Windows 10: R.I.P., Windows Media Center

*Ditto

 

Hi there

The "Abandonware" idea is fine --Adobe for instance has CS2 as abandonware --although old it's an absolutely EXCELLENT way of learning about 99% of Photoshop FOR FREE-- most of the newer versions just have a few extra filters or better Camera RAW support -- but for learning the essentials CS2 is just 100% worthwhile as a download.

http://www.redmondpie.com/download-a...you-still-can/

The problem though with WMC is that it probably won't work with W10 so even releasing it as abandonware won't help users. As some have pointed out - getting old software to work on a modern OS is often either not possible or too costly. Just look at what should be simpler things like some scanners and printers --some excellent photoscanners haven't worked since XP - TWAIN being an old protocol which isn't supported in modern OS'es without a lot of quite tricky mods --however people like VUESCAN can get these to work (for a fee).

If there is enough demand someone might "clone" WMC but IMO the product was never any good in the first place --however that's just MY point of view. If you like it and want to use it either hope someone will "fix it" for W10, continue using W7 or run W7 as VM's.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Nope, I meant what I said. The CableCard isn't just a decryption device, it's an authorization device, encryption of the stream is up to the provider. Which means the ability to decrypt is a conditional functionality of your devices using the CableCard. If they only authorize you to view the local channels, it's likely in most cases that they don't encrypt the channels and your CableCard is just being used as an authorization token.

I'm not looking for an open source, I'm saying WMC had it, Open Source doesn't.

SiliconDust is a beautiful company, I have 3 of their devices. Although I understand from a business perspective their decision, I nevertheless dislike subscription services, and am not particularly interested in their DVR service. It's hard to be interested in something you are already getting for free.

 

Thanks for the Link. . .had these a few years back but for some reason they just got up and walked out. . .*Smile

 

It's unlikely that MS will release WMC, since there are a number of expensively licensed components in it. If they did, it would likely have to be without those components, which would mean it would no longer work with CABLECARD's.

 

Actually it did work with Windows 10. When the first version of Ten cam out I used a key upgraded the Pro version and installed Media Center. It worked perfectly. So it would have to be prevented from working......

Solved How to add Media Center to Tech Preview - Windows 10 Forums

Mystere
You seem to be a knowledgeable person but what you are missing about media center is Cable companies encrypt pay TV channels. HBO, Starz etc cannot be recorded by any other means as the licence for the dongle in the software is an extortionate amount that only M$ could afford. Some cable companies also encrypt the free to air HD channels which means you can only view them with a cable box or cable card. For the cord cutter (Me) who pays for his really high speed internet and finds most of American TV absolute crap not worth the time of day media center is a great choice.

 

I'm fully aware of how this works. Many 3rd party Media Center applications support CableCard, which supports decrypting content marked as "copy freely". MediaPortal, Kodi, and others support this.

What it doesn't support is media marked as "copy once" because doing so requires licensing the DRM technology. This is not any more encrypted than "copy freely", but it requires a specific certified infrastructure, and licensing.

And, as I've said, there are plenty of stand-alone devices that work with copy once media, and coming soon even DVR software that's fully certified for HDHomeRun devices.

 

Here's another option, which isn't even all that expensive. Get yourself a cheap XBOX 360 for $150 (or get a used one even cheaper) then get something like this:

Ceton InfiniTV 6 ETH - Ethernet CableCARD Network Tuner

for a grand total of $450 you have yourself a killer, 6 channel DVR that supports all premium channels, streaming, etc... Plus, you can use Windows 10 to view the content...

 

I knew I did read about this when 8 was coming out:

This is where I found it now But not where I originally read about it.

 

So are you going to give me the $450 to do what I can already do for free? I am on a fixed income, disabled and basically housebound (working on that, start rehab in the next week). You must be joking buying an X Box one. Windows phones have a bigger market share than those *chuckle. I would never buy a toy console, that is why we have 12 computers in a 2 person household. I have 100mbs down and 25mbs up internet and no cable TV, just the 20 or so local stations . We use computers. Are you being paid by Microsoft by any chance Mystere? I have yet to hear you complain about anything they do.

 

Fixed income. . .as if you are the only one here on the ten's. . .*Party

 

Can you provide the source for this information, specifically you comment that "you can use WIndows 10 to view the content." I checked the Ceton website and cannot find any information about Windows 10 compatibility and they were previously burned by Microsoft when it decided not to support any WMC extenders other than the Xbox 360 in Windows 8. Removing WMC entirely in Windows 10 may also remove the software components that Ceton depends on for Cablecard DRM functionality. Of course if that happens it still doesn't prevent people from continuing to use Ceton devices on Win 7/8 computers with WMC as long as Microsoft doesn't eliminate the guide data for these machines.

Until I hear something official from Ceton, I'm more willing to bet on the Silicondust Kickstarter project since their more recent devices are capable of recording/playback of DRM copy-once material independent of playready/WMC. Of course they still have to restrict playback to DRM compatible software/devices so I don't think it's likely that they'll be able to support playback, at least of copy-once material, on all of the software/devices that people are requesting. Of course this limitation exists with WMC as well.

 

You're misunderstanding. I said, you can view the content in Win 10 using the XBOX SmartGlass app.

 

I did not say an Xbox one. I said an 360, which can be picked up for peanuts. Also, you might want to check the Xbox market share... it's roughly the same as the WII and half the PS4, so roughly 25% of the market.

The vast majority of the cost is the TV Tuner, something you would have to buy for a new media center anyways. It always amazes me how people are willing to spend $1000+ on their PC hardware, and won't spend a dime on software.

 

Still have the free WMC key. Never used it.
(Well..., once, to try it out)