Transcript: Windows Media Center Edition, December 18, 2003
Published: February 25, 2004
Chat Date: December 18, 2003
Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity
Introduction
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Hi everyone, and welcome to today's Media Center Edition web chat!
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Our chat today is being hosted by several of our Microsoft MVPs who specialize in the Media Center platform.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
They'll be answering your questions about Media Center Edition and sharing some of their own tips and tricks.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
And now, I'll turn things over to our Media Center Edition MVPs!
Host: AlexFeinman (MVP)
Hello, I'm Alex Feinman - Media Center MVP. In my free time I work as a software engineer for a company in Silicon Valley
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Hi, I'm Walter Waltz - Windows XP Media Center MVP. I am currently a student at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Hi! My name is Andy Vanosdale from Chattanooga, TN. I am a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Since I am a huge Tennessee fan, I have to say GO VOLS and beat Clemson in the Peach Bowl! :-)
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Hi, I am James Edelen - Media Center MVP. I am a consultant/trainer and also attend Drexel University.
Host: JasonT (MVP)
Hi, I'm Jason Tsang - Windows XP Shell/User MVP. I am currently a student at the University of Waterloo in Canada.
Start of Chat
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Any plans to provide remote "record" settings of MCE over the internet .. like TiVO now provides?
A: The product team has not made any announcements regarding this. However, you can technically do a Remote Desktop session into your Media Center PC and setup the guide to do this. This will only work with Media Center Edition 2004.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Microsoft is not able to "pre-announce" any products that have not been announced yet.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Future announcements from the eHome team are being planned for CES.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Is there a problem? I am not seeing input from all of you MVP's.
A: No... there are some items we can not talk about, such as future product announcements.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: Is MCE 2004, just add on software, or is it an entire operating system, inclusive of the MCE software and XP OS?
A: The MCE enhancements are a set of applications that are integrated and run on top of the Windows XP platform. These components only come with the media center OS.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
A: just to clarify it runs on the Windows XP Professional Platform
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Q: Who of you MVP's are going to CES? I would like to plan a meeting.
A: Out of the MVPs here, none of us will be attending CES. However Andrew, as well as several other Microsoft representatives will be attending.
Host: AlexFeinman (MVP)
Q: what kind of third-party add-ons can I get for Media Center?
A: There is an SDK on MSDN that describes building the add-ons. A number of providers, such as Napster already have such add-ons.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: So are you saying that it is actually possible to load a MCE Update on a XP Professional system. I was told that was not the case?
A: No, Windows XP Media Center is built on Windows XP Professional, but you cannot turn a Windows XP Professional System into Media Center. The Windows Media center are only available with Windows XP Media Center, which is only available from a OEM.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
A: Alternatively, if you have an MSDN subscription you can download Windows XP Media Center Edition and install it for development purposes. Note this is still not an update to Windows XP Professional. It can only be clean installed.
Host: JasonT (MVP)
Q: Just to clarify .. with MCE 2004 are you now saying remote desktop now lets you run the MCE applicaiton on another PC?
A: Yes... although you will not be able to run Live TV or Recorded TV or view music visualizations over it.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Q: Is MCE Team planning making MCE widely available to the general public in the future, around Longhorn MCE time?
A: Microsoft hasn't made any announcements about making MCE available as a standalone product. Media Center requires specific hardware to function optimally, and the best way to get that optimal MCE experience is to have an OEM like HP or Dell create an integrated system.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: Since MCE is based on Windows XP Professional, it works just the same as Windows XP Pro retail in a network environment?
A: Yes, Windows XP Media Center supports everything Windows XP Professional does (Dual CPU support, Remote Desktop, domain support, etc)
Host: AlexFeinman (MVP)
Q: Is there anyway to purchase Windows XP MCE 2004 for development purposes without purchasing an MSDN Subscription?
A: No, it's either MSDN or getting it preinstalled. The former does not provide you with the necessary hardware, such as tuner, IR, etc.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: Can you disable Media Center?
A: You can disable all the media center components though the Services control pannel applet, effectively preventing recording and other Media Center components from running, but why would you want to?
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: What is in the complexity of the MCE software itself that prevents Microsoft from allowing it to run on more capable than supported OEM PC.
A: With it being for OEMs only, there are set number of hardware configurations that can be tested against. The product team is hearing your requests for a retail version so keep them coming.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: Have you seen any Rack Mount MCE OEM's?
A: The ABS Media Center PC 8500 is rack mountable
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Q: Is the support cycle for the MCE OS the same as the retail Windows XP Professional?
A: Microsoft products tend to follow the life cycle which is dicussed on this page: http://support.microsoft.com/default.mspxx?pr=lifecycle
Host: AlexFeinman (MVP)
Q: Does Windows XP MCE have any integration with PowerPoint 2003?
A: No. At least not intentionally
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: If you guys introduce a Windows MCE OS for the retail market, what will be the purpose of a Home Edition of Windows?
A: Microsoft has made no announcements regarding a retail version of Media Center Edition. So it is too early to tell at this point.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: does anyone know how I can get my tuner back from Media Center
A: To get control of the tuner back from media center, you need to disable the Ehome Recording service in the services control panel applet. Then kill the ehrec.exe process (and any other eh*.exe process). After you are done using the tuner, make sure to set the service to start automatic again for MCE to work (and regain control of the tuner).
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
These are some great questions - keep them coming!
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
We've got about thirty minutes left. Go ahead and repost your question if it got missed.
Host: AlexFeinman (MVP)
Q: Anyone know of a TV/Audio card that allows you to record 5.1 digital .. my HP 864 comes with a digital audio out but no digital audio in
A: The Audigy in 864 has digital input (I'm 99% sure), but the tuner is not 5.1 capable, so you cannot record it off the air
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Q: Is the MCE Team planning any Windows XP Tablet MCE OS?
A: Microsoft has made no announcements regarding a version of Media Center Edition for the Tablet PC. However, Toshiba has released a laptop form factor of Media Center Edition.
Host: JasonT (MVP)
Q: so you're saying because I have a digital tuner card I CAN'T change the quality it's saved as? If that's the case how can I re-encode it if I want to save space?
A: there are third party apps that can transcode (Sonic MyDVD and WinDVD Creator are two that can do this)
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: MS has annoucned they will provide a music download service .. will this service be integrated into MCE?
A: Since Microsoft has not released the music download service, it is way too early to tell. However, this is a great feature request that we will pass along to the product team.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
A: Also, Napster is available for this specific use, now. :-)
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Q: Does the MCE Team communicate with the Table PC Team in anyway since both are counsins?
A: Tablet PC and Media Center Edition are focused on different markets - business and consumer - so while the teams do communicate, there isn't a super-close relationship.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: Again, I have a Gatway Media Center PC. Came installed with a Haupauge TV tuner card. I can not use the software that came with the card because MCE will not release the card. Why will MCE not release the card when MC is not being used?
A: I answered how to release the card above. The Scheduler service retains the card in order to be able to start a recording at any time, including when no user is logged in.
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Q: How come BTW on my MCE PC there's not a section for internet radio? It's connected to broadband so why isn't this supported?
A: Unfortunatly that has not been implemented into Windows XP Media Center Edition, nor has Microsoft made any formal announcements about this being part of a future feature set. However, this is a request we have been hearing often, so keep letting Microsoft know your input! :-)
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Q: What is MCE Team's interest in Speech technology, will it be an integral part in MCE OS updates?
A: What sort of functionality would you find useful? Can you list some scenarios?
Host: AlexFeinman (MVP)
Q: Anyone know of a TV/Audio card that allows you to record 5.1 digital .. my HP 864 comes with a digital audio out but no digital audio in.
A: (cont'd) The current situation with 5.1 video broadcasts is that it is available via digital signal. MCE currently supports analog R/F signal. Therefore your set-top box will do decoding. This means you will need to record 5.1 audio via separate channel from the STB. I do not believe MCE will do this. Great point though. Also consider that 5.1 signal is often copy-protected.
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Q: How can I join a future MCE Beta?
A: To apply for any Microsoft beta programs you can use the same standard procedure as described here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.mspxx?scid=kb;en-us;833520.
Host: WalterWaltz (MVP)
Q: When will MCE support HD TV?
A: Microsoft has not made any formal announcement about implementing features for HDTV. Any information regarding that would be pure speculation. As stated previously, please keep giving feedback about features you'd like to see available in future Media Center Editions. :-)
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
A: Microsoft is aware that HDTV support is a popular request from consumers, but has not made any announcements.
Host: JasonT (MVP)
Q: is this a place where we can post wish list items?
A: see this site for wish list items - How to Contact the Microsoft Wish Program - http://support.microsoft.com/default.mspxx?scid=114491
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
We've got about 5 minutes left...post those last questions!
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Q: How does the MCE Team write software, is written by multiple programmers then sucked up into a machine and compiled?
A: Microsoft has standards for building software. Basicaly each programmer writes code that he is responsible for, compiles and tests his section, then checks it in. All the checked in code is built daily and then the whole code base is tested.
Host: JamesEdelen (MVP)
Most of the basic testing is automated. Each specicific team has different build procedures, but this is the general standard.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Okay, this will conclude today's Media Center Edition web chat. Thanks everyone for coming!
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
And a big thanks to our Media Center MVPs for hosting the chat and answering everyone's questions!
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Feel free to stay and chat about Media Center or other Microsoft products.
Moderator: Andrew (Microsoft)
Good-bye!
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Thanks everyone so much for coming. I look forward to seeing you all in the public newsgroups.
For further information on this topic please visit the following:
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter
Transcripts: Read the archive of past Windows Media Center Edition chats.
Website: Visit the home page for Windows Media Center Edition
