WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Dale — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:45:05 GMT

The only sliver lining in this dark gray cloud is that the bits for TV Pack seem to be easily available on the net and they work with no problems on those PCs where they have been applied as an upgrade to existing Premium or Ulitmate systems. The lack of the ability to edit .mtv files or view them anywhere else is a sin that MS could still correct if MS cared to.

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Craig — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:45:33 GMT

Having bought a couple of copies of Ultimate and having a HTPC with Home Premium, I quite frankly can't see what benefit I get from ultimate. Could someone explain as the extras don't seem to be there or of any f'ing use to anyone.

The idea that the WMC community on thegreenbutton have been asking for features for months if not years and yet this is going to not be available to the community that uses it on a daily basis. Multiple tuners is something that makes the application perfect outside of the US where set-top boxes have to be connected via s-video cables. The suggestion that one needs to buy a new OEM unit to get this seems pretty p!ss poor when I, like many people paid for the extras.

Anyway, guess I better search for the install files, because, ironically it's available to the OEM's, not as a part of the latest RTM OS disk, but as a standalone update package. I'm sure someone must have posted it and the PlayReady runtime to go with it.

Cheers

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Sevla — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:58:54 GMT

All this looks like a damn joke. I have spend thousands of pounds to build my HTCP box and now this. VMC is a great feature in a great OS, Why TF spoil it? All the features that MS has left behind i was able to workaround it. Blu ray and HDDVD support? Just buy PowerDVD and develop a way to integrate the feature to VMC. I have done it. DVB-S & DVB-S2 support? Just buy DVBViewer and develop a way to integate the feature to VMC. I have done it. CI & CAM support, Teletxt, MHEG... etc, I was expecting MS to sort it out. And then TV Pack 2008 is released only for OEM`s!!!!! OMFG. WHAT`S THIS ALL ABOUT???? And wait there`s more, TV Pack 2008 supports DVB-S, MHEG, Teletext... and could support HD playback either by media (blu ray & hddvd) or streaming (DVB-S2) if MS wanted but that maybe will come with "Windows 8"...but i will have to upgrade to a spanking brand new computer. Are they out of their minds? I bought one copy of Windows Vista Ultimate just to built my HTPC and another for my desktop PC. How could i be so dumb??? And better yet, it BREAKS functionallity in add-ons that developers damn sure spent hours developing and giving support, to improve the "Windows Vista Media Centre Experience" "WOW" just for what? The satisfaction of doing something for the community, a few donations trought PayPal, and for MS to FREAKING BREAK them up. All this end`s up with me the end user. WMC now to me is nothing more than a shiny jukebox and slideshow machine that happens to play dvd`s and receives SD television. No more money from me MS.

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Erwin — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:20:32 GMT

Apple is even more tied to hardware than Microsoft is. Tried Ubuntu last week for the third or fourth time in a few years, but again all kind of difficulties with the install already. On a basic Asus barebone. I think Ubuntu is an overrated hype.

So i have to stick with MCE. But i certainly feel like Microsoft could put much more effort in it than they do now.

BTW i replaced my Linksys DMA 2200 extender with an XBOX 360. Finally everything works as it supposed to. Linksys sucks!

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

IamWarpath — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:53:26 GMT

These WTV files are locked down!!! I hate this new format I can only watch on this one computer. Give us the ability to takes our recording where we want!

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Rod — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:29:47 GMT

I found this page looking for a way to strip DRM from dvr-ms. Looks like the TV Pack is just another right square kick in the nuts. I am absolutely PISSED about all of this. These bastards don't have any right telling me how long I can keep recordings, what I can record, in what format.. etc. Not to mention that I will probably NEVER get rid of this damn cable box. I just spent $1300 on my first "nice" PC, there's no more money M$!!! Ya hear me!!! You know, I remember as tho' it were a meal ago, there was this cable that came out of the wall, I plugged it in to the TV, the VCR, and (shock! amazement!! miracle of miracles!!!) IT WORKED!!! Amazing!!! Now I gotta get a mind wipe within 30 days of viewing, 15 days if your brain isn't PlayReady certified.

I HATE these bastards with that special warm and fuzzy hate that I reserve for child molesters, rapists and politicians!!! I'm on the verge here folks! I'm gonna climb someplace high and start shooting people if they don't stop kickin' me in the nadz! (that was some dark humor there for those with sticks in uncomfortable places) This is driving me INSANE!!! All I want is essentially to get the functionality of my vcr back! Ya know, watch one channel, record another, simple right? Nope, old cable boxes that seem to die once a year, one channel at a time, encrypted qam, and even if it weren't encrypted I gotta spend what to get the 2008 DRM Pack.

For the love of god somebody crack that damn TV Pack and strip out all this nonsense!!!

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

ray brooks — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:37:44 GMT

Well, I agree with everybody on here that Microsoft shouldn't have screwed us in not offering the WMC update (not even to Vista Ultimate users as an Ultimate extra!). I am running Vista Home Premium on my laptop and Ultimate on my desktop computer and I managed to get the TV Pack Update by means of bittorent. It installed fine on my machines and I like the update. It's dumb that I had to resort to getting the update from bittorrent, but that's how I managed to get it.

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

pip — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:15:36 GMT

I couldn't agree with you more Dan Akers. Also this TV pack is to meet the needs for european costumers. TV pack can also be used with DVB-S and DVB-T. And now Microsoft thinks that everyone in Europe rushes to the media-stores to buy a brand new, expensive media center PC and throw away there old one. Yea, right.

They think this is the way to get there foot between the door so that they also get a piece of the home entertainment market instead of only Sony. I think it is the other way. If people are presented with a beter alternitive, like sage or media portal, or something else they go for that. Or solution's like a TV-box. Nobody pay's that much for just watching TV and record some TV. They only will try it out when it's build in. Vista was a disapointment and now they are also destroying the faith for media center.

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Dan Akers — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:09:35 GMT

£15 ($27) for a set-top box providing digital terrestrial TV, a TV guide, subtitles, teletext and interactive services.

£45 ($82) for a set-top box with two digital tuners, an 80GB HD, a TV guide, subtitles, teletext and interactive.

£650 ($1,182) for a new PC running Media Center, 4 TV tuners, 750GB HD, TV guide but no subtitles, no teletext, no interactive services and you need an internet connection (£15/$27 per month) for guide content.

+£100 ($181) to upgrade to Vista Ultimate, to allow me to use my 4 tuners again. Thanks Microsoft for holding me to ransom.

Oh, and don't forget an estimated £200 ($364) to replace my 4 digital tuners with shiny new ones that I don't really need, but it's the only legal way I can get the TV pack, which is in turn the only way I can get the full functionality of a £15 set-top box.

So...

£15 for a fully-featured digital TV box?

£650 for a Media Center system lacking in basic features?

Or £950 for a fully-featured Media Center system?

Microsoft: shame on you. This should have been nothing more than a Windows Update. Many of us invested in Windows Vista precisely for the benefits of an improved Media Center. You could've given us what we deserve: full functionality. Instead, you've given with one hand (MHEG/interactive/teletext), taken with the other (our money for new hardware to obtain the TV pack in the first place) and bribed us (upgrade to Vista Ultimate if you want to use your 4 tuners again).

This well and truly sucks, and Microsoft is clearly now way to big to give a stuff about us users.

Quite happy to hear from Microsoft if they'd care to reply: danakers.creative(at)googlemail.com [email address disguised to prevent spammers!].

If I do perchance receive a miracle (reply) from MS, I'll gladly share their thoughts with you all.

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

lobbythis — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:10:31 GMT

If there is no ClearQAM update to registered users of Vista Ultimate in the near future, then I would suggest Microsoft to be the true pirates.

I also wonder if OEMs did not either lobby MS to boost their PC sales or if it was a conspiracy from inception to between OEMs and MS to increase revenues unethically. I suspect there could even be class-action lawsuits contemplated concerning the implied promise that came with the more expensive Vista Ultimate.

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Rob — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:26:33 GMT

Bye bye media center, hello sage!

Post-CEDIA, Deafening Silence on WMC TV Pack Speaks Volumes

Robert McLaws: Windows Vista Edition — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:17:52 GMT

CEDIA has come and gone, and while Microsoft has put out a press release talking about all of the new

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Stuart Buchanan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:40:44 GMT

I have been a Media Center User since 2003 (on a new bought HP PC) and it was at the time the only WF (Wife Freindly) HTPC solution. and it has always been updated with new features, just seems that it is harking back to the old OEM agreements with MCE 2004 and the original, it was a bold step for them opening up to the end user for 2005. but i thought those days were well behind them.

they dont realise what cash Media Center raises for them as it isnpt raised directly from the Ehome division. for me it was the only reason i purchased 2 Xbox360's (even though the lack ov Divx/Xvid Support Rankles me, and the new MCE extenders do, but still no update) I wasn't interested in games at all, but they have also got thousands in game purchases out of me for this platform. as i thought what the heck :)

They also havent lost my custom with my WM6 Phone for playing music (I am now on my 5th one), as i would have gone for apple long ago

This is all generated on the fact that i have Media Center as my main entertainment system. and these integrate well thats why i stay, and not always go with better products, because i prefer true integration.

But the only thing keeping me MCE was the extenders, but now i can get inexpensive extenders for other HTPC alternatives. and if i leave the MCE fold this residual income will dry up.

The only reason i have stayed with MCE up to now is because of my existing investment, and that it is now Wife Friendly. but that wont keep me a loyal customer for long, especially since there is very strong competition.

I am also a disgruntled Vista Ultimate Customer who bought 5 copies for my home laptops and PC's as i wanted MCE and Domain functionality, and i was a cutomer also looking forward to Ultimate Extra's and the only one i use on a regular basis is Hold Em' poker which is fantastic (But lets face it, it aint that fantastic when thinking what i have paid for it.)

What are you thinking Microsoft. Looking back over the Last 5 years i have spent over £30,000 in total from all my Media Center PC' incarnations and the other related Hardware/software, with a large portion of that money going to Microsoft, now for microsoft that is chump change,

but bear in mind i am just a home user (and that is one family) are they that shortsighted and dont know how much other money comes from MCE users (I am an IT consultant, and lots of people in my field of work are AVID MCE users with money to burn.

I am waiting for the Announcement tommorow and hopefully Roberts NDA is recinded on the same date so i hopefully would like to get his full undisclosed opinion once his NDA is not in effect.

But the final nail in the coffin for me is, even though i have a nice 50" Widescreen LCD TV in my living room, i still cant watch High Def H.264 encoded content, and even though i like what they have done with the new tuner fuctionality (So What, it is old trick to sage and the like)

I will be walking away from MCE and related techs unless the announcment at Cedia tells us what they want us to hear as it seems Blueray and HD are the next frontier MCE developers dont seem to want to cross (in the UK anyway) and for far less than the cost of the OEM MCE machine they expect us to buy, i can get fully kitted out with another solution.

It seems that microsoft think thier dominance with the PC software market will rub off in all arenas, and this looks like one jagged pill to swallow.

your eternally disgruntled MCE Customer. just need the Wife to agree and a bit of spare time.

Stuart Buchanan

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

Richard Boyle — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:31:45 GMT

OEM System builders eh? Not all of them are equal. What Microshaft means by this are companies like HP and Dell. Small stres like the one I own are about to get shafted again despite the fact that is people like us who actually give proper customer support to products like this. We work with all the local home theatre companies because we know what we are doing. The box stores who sell the other stuff have no idea what they are doing and once they have the customer's (AKA Punter, Rube) money their responsibility ends.

So thanks Microshaft for right royally screwing up a nice piece of business that I worked hard to develop, with your encouragement, and thanks for leaving the customers at the mercy of the hordes of semi-fluent english speakers in the Indian sub-continent (That's not a racist comment, but if you've had to deal with as many of them as I have, you'll know exactly what I mean).

Why don't you get your collective heads out from your collective butts and realize that this is simply going to drive more customers away from your products and into the waiting arms of Apple and Linux

re: WMC TV Pack: The Ultimate Windows Screwjob You Didn’t See Coming

pip — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:42:43 GMT

Right said, Juergen.