Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • PC Hardware

    Microsoft Has New Mission for Media Center

    Written by

    John G. Spooner
    Published October 11, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Microsoft Corp. is about to give Media Center PCs a new point of view.

      The Redmond, Wash., software giant is expected to unveil on Friday an update for its Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system that will boost the computers abilities to tap online entertainment such as movies, access e-mail and even let users go shopping via the special user interface, designed to allow easy access to multimedia.

      The new features, which will come as part of a rollup or collection of updates dubbed Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition, will expand the capabilities of Media Center PCs and shift their focus from showing photos and videos to on-demand online entertainment and content services, provided by big-name outlets such as MTV.

      Even the least expensive desktop Media Center models, which sell for as little as $599 and come without TV tuners or high-end graphics, are expected to be able to tap the new features.

      Price has played a major role in the increase in shipments of Media Center PCs seen of late. Manufacturers began offering the operating system in under-$1,000 desktops earlier this year, leading to huge year-over-year leaps in Media Center sales at retail in the United States, analysts said.

      “If weve learned anything about Media Center its that people think the feature set is nice. But if [Microsoft] can drive the price down and work with PC makers to position the product as a more media-centric front end than an all-encompassing home management system, it seems to be a much more readily appreciated strategy” by consumers, said Steve Baker, analyst with NPD Group Inc.

      Thus, Baker said, “Weve seen people flock to it because [Microsoft and PC makers] have addressed the price…and at least slightly repositioned it as a media management interface and not overarching digital home entertainment system.”

      Click here

      to read more about the outlook for Media Center PCs.

      Media Center retail sales in the United States have jumped recently, thanks to the shift in pricing and, to some extent, purpose, Baker said.

      Whereas they were only 4.3 percent of desktop PC unit sales at retail in August 2004, Media Centers hit 27.7 percent of desktop sales at retail in the United States in August 2005, NPD figures show.

      Although the average selling price for a Media Center PC fell significantly during the same time period—it dropped to $822 in August 2005 from $1,370 in August 2004—it was still significantly higher than the $674 average for all desktops sold at retail in August.

      The machines may have even helped some to propel retail desktop sales, which have generally been up in the low single digits—ticking up 6 percent in August, for example. However the bulk of that growth likely came from aggressive prices and higher purchasing in the $500-and-under desktop segment.

      While Media Centers seem to have found their footing at retail recently, Microsoft developers have been working for more than a year on the rollup—formerly known by the code name “Emerald”—and its follow-on, a major update dubbed “Diamond,” which is expected to come out along with Windows Vista, the companys next major operating system revision, partner sources have said.

      OEMs took shipment of the Emerald code in September, according to information shared during a Microsoft system builder chat last month.

      The release is expected to include all previous updates for MCE, including those in Rollup 1, and will install only on machines running Media Center Edition 2005 with .NET Framework 1.1 and .NET Framework Service Pack 1.

      Based on what Microsoft has said thus far, Rollup Update 2 is expected to be available as a free download and to include support for the Media Center Extender technologies that are being built into Microsofts Xbox 360 gaming consoles.

      Several other features will be part of the Update Rollup, sources familiar with Microsofts plans said.

      The update will support 200-disc DVD changers that will come to market this fall, and will add a provision for a second high-definition tuner card for handling high-definition video and HDTV signals.

      It will also add a new “Away Mode,” that will allow Media Center PCs to be shut down and started back up immediately—whereas it takes a few seconds to awake from sleep or hibernate modes—at the touch of a button, the sources said.

      Microsoft also is expected to unveil a pack of new partners at this weeks Update Rollup 2 launch. Among them, according to Microsoft partners who asked not to be named, will be Akimbo Systems Inc., America Online Inc., Comedy Central and MTV Networks. America Online is expected to support the platform with photo and on-demand music service, for example. Akimbo and MTV can provide video content to Media Centers.

      Microsoft also is expected to add this week a new subsite to its Windows Marketplace shopping portal that will be dedicated to Windows Media Center plug-ins, including one for shopping on eBay Inc.s online auction site. Windows Marketplace is Microsofts one-stop shop for software and services from both Microsoft and third-party providers that support the Windows platform.

      Between the raft of new and lower-priced media center models from companies such as Dell Inc., Gateway Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co., greater availability of Media Center notebooks and the early 2006 launch of Intel Corp.s Viiv brand— the brand will promote high-performance home PCs based on Intels dual-core processors and Microsofts Media Center—in addition to Microsofts forthcoming Windows Vista operating system and other updates, Media Center shipments will rise from less than 5 million this year to top 50 million units in 2009, Roger Kay, president of EndPoint Technologies Associates, wrote in a recent report.

      But, despite the expected update, Kay said he believes Microsoft could hold over its best Media Center features for a Media Center-enabled version of Vista Home.

      “My guess is Microsofts trying to save as much splash as it can for Vista,” Kay said.

      Additions such as instant wake-up might “make sense as maintenance release elements. But to create a lot of new features, particularly when [Microsoft] has to come up with another splash for a year from now, doesnt seem like the thing to do,” he said, adding that Microsoft should “save as much juice as possible for its long awaited premier operating system.”

      Microsoft is continuing to work on the next version of Media Center, which most company watchers are expecting to debut in 2006. The new features of the Diamond release are now expected to be folded into Windows Vista, along with Tablet PC functionality.

      The Diamond Media Center features could be part of one, if not, two, of the various Vista SKUs that are under consideration by Microsofts marketing department. The Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate SKUs would be the most likely candidates.

      Click here

      to read more about the different Vista SKUs.

      Microsoft officials have said repeatedly in the past few months that the company has yet to decide on the number, naming or feature set for its Vista line.

      A company representative declined to comment on new Media Center features or their schedules.

      Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news in desktop and notebook computing.

      John G. Spooner
      John G. Spooner
      John G. Spooner, a senior writer for eWeek, chronicles the PC industry, in addition to covering semiconductors and, on occasion, automotive technology. Prior to joining eWeek in 2005, Mr. Spooner spent more than four years as a staff writer for CNET News.com, where he covered computer hardware. He has also worked as a staff writer for ZDNET News.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×