of PC Dave?

I seem to recall a post saying it wouldn't follow the cablecard model but I can't seem to find it.

---

My VMC setup:
(2) Xbox360s
System 1 -
Dell XPS410 (2.6Ghz C2D, 2GB Ram,Nvidia 8600GT, Blu-ray internal, HD-DVD external (X360 drive), (2) Vboxx DTA150s (OTA HD), 1 HVR-1150 (OTA HD) and Dish Network

rgreenpc:

What kind of PC Dave? I seem to recall a post saying it wouldn't follow the cablecard model but I can't seem to find it.

My machine now is a home built but, needs a major update. I'm looking at the HP models m9300t/m9400t/d5100t...trying to find one used at a good price or waiting till the next ($400 off $1000) coupon comes out...(just missed the last one about 3 weeks ago).

It has to be Digital Cable Ready, I really want Directv but, won't even look at it till the HDPC-20 comes out and works. I am sick of the lack of HD support for DIY systems, I want to have my options open, so if the Directv box does not come out by spring I can get ATI tuners, so I can watch my Red Sox games in HD....that I can only get in SD with my current setup...

---

-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)

Vista MCE doesn't take a very powerful machine. The key to my setup is Vista 64 and installing no other programs except proper drivers and my movies. Processor utilization was cut in half when I changed from 32bit. I can record two HD channels, record one SD channel, and watch an HD Channel all at the same time without any issues. I can actually record to my iSCSI NAS if I want and its a five year old machine. In all, its a very cheap setup. Tuners and Vista are the most expensive part. By the time "Windows 7" is out you'll be able to get twice this machine. "Windows 7" by reviews can run on the same hardware as Vista, but better. I don't think much upgrading will be necessary.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz
BIOSTAR TForce TF7050-M2 AM2
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
Microsoft iSCSI iniator
HD Homerun
Happauge SD Tuner
Vista Ultimate 64bit

 

 

$400 coupon is back:

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/142351

xdcx111:

$400 coupon is back:

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/142351

I saw, thanks !

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/310417.aspx

---

-Dave

MCP, MCSA, MCSE 2003
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Technologists
Windows Vista Connected Exp:Home Theater for Sales professionals

Home theater specialist (10+ years)

EngadgetHD has seen the HDPC-20 in action....

Hell YES!  Yeah, yeah, not an official announcement ...

Driver in Win7, HDPC-20 in the eHome labs.  Looks like it's coming together.  Now if we only new whether it would work with existing PCs or whether a new OEM PC is required.......  *crickets*

One of the EngadgetHD pictures may be an indication of why we don't have product yet. In the upper right corner of the third picture at asterix's link, the display panel clearly says "restart Windows."

I guess we can close this thread.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=614