This would be a big disappointment.  I’ve been a Directv customer for ten years now.  I convinced multiple family members and friends to move to Directv.  I’ve had various Series 1 and Series 2 Directv receivers with Tivo for many years now and was hoping to move everything to Windows Media Center.

In anticipation of Directv support coming “soon”, I’ve spent about $2000 setting up a Vista VMC machine and an Xbox 360 as an extender this year alone.  I also convinced a family member to do the same.


While I’m currently using OTA HD with HDHomerun, I was hoping that I could consolidate everything into VMC with Directv support eventually.  I was planning on replacing my set of aging Directv receivers with Tivo completely with a VMC extender in each room.
If Directv support is not coming soon, I most likely have to come up with another solution (as others have mentioned) and/or drop Directv completely.

Mike_TV:

This would be a big disappointment.  I’ve been a Directv customer for ten years now.  I convinced multiple family members and friends to move to Directv.  I’ve had various Series 1 and Series 2 Directv receivers with Tivo for many years now and was hoping to move everything to Windows Media Center.

In anticipation of Directv support coming “soon”, I’ve spent about $2000 setting up a Vista VMC machine and an Xbox 360 as an extender this year alone.  I also convinced a family member to do the same.


While I’m currently using OTA HD with HDHomerun, I was hoping that I could consolidate everything into VMC with Directv support eventually.  I was planning on replacing my set of aging Directv receivers with Tivo completely with a VMC extender in each room.
If Directv support is not coming soon, I most likely have to come up with another solution (as others have mentioned) and/or drop Directv completely.

If you spent $2000 on a VMC machine I sure hope you opted for a Cablecard ready system, so you can go that route if you need to.

This is truely a dissapointment. I have been a large supporter of HTPCs for the past few years. I orginally started with SageTV and moved to VMC based on the user interface issue (previously stated). This will be the final straw for me with Vista.

I cannot get by with only local non-encrypted HD channels any longer. CableCard is not an option in my area as 30 HD stations from Cox are set up under SDV. My only option was to move to DirectTV. Since this appears to not be coming any sooner than Jesus, I will have to seek other options. I may try my hand at Tivo and their tuning resolver.

I can switch to the much more capable Sage HD extenders for files from the PC and eliminate the need for a dedicated HTPC altogether. As an enthusiast this is really difficult to take. The disaster with CableCard and now this really has turned me off to Microsoft in general. I understand this may not necessarily be their fault. If D* was not supportive of this device and potential updates to make it work, Microsoft has no choice but to cut functionality.

However, this was the final act. I will be getting out of the HTPC game if this is what comes to pass. I hope the Beta testers are doing something of a mutiny at this point to show Microsoft just how important this stuff is. It will be interesting to see Microsoft take over ownership of this website only to see a large amount of it's users abandon the platform due to the potential disaster that is Fiji.

Here's to hoping all of the talented developers for VMC move to Sage to make something truely great...

To any MS or DTV execs listening, I am ready, willing, and able to spend thousands on a new computer with Vista and an HDPC-20 if given the opportunity. That would result in money in your pockets. If directv support isn't included in VMC, then I'll continue to use my HD DirecTivos and my XP computers, and you'll lose out on that revenue.

I'll spend the money when you make it worthwhile to go through the effort of upgrading. The limited functionality of the current incarnation of VMC doesn't meet this test. Neither does the prospect of "new HD channels" (higher res. versions of basic cable channels I already receive) if it means trading my TiVo interface for the directv dvr interface. The ability to watch all of my content (local HD, satellite HD and SD, DVDs, Blu-ray) on one device using the VMC interface is the type of thing that gets me excited and motivates me to buy. I may be in the minority on this forum, but I'm sure there are lots of other people in my situation out in the world.

Looks like we might be in store for two updates. One this month and one later on with all the features we're hoping for.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/08/are-there-two-vista-media-center-updates-due-this-year/

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Ben
How good can it be, if it isn't HD?
Engadget HD

bjdraw:

Looks like we might be in store for two updates. One this month and one later on with all the features we're hoping for.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/08/are-there-two-vista-media-center-updates-due-this-year/

that would make alot of sense..... i never thought the tuners would come out before ces (so ms can make that splash) so if this update really is due this quickly it makes sense that there would be another one for ces09.

For those that have read the posting, am I reading it correctly and "assuming" correctly that the next update will support FOUR Cable Card tuners without a hack?

Yes, in fact that particular change has been accidentally confirmed by a OEM, although I don't remember which one at the moment.

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Ben
How good can it be, if it isn't HD?
Engadget HD

I am not disappointed anymore. (For now)

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Brian Zellinger

nilsga:

crmstud:

If SageTV redoes their interface, then I'm making the switch, atleast they seem to care about what we need/want.

Well.... Except support for DVB and teletext subtitles, that is....

DVB is supported now and is in use by many european subs.  CC is also there with plugins, though I can't specifically address the teletext subtitles.  You should go to the sage forums for more detailed answers though.

If it's important to you, you should log it as a feature request, and there is a good chance the Sage developers will put it in.  They do point updates every 3 months or so that add a lot of new functionality.

As for the UI, it's completely customizable.  I hate the default UI, but SageMC is very good and also quite skinnable.  I like the VMC UI myself, and if some developers worked on mods to the SageMC UI I think you could get something close reasonably quickly.

. With the update, Ultimate edition will officially support four tuners of each type, while premium stays at the current limit of two.

 

What is this horse crap?!

 

 

Windows Fiji (Media Center Next) Moves in Silence Alongside Windows 7

By: Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor

The Windows 7 operating system is not the only Microsoft product developed far from the eyes of the world. In fact, the Redmond company has successfully gagged almost all information related to products adjacent
to Windows 7, including Internet Explorer 8, Windows Live Wave 3, and Windows Fiji. However, the next version of Windows Media Center, designed as the successor of the default WMC component of Windows Vista Ultimate and Home Premium editions, is inching forward in almost complete silence alongside, but independently from Windows 7.

Earlier this month, Windows Fiji debuted into a very hush-hush, selective private Beta according to Mary Jo Foley. But just because it is developed in parallel with Windows 7 does not mean that the two projects are intersecting. In fact, Windows Fiji is set up as the evolution of Windows Media Center in Windows Vista, building on what Service Pack 1 delivered.

The development process of Fiji is at this point over one year old, and the next version of Windows Media Player continues to cook over in Redmond with nothing more than scarce details slipping through. Microsoft has so far given no official indication on when or even if the Windows Fiji testing stage becomes public, or on a possible release date. In terms of the availability of Windows Fiji, the second half of 2008 will potentially be synonymous with the launch of what is reported to be an out-of-band build of Windows Media Center. Still, holding your breath at this point in time might not do you any good, since the Redmond company has confirmed absolutely no plans for Fiji.

From the signals that I am getting, Microsoft continues to focus on Content Protection technologies. Just as Windows Media Center in Vista, Windows Fiji will also feature Windows Media DRM (Digital Rights Management). Fiji will also advance the current multimedia capabilities of Vista's Windows Media Center, signal the creation of new Media Center Extender solutions and provide support for DirectTV. One of the key aspects of Fiji orbits around taking TV and video playback to the next level. But nothing is set in stone, especially since Microsoft has failed to even confirm that a Windows Fiji is now in Beta phase.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Fiji-Media-Center-Next-Moves-in-Silence-Alongside-Windows-7-86114.shtml

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PM me with your ASUS Striker Extreme Horror Story..

LASooner:

. With the update, Ultimate edition will officially support four tuners of each type, while premium stays at the current limit of two.

 

What is this horse crap?!

There has to be some justification for the huge price premium that Ultimate brings. I expect that someone will figure out the registry changes required to make Home Premium support four tuners.

 

If this latest story of there being two Fiji's, or Fiji and Pitcairn (as I've unilaterally just named the 2nd release), and availability isn't restricted to OEMs then I'll be happy. It's the version that adds DVB-T/S in addition to cable STB that I've been waiting for, and that sounds like it could be close.

 

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MCE2005 (Will go with the Win7 public beta when available) | AMD64X2 3600+ | 3Gb Ram | 1.5Tb HDD | Hauppauge PVR150 | nVidia 7300LE silent GPU | Pig ugly big black case | Dead DVD drive | Virgin Media cable | Xbox 360 wired extender

Windows Fiji Leaked Screenshots: Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 - Not the next edition of Windows Media Center

By: Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor

Codename Windows Fiji is on par with Windows 7 and Windows 7 Server when it comes down to the details available from Microsoft. This because Windows Fiji falls under the category of products developed under the translucency policy set in place by Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group. However, crumbs from the Windows project do manage to find their way to the general public, and Windows Fiji is the latest product to become a little transparent. Windows Vista users, especially those running the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of the operating system, should get ready for Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008.

According to Geek's Anatomy, Windows Fiji is not the codename of the next version of Windows Media Center for the Home Premium and Ultimate SKUs, but the label of a Feature Pack, which, judging by the 2008 reference, will drop by the Windows Fiji - Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 end of this year. Back in 2007, it was reported that Windows Fiji, at that time in planning stage, was Windows Media Center vNext, a standalone version of the solution, to integrate on top of what Vista Home Premium and Ultimate had already delivered.

In early May, Windows Fiji debuted into private Beta, and leaked screenshots of the testing build are available in this article. According to the information in the adjacent images, the new Windows Media Center version is 6.1.1000.18182 (longhorn_mc_dev_fb0(wmbla).080410-2208). Also, the license mentions Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 and not Windows Fiji.

In this context, it is clear that Windows Fiji is merely something of a major update to the Windows Media Center version which ships as a default component of Windows Vista. The Beta build features a new Windows Media Center Update infrastructure, which comes to complement Windows Update. Support for DirecTV, an item already reported to be included in Windows Fiji, was confirmed in the private beta.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Fiji-Leaked-Screenshots-Windows-Vista-Media-Center-Feature-Pack-2008-87054.shtml

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PM me with your ASUS Striker Extreme Horror Story..

spplutchok:

Windows Fiji Leaked Screenshots: Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 - Not the next edition of Windows Media Center

By: Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor

Codename Windows Fiji is on par with Windows 7 and Windows 7 Server when it comes down to the details available from Microsoft. This because Windows Fiji falls under the category of products developed under the translucency policy set in place by Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group. However, crumbs from the Windows project do manage to find their way to the general public, and Windows Fiji is the latest product to become a little transparent. Windows Vista users, especially those running the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of the operating system, should get ready for Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008.

According to Geek's Anatomy, Windows Fiji is not the codename of the next version of Windows Media Center for the Home Premium and Ultimate SKUs, but the label of a Feature Pack, which, judging by the 2008 reference, will drop by the Windows Fiji - Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 end of this year. Back in 2007, it was reported that Windows Fiji, at that time in planning stage, was Windows Media Center vNext, a standalone version of the solution, to integrate on top of what Vista Home Premium and Ultimate had already delivered.

In early May, Windows Fiji debuted into private Beta, and leaked screenshots of the testing build are available in this article. According to the information in the adjacent images, the new Windows Media Center version is 6.1.1000.18182 (longhorn_mc_dev_fb0(wmbla).080410-2208). Also, the license mentions Windows Vista Media Center Feature Pack 2008 and not Windows Fiji.

In this context, it is clear that Windows Fiji is merely something of a major update to the Windows Media Center version which ships as a default component of Windows Vista. The Beta build features a new Windows Media Center Update infrastructure, which comes to complement Windows Update. Support for DirecTV, an item already reported to be included in Windows Fiji, was confirmed in the private beta.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Fiji-Leaked-Screenshots-Windows-Vista-Media-Center-Feature-Pack-2008-87054.shtml

This article is two months old and includes some horrible writing.

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Chris Lanier
The Green Button Forum Moderator