Transcript: Windows Media Center Edition: Exciting Media Center news! January 15, 2004
Published: February 14, 2004
Chat Date: January 15, 2004
Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity
Introduction
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
Welcome today today's Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) chat. It has been a very busy month for MCE.
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
You might have read about many of the announcements made at CES on sites like, www.neowin.net, who provided up to the minute coverage. I
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
In this chat, we will answer question you may have relating to what was announced at CES and take any questions you may have on MCE.
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
I'll now have the hosts introduce themselves.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Mini Bio: Ed Rich here--> Program Manager - Ehome [Beta and Product Supportability]
Host: Barb (MVP)
I'm Barb Bowman and I'm a Product Development Manager for Comcast High Speed Internet, a Windows MVP, and an Expert Zone Columnist and I can't wait for Media Center Extenders!
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Hi, my name is Todd; I'm a program manager in eHome.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Howdy, all ... I'm Nicholas Fang and I'm a developer on the eHome Media Center Extender team, as well as the maintainer of the eHome Newsgroup FAQ.
Barb Hey everyone! My name is Andy Vanosdale and can't wait to get my hands on an MCX!
Host: CoreyGouker (MVP)
Hi, I'm Corey Gouker a MCE MVP and a part time student more info check out my site at http://blogs.coreygouker.com.
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
I'm Ken McGrath, TechNet/MSN Web and Communities Producer.
Start of Chat
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Will the extenders stream LiveTV?
A: Yes, Live TV will be supported by MCX.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: MCX uses remote desktop, so I assume you've gotten around the video problem. Will MCE now also support video to other PCs via RDP or only to the extenders?
A: Part of the MCX technologies is a way to stream video along with RDP; the video stream is independent of RDP, however, so it isn't a change to the core protocol. Thus, only MCX devices will be able to receive video from MCE, not normal RDP sessions.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Will you not be able to use your Main MCE if you are using the Extender?
A: Yes, you will still be able to use your main Media Center PC along with an Extender.
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: How is MCX et al going to stream the video from the Home MCE? Are they doing to stuff it down the RDP session or will the RDP flick out when someone plays video?
A: Video is streamed independently of RDP :-)
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: Does the Extender send the "Full" media center experience, or the slimmed down RDP version?
A: Extenders will present the GDI-version of the Media Center interface.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: Will the xBox addition he hardware or software?
A: The Xbox extender will be software.
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: In wireless mode, what wireless standard does the MCE extender utilize? 802.11b? g? I? z?
A: It will be up to the vendors, but certainly 802.11a or 802.11g is preferable
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Where can I find out in what countries the program guide is available? Or for which channels for that matter?
A: You can find info of countries we ship to at http://www.microsoft.com/mediacenter. At this writing the countries are US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and China
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Will MCX also be offered in a Wired and Wireless configuration for those of us with Cat 5 already running to our TV sets?
A: This will be up to the vendors themselves... just remember that Xbox now has a wireless adapter ;-)
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: Followup on xBox - Will it require another remote?
A: The Xbox MCX kit will include a remote and IR dongle
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: Will the software xbox MCX be downloadable for free or for a price?
A: It will not be free. It will include some hardware that is needed.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Will MCX support wired-connections or purely wireless?
A: MCX will support both
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Is Live TV supported on multiple MCX at the same time?
A: I'm going to answer all of these related questions at once. A tuner card can only receive a single source at once and can't tune to multiple channels. So, an MCX and the MCE machine can both watch Live TV at once if they're watching the same channel, but they can't force the tuner to do something it can't by asking for two channels at the same time.
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
For information on Media Center, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/devices/default.mspx
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: Will the XBOX software also play DVDs on the Xbox (meaning you don't have to have 2 remotes and receivers for your XBOX)?
A: Yes - the Xbox MCX kit will also support playback of DVDs on the Xbox (it is a superset of the Xbox DVD kit)
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Any prices yet?
A: Pricing is something that will be determined by our OEM partners when they release their devices.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: The Xbox MCX kit: Is it different from the remote & IR device for DVDs?
A: Yes.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: The Xbox MCX kit: Is it different from the remote & IR device for DVDs? Q: Do you have an expected Price Range for the extender?
A: Yes, remotes will be included with the XBox MCX.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Will the MCX be able to be hooked up straight to another computer in the house?
A: MCX will need connect up to a Media Center PC that you have in your home.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: Will RDP for Xbox or Extender Devices offer only the MCE GUI or could I show PowerPoint slides on my xbox for example?
A: The Media center Extender will show only the MCE GUI.
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: If the MCX kit is a superset of the DVD kit, will you have to purchase another kit if you already have the DVD kit for Xbox?
A: Yes, you will have to purchase the new kit. But you might have a friend that could use the DVD kit.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: So no support for multiple tuners?
A: Multiple tuner support has not been announced at this time.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: If I have say 2 computers in my house, 1 upstairs 1 downstairs (networked wirelessly), can I hook up the extender to the NON-MCE computer, and then watch MCE on that PC?
A: No, MCX must connect to a Media Center PC
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Are custom codecs like DivX supported on MCE?
A: This is possible today - any files that you can play in Windows Media Player should be playable in MCE.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: So is there only TV-out on the extender?
A: That is up to the OEM but you can expect this to be there
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: IF your pc doesn't have a TV tuner can u use the MCX to stream TV to your pc via the xbox?
A: You won't be able to play Live TV without a tuner, but if your Media Center PC has recorded TV files, those will be playable via MCX.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Will the MCX be able to be hooked up straight to another computer in the house?
A: You must have a Media Center PC on the network in order for MCX devices to work.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Do the codecs need to be on the MCX, or are they sourced from the MCE machine?
A: Codec support on MCX is still TBD.
Host: CoreyGouker (MVP)
Q: Are there plans for MCX products in Europe or will they first be limited to the United States?
A: There haven't been any announcements yet for MCX devices outside of the United States.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: How are LiveTV conflicts amongst multiple MCXs resolved?
A: We have not announced specific details regarding how this is handled, but it is something we certainly are addressing.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: If the MCX kit is a superset of the DVD kit, will you have to purchase another kit if you already have the DVD kit for Xbox?
A: Media Center Extender for XBox will be a separate product from the DVD kit. You will need to purchase the MCX kit.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: What is the underlying platform of the MCX devices? CE?
A: Yes. MCX devices are based on CE.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Will RDP for Xbox or Extender Devices offer only the MCE GUI or could I show PowerPoint slides on my xbox for example?
A: MCX will only "extends" the Media Center experience to a device.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: will the xbox xtender only link to an MCE machine
A: The MCE Xbox Extender extends only Media Center.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: Isn't "MCX protocol" simply a tweaked RDP? Or is there an actual data backchannel?
A: MCX uses RDP in its stock form; the video is sent outside of RDP.
Host: CoreyGouker (MVP)
Q: Will it be possible to use an MCX Software client to connect a standard PC to MCE to get the same experience?
A: MCX will only connect to a MCE machine.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: A PC can always be repurposed if MCE is dropped. An MCX cannot. What is the future of MCE so that we can be assured that we don't own a doorstop in a year? Longhorn?
A: All I can say here is that Microsoft is excited about Media Center's future and we're committed to the Media Center platform going forward.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: will the xbox xtender software gui play dvds from the xbo drive, with an improved interface?
A: DVD playback using the Xbox MCX kit will perform in an identical manner to DVD playback using the Xbox DVD kit.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Besides the guide not being available, are there any other limitations if I buy a XPMCE in a "non-supported" country?
A: Due to various televison standards in each country your TV tuner card may not be compatible
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: Any plans for MCE to support ITunes music files?
A: No plans like that have been announced
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: If I have say 2 computers in my house, 1 upstairs 1 downstairs (networked wirelessly), can I hook up the extender to the NON-MCE computer, and then watch MCE on that PC?
A: A Media Center Extender device isn't designed to enable a non-MCE PC to connect to an MCE PC, it's designed to consume the content from an MCE PC and display it out to a TV. So, in this scenario, your non-MCE PC wouldn't be involved - you'd connect the CX device to your MCE PC and output its content to a TV.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Have all these devices been known to work 'correctly' with SP2?
A: XPSP2 is still in beta. Since MCE is based on XP you should expect this to work.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Andy, you make it sound as if multiple tuner will be possible in the future, can you elaborate?
A: I have not said that multiple tuners will be supported... It has been recommended to the product team for their consideration.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: IF your pc doesn't have a TV tuner can u use the MCX to stream TV to your pc via the xbox?
A: The MCX kit for Xbox enables TV to be streamed from the PC to your Xbox (not the other way around).
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: Are MCX integrated devices just relabeled Smart Displays so that Microsoft's partners can sell of their stockpile of obsolete devices?
A: No they are not
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: How is data transferred to Portable Media Centers? ACtiveSync?
A: We know that getting content onto your portable devices is one of the most important features to get right. The development team is working hard on SmartSync, which will manage content syncing for you. More details are available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/products/portablemediacenters/faq.mspx
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Will the xbox xtender only link to an MCE machine?
A: That is correct. It is "extends" the Media Center experience to the XBox
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: I know you are not OEM's but what is going to be the major difference between plain extender devices and TV's with built in extenders?
A: The fundamental technology is identical, so the main difference is the physical form factor (standalone unit vs. TV).
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: why would u need to stream TV to your xbox if it's already hooked up to a TV?
A: Though you could probably watch Live TV on the TV directly, the Xbox Media Center Extender Kit is about enabling access to all of your Media Center features - not just TV, but pictures, music, etc ...
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Thus, you'll not only be able to access Live TV, but you'll be able to get at your recordings and all of the other content that you have stored on your Media Center PC.
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: Have there been any TV integration partners announced?
A: Both Gateway and HP have announced plans. Available for holiday season 2004
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: Seen any headless MCE server units that use the MCX as the sole output device?
A: Nothing has been announced, and nothing has been heard from OEMs on such plans.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: In wireless mode, will the MCEX have some kind of authentication or unique ID handling to keep from streaming my late night shows to a kid's neighbor next door?
A: We're definitely putting work into making sure that your MCX device will only communicate with the MCE device that you choose.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: What will the ms version of xbox media center offer that the standalone homebrew version doesn't?
A: The Media Center experience for one... also you get TV and all the other cool things that you get from Media Center!
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any Chinese version of MediaCenter 2004?
A: Yes this was released late in 2003
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Is the guide based on webservices or something else?
A: The guide is provided to the MCX from the Media Center which downloads it from the internet
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: To extend on my previous question, does the MCEX stream (in wireless mode) securely via WEP/WAP standards?
A: A lot will depend on how your home network is configured
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: Feeding on the previous answer, does that mean the MCEX utilizes our existing network technologies?
A: MCX does indeed use existing network technologies.
Host: Barb (MVP)
Q: What sort of wireless will be required for the best experience? Will I be able to get a good experience On 802.11b?
A: 802.11b would be ok for audio, but for great video, you would need 802.11a or 802.11g.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: will mce ever have smaller recorded show file sizes, a 1 hr show is still huge to recording to dvd for storage
A: Media Center currently supports 4 different video quality settings; if you set recording quality to “Fair” you can significantly reduce file size.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: Will any MCX devices allow you to do a remote desktop with a wireless keyboard and mouse as well as the mce interface with a remote?
A: MCX extends only Media Center Edition. It therefore only has a remote. No mouse or keyboard.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: will mcx and xbox xtender all setting up of scheduled recordings as normal
A: Yes, you will be able to manage your TV recordings through a Media Center Extender device just as you can on your Media Center PC.
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: Will I get a ballpark on the Price of the MCX if I keep asking?
A: No... :-) What is a ballpark price you would pay for the device?
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: Will a MCX from gateway work with a MCE PC from HP?
A: MCX will function with all MCE devices.
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
We are going to have to wrap up this chat in about 10 minutes. We're going to answer a few more questions, though.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: do you know if Bill G's Keynote on this at CES will be available online any time soon?
A: The transcript of his keynote is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2004/01-07ces.mspx
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Will MCEX work on Windows XP systems or only Windows MCE systems?
A: Media Center Extender is designed to remote the Media Center experience, so it requires a Media Center PC.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: Is there any more specific idea of launch date other than 2004?
A: We are working with our OEMs to have MCX devices in stores for the 2004 holiday season.
Host: EdRich (Microsoft)
Q: Any idea if these extender devices will be compatible with upcoming version of MCE?
A: Yes
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Q: I am interested in beta testing, particularly the Xbox Extender, any direction for this?
A: You can find information about beta testing Microsoft products at http://www.beta.microsoft.com/.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: will the xbox be able to cache the media so it can playback when the pc is off to eliminate noise
A: The Xbox MCX kit extends the Media Center experience, so it's necessary for the MCE PC to be turned on.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Q: I saw lots of talk about the extender devices at CES, were live devices present, or just
A: There were live MCX devices at CES. Real devices, from real manufacturers!
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Q: Can I assume the MCX devices will buffer the stream so that it can compensate for the hiccups on the network?
A: Yes, we will be doing everything we can to make sure that MCX devices get a good media streaming experience, including things like buffering to deal with network latency.
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Q: what sort of average battery life on one charge are we looking at for portable mce players [I know it's a range] but an idea would be good, 1 hr, 30 mins?
A: This will vary by device, but expect at least three hours of continuous video playback and 12 hours of continuous audio playback.
Host: Nick (Microsoft)
Thanks for keeping us all busy, everybody ... look forward to seeing you at the next chat.
Host: Barb (MVP)
Bye everyone!
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
There's more information at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/devices/default.mspx
Host: AndyVanosdale (MVP)
Thanks everybody! I enjoyed answering your questions and look forward to seeing you all in the newsgroups!
Host: Todd (Microsoft)
Thanks all for coming today.
Host: Justin_Harrison (MVP)
Thanks for coming! It was fun :-)
Host: CoreyGouker (MVP)
Was great chatting everyone!
Moderator: KenM (Microsoft)
See you all next time. Be sure to check http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/chats/default.mspx soon for upcoming topics.
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.smartdisplay
Transcripts: Read the archive of past Windows Media Center Edition chats.
Website: Visit the home page for Windows Media Center Edition
