Windows 8 Media Center – Not Dead Yet

Feb 8, 2012 by

The Verge set the Windows Media Center community on fire this morning with their article titled “Media Center excluded from Windows 8 ‘Consumer Preview‘”. As one might expect, most people are pretty upset. Back in September Microsoft officially stated that Windows Media Center would definitely be included with Windows 8, but they didn’t really give any hints as to what changes might be coming for it. But if you were to look at Twitter today, you’d swear that the Verge’s article said that Media Center won’t be included at all. Apparently the reactions frustrated Microsoft too. They tweeted this morning, from their @BuildWindows8 account,

Good grief. We said “Media Center will definitely be part of Windows 8″…

They even included a screenshot of a Windows 8 PC, with build 8225, running Windows Media Center. The date and time on the clock in the screenshot clearly show that the image was taken this morning.

So what does all of this mean? Well, it definitely means that Windows Media Center will still be in Windows 8. Will it look or work much differently than the current version of Media Center in Windows 7? Well, this screen shot doesn’t look much different from Windows 7, but even that doesn’t necessarily mean much. Also, nothing has been said about whether there might be Metro-style apps that do all, or most, of the things that we use Windows Media Center for. At this point, we still need to just wait and see, unfortunately. Tune in tonight at 8pm Eastern as we discuss the issue more on Entertainment 2.0.

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  • Anonymous

    I’m really getting tired of all these negative articles that pop up about Media Center, its getting really stupid.

    There’s enough people that want it, Steven Sinofsky had already confirmed, and Microsoft’s quick response should be evidence enough how serious they are.

    However, it is in need of a serious update. It’s still very early, we have no idea whats going on.

  • http://twitter.com/Ry6uy Ryan LaMielle

    I’m not quite dead sir.  I think I may pull through!

  • http://twitter.com/JamesMontemagno James Montemagno

    Yeah remember like months ago when they said it wasn’t dead….still not dead.

  • Anonymous

    As much as I’d hoped they would update 7MC this screen shot has all but dashed such hopes. Do you really think there will be further changes to media center than what they are showing here? The beta is just around the corner litterally and this is most likely the current build as of today and the beta is almost certainly “feature complete” based on Microsoft’s track record. If they have not made significant changes by now there is no way there will be significant changes in the next three weeks. Our best hope for Media Center is now the Q & Echo :)

  • http://twitter.com/cjanderson1 Unknown Entity

    No Movie Guide!! There’s your update.

  • http://www.twitter.com/brennokbob Brennok

    I didn’t take the Verge article as negative. I think it is more a surprise that it won’t be in the consumer preview. I know I was somewhat surprised and disappointed when I read it today. This is especially true since the Windows 7 beta is how I first got to mess around with Media Center after hearing the positive reviews and the news about CableCARD.

    I agree with starkenator though that we have to be somewhat hopeful now that the embedded team is more willing to fix bugs as they come up.

  • Pingback: Windows 8: App-Liste und kein MediaCenter? « Borns IT- und Windows-Blog

  • Michael Ross

    Paul Thurrott confirmed that the WMC in the Consumer Preview is the same as what can be found in Windows 7.  I know Microsoft is committed to WMC, and I’m sure we’ll see SOMETHING new in Windows 8.  My fear, however, is that it will be focused on streaming and leave tuner capabilities behind.  My wife and I use MCE on our main PC because it offers a convergence.  One device, one remote, television guide, DVR, Netflix, Hulu, etc.

  • Michael Ross

    Paul Thurrott confirmed that the WMC in the Consumer Preview is the same as what can be found in Windows 7.  I know Microsoft is committed to WMC, and I’m sure we’ll see SOMETHING new in Windows 8.  My fear, however, is that it will be focused on streaming and leave tuner capabilities behind.  My wife and I use MCE on our main PC because it offers a convergence.  One device, one remote, television guide, DVR, Netflix, Hulu, etc.

  • Michael Ross

    Paul Thurrott confirmed that the WMC in the Consumer Preview is the same as what can be found in Windows 7.  I know Microsoft is committed to WMC, and I’m sure we’ll see SOMETHING new in Windows 8.  My fear, however, is that it will be focused on streaming and leave tuner capabilities behind.  My wife and I use MCE on our main PC because it offers a convergence.  One device, one remote, television guide, DVR, Netflix, Hulu, etc.