As an owner of a Vista Media Center, xbox360 and a Toshiba Gigabeat S60, I've become increasingly frustrated with the independent strategies, non-integrated, non-converged options for home and portable media.  I have a feeling that this holiday season, there's going to be even more of a split as the new Zunes are released and one can only assume the promised Zune video marketplace integrated into that strategy.  Meanwhile, portable media centers have been dropped, no v2 extenders released yet, no video downloads for Media Center.

Where does this leave me?  I'll have to pick between the Xbox route (iptv, marketplace video downloads, media connect, Zune) or the Media Center Extender route at the exclusion of those features.  I know, I already have an xbox 360 and it's an obnoxious extender solution not to mention an afterthought add-on, crippled with no support for common codecs (imagine if the iPod only played AAC.... none of us would have one).  And loud.

There are hacks and work arounds to make this stuff work [more] like it should.  Everything seems to come up short, due to silo-esque, competing business strategies.  No single option is an elegant solution.  No option is a solution at all without some sort of hack or workaround.

Here's my question: why is this so hard to give consumers what they want?  I think people have been extremely clear and vocal on what we need (softsled, divx/xvid on extenders, new extenders at all) and it doesn't pan out.  Bottom line is what MS should be concerned with, and that comes from consumers in this media realm.  Just this past weekend I've reverted back to MCE 2005 from Vista, due to frustations with file/library handling of videos and music.  Because the huge "upgrade" that was years in the making truly offers me no additional meaningful functionality and a host of naggling frustrations.

I guess this qualifies as a rant... but I've been using Media Center since 2004, and I want to love it.  I'm afraid if I continue down the "Media Center" route I'll be driving fast down a dead end.  I think at the point in time when I really have to choose between 2 different Microsoft options (xbox/zune vs media center) there will be no reason not to go with the Apple solution.  I know that won't disappear (like support v1 extenders, portable media centers) and it will play well with their whole ecosystem.

So what am I looking for from this post?  I guess a reassurance that things are happening (that maybe you can't discuss) and that I'll be OK sticking with Media Center for the long run, even though all of the cool things seem to be happening with Xbox, Zune... or Apple.

I'm also dumbfounded as to why the Zune (and other MS products) aren't much more integrated with Media Center. I too would like to know if the Zune will be better integrated with Media Center within the next couple of months.

Couldnt have said it better myself!!  If the next Zunes arent properly intergrated into VMC then I will have to look elsewhere.

I think a huge part of the problem is that Live services do not seemlessly span Microsoft's entertainment platform.  For example, not being able to access XBox Movie/TV MarketPlace on Zune or Media Center or that Zune MarketPlace is not accessible on XBox or Media Center.  Other issues like Zune not being able to play Media Center recorded/downloaded content just exasperate the perception that this "connected entertainment" vision is not well executed.  Then there are questions as to how Media Room and Windows Home Server fit into all of this.  Finally, Microsoft secrecy on product roadmap occassionally leads me into thinking their "connected entertainment" vision may not be as well defined as some of us might think.  Its unfortunate, because their products have so much potential.  Ideally I think Microsoft needs to work in developing/marketing different "Home Entertainment Levels":

Basic: Zune device, download/sync Music/Movies/TV shows (Standard Def. TV Output Only)

Intermediate: XBox & Zune devices, play games and download/sync Music/Movies/TV Shows (High Definition Output Capable)

Premium: Media Center, XBox/Extenders & Zune devices, multi-room solution, play games, record and download/sync Music/Movies/TV Shows (High Definition Output Capable)

Elite: Same as premium with Windows Home Server and/or MediaRoom features.  More features for centralizing drm & protecting content.

...this is just a quick stab but I think its something the consumer can readily understand.

 

I am also trying to live with VMC, Gigabeat S, and the 360 extender.

 

I have been a Media Center fan forever but you have to remember that MS took their ball and went home with the Zune.  They were getting killed in that space by the Ipuke and prety much had to create a truly dumbed-down experience.  I truly don't think they even considered Media Center functionality in the 1.0 release.

 

Of course this is unfortunate for us WMP users, and especially their partners but you can't really blame them.

 

Let just hope they get it right with the new players and offer some kind of integration there.

 

I'm just glad the Gigabeat S works with Vista somewhat and who could blame them for not supporting every codec under the sun with the extender - it works just fine.

Okay, just to clarify what everyone is asking for...

You want the ability to download and sync movies/tv shows from the Xbox Live Marketplace to the Zune. Correct?

I have no problem syncing my Zune Marketplace Music to my Media Center/Xbox extender...but obviously there aren't any movie/tv selections in the Zune Marketplace...so i can understand the frustration there.

Is there some other connection that everyone is looking for? I know that the Zune has it's shortcomings, but it was a rush to market product that should improve in the second generation. The Xbox Live Marketplace offers HD content currently...this is the ONLY HD movie content available via download that i know about. I'm certain the Movie studios would pull their licenses before they allowed ALL the XLM content to make it to the PC or Zune. So that is something to consider. The reason Microsoft has the license to distribute HD content via download is because the license owners feel fairly confident that it is indeed secure on the Xbox. The same assurance is not available if that content makes it's way to the PC...otherwise you would have seen Unbox, CinemaNow, iTunes, and the rest all offering HD content already. And I know that CinemaNow is offering HD movies...but they are not from any major studio...so it's a rather weak substitute.

Portable Media Center's, the now dead software platform that Zune is based on, supported syncing directly from the Media Center UI with the remote.  However, Zune's which have the exact same software don't do it.

here, here!
 I want to be able to put my recorded TV/movies onto my (1st generation) Zune.
Basically, I want a modified Media Center "Recorded TV" interface on my Zune.

There is a hack that converts dvr-ms files and mpegs to play on the Zune. http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/195932.aspx

 

My 2 cents, i think streaming from a home PC by using something like orb is the future, no syncing and you have access to all your media dependent on the space of your PC. Home server, integrated with media center, and the ability to stream through smart mobile devices, I thing is the solution.

Thanks for the link, Amador.

I've been using ZuneTVWatcher myself to convert DVR-MS files to a format that the Zune can support, but the hack you pointed to makes the Zune software able to convert the dvr-ms files natively with just a few regiustry hacks.

If it's so easy to do, it's amazing that Microsoft does not issue a firmware update that provides this capability.

Rockemsock:

You want the ability to download and sync movies/tv shows from the Xbox Live Marketplace to the Zune. Correct?"

Yes, I want access to the same Movie/TV MarketPlace that XBox is using in either Media Center or Zune.  I would assume that Standard Definition content would only be available.  Zune should also enable consumers with an XBox 360 to sync standard def programming directly from the device.  Again, I refer to you my previous post that goes into supporting different Home Entertainment Levels.

Rockemsock:

I have no problem syncing my Zune Marketplace Music to my Media Center/Xbox extender...but obviously there aren't any movie/tv selections in the Zune Marketplace...so i can understand the frustration there. Is there some other connection that everyone is looking for?"

Perhaps unlike your setup, my Media Center PC is tucked away in the living room.  I want the ability to use the Media Center UI to access the Music MarketPlace that Zune is using to purchase/download music..and even sync with Zune.  The advantage here is I can build a centralized music library.  Zune also needs the ability to sync and playback recorded TV content.

Rockemsock:

The Xbox Live Marketplace offers HD content currently...this is the ONLY HD movie content available via download that i know about. I'm certain the Movie studios would pull their licenses before they allowed ALL the XLM content to make it to the PC or Zune. So that is something to consider. The reason Microsoft has the license to distribute HD content via download is because the license owners feel fairly confident that it is indeed secure on the Xbox. The same assurance is not available if that content makes it's way to the PC...otherwise you would have seen Unbox, CinemaNow, iTunes, and the rest all offering HD content already. And I know that CinemaNow is offering HD movies...but they are not from any major studio...so it's a rather weak substitute.

If this studio imposed limitation is true then you are right, we won't see MarketPlace HD downloads on Media Center for sometime.  But Micrsoft shouldn't limit our ability to view that content in our homes.  For example, if XBox could stream content like Media Center does, then other PCs/XBoxs/Extenders on the home network could *at least* view content.  For heavens sake, thats all we want.  If studios don't want the actual movie download to reside on my home PC then fine.  If there is any problem with this approach...its XBox's 120GB maximum capacity...we need something more scalable.  Preferrably a 500GB XBox harddisk and/or better yet, a special drive cage accessory.  Sounds like the perfect job for Windows Home Server (if it can be done securily).

OKay, I'm starting to see the problem you are having. If i only had the Media Center UI to navigate my library of songs/videos/movies...then it would impossible. Currently my PC is upstairs and is a dedicated PC...i don't actually use the Media Center on it at all. My Xbox 360 Elite is downstairs and that's what i use as a living room media center. So I'm using the Zune software upstairs on the PC as well as ripping my DVD's to my HD and watching them in my living room via my Xbox. It's a great solution for me...but only because i have a dedicated PC.

So...let's see. Yes - we recognize internally that the fact that certain of our products don't play nicely together sucks, to put it bluntly. As consumers, we hate it too.

Are we going to fix this? I believe the answer is yes. Organizationally, we are part of the Zune/Xbox group (not Windows any longer, though of course we - meaning the Media Center teams - care very much about selling Windows Vista). And I believe we'll also do better to integrate with other Windows products, too.

JessZahn:

Organizationally, we are part of the Zune/Xbox group

Does this mean we could possibly see a Microsoft Zune extender in the future?
It would be great if Microsoft had an extender that was an alternate to the XBox.

You know I can't answer that. :-)