Vista unable to stream, convert CableCARD media
Vista's fun run-in with CableCARD started earlier this year when we all found out at CES that they had every intention to finally make Windows (specifically Vista Home Premium and Ultimate) work with your CableCARD setup. No more annoying, awful Motorola high def DVRs, no more ATSC tuners, no more standard def nonsense. As we all found out, however, users who prefer to roll their own Media Center box (like yours truly) will be left out of the option entirely -- support will only be available for CableLabs certified boxen, which home-rolled are, of course, not. Now we come to find out some even worse news about CableCARD and Vista: not only will you not be able to re-stream your high def media to other Windows machines (sorry, Vista capable Media Center Extenders only, i.e. the Xbox 360, and not much else), you won't even be able to transcode and sync to your PMC or other devices, as is currently possible. So, recap: no streaming, Windows Media Connect is null, and no conversion and syncing to your portable; don't be surprised if before the cable industry and CableLabs is through Microsoft further panders by disabling the fast-forward button in the expectation that you'll sit patiently through the recorded commercials.
[Via BoingBoing]
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