Microsoft launches Windows Media Center Internet TV beta

Just as we expected, Microsoft is getting official with its Windows Media Center Internet TV feature, which is set to go live in beta fashion tomorrow morning. According to Microsoft, US-based users of Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate will soon be able to download a simple update that will enable them to "enjoy a range of television and video content on their PCs and TV sets [with a Media Center Extender of some sort] without a TV tuner in their PC." The streaming content will all be ad-supported "by an advertising platform provided by YuMe," which means that you'll be getting it gratis. The programming reportedly "comes from MSN Video," and just over 100 hours of it will be available when the beta begins. To whet your appetite, a few notables that will be available are "full episodes of TV shows such as 'Arrested Development,' full-length music concerts by artists such as Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Pink, John Mayer and the Pussycat Dolls, movie trailers, news segments from MSNBC, and sports clips from FOX Sports."

[Zach @ Sep 27th 2007 7:41AM]

How many times has a company tried to launch a "revolutionary" product called interactive TV? I think it's about time to see that the world doesn't need interactive TV. Find another need and pursue it.

[Bob Ross @ Sep 27th 2007 10:04AM]

I hope you noticed its "internet tv" not "interactive tv".

[Zach @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:45AM]

The Internet is interactive.

[David Clark @ Sep 27th 2007 7:43AM]

You had me at Arrested Development..

[Dean @ Sep 27th 2007 9:13AM]

haha, thats what i thought too, when i was reading this i thought oh, its just gunna be crap tv, then saw this, and was super stoked.

[JimJimBinks @ Sep 27th 2007 9:20AM]

Same here.
I'm all over that. I have to admit though, I'm also hoping for some Heroes.

[Michael Writhe @ Sep 27th 2007 10:37AM]

Heroes would be awesome!

i wonder if they will provide the service to us Canadian users? we've been shafted before. ex: Zune

[TK @ Sep 27th 2007 11:24AM]

@Michael:

Dude, just don't buy it.



...Oh wait, you meant something else. My bad. >

[Carl W @ Sep 27th 2007 7:46AM]

Is this for the US only, or can us Brits look forward to it too??

[Dan @ Sep 27th 2007 8:09AM]

When have they EVER done something that works in the UK too?! I'm still waiting for my XBox Marketplace to work again so I can download the same films that they can in the States... Ugh!

[Ruben @ Sep 27th 2007 11:50AM]

I think that crap is because of the respective countries.

Canada doesnt have marketplace purchases for movies. I think theres something they have to go through before the government allows them to sell media like that (yet games on marketplace are a go?).

I remember iTunes took forever to get going in canada. Zune is no different. It wont be released here until the marketplace is given the go.

So, we might get this, but something tells me Canada is not going to let it (Canada = Rogers = Shaws therefore NO!). As for the UK, who knows. They might be in the same boat as Canada.

[Brad @ Sep 27th 2007 2:53PM]

It isn't the distribution companies or the governments, it's the ass-backwards business model of the production company / studios. They want to control when a movie goes where, so they can decide whether or not to push marketing there, etc.

You can't buy movies in the UK because they don't want you able to rent / purchase it BEFORE the DVD. If you could do that, who would buy their precious, over-priced physical media? WHO???? (insert more sarcastic fear and question marks)

[gfar @ Sep 27th 2007 8:52AM]

Free movie trailers? No way! Now THAT is revolutionary.

[James @ Sep 27th 2007 9:12AM]

Because, of course, people watch MSNBC to begin with - so naturally they'll watch it through Internet TV. < sarcasm /off >

Probably would fare better without news clips at all - seriously, if you're going to watch the news, you'll do it 99.99999992% of the time on your television. Sure, it's a great novelty to be able to watch one or two clips when you first get it, but after about a minute it gets old.

I'm just stating facts here - it's classically been much simpler to switch to whatever channel the news happens to be on than it ever has to watch news clips on a website (especially if it isn't embedded in the page already).

It's just not the kind of content that anyone wants to watch on the computer. There's other things that people will absolutely tolerate - comedies, dramas, science fiction, movies - but news, if it is on the list, is at the bottom of the list.

Just watch - if they report any numbers publicly at all, the numbers will show more people trying to watch Arrested Development or other full-episode fictional programming than news or current events programming by a landslide margin.

[Brad @ Sep 27th 2007 2:54PM]

Dude, it's a BETA TEST. They're using content they already own the rights to, so they don't have to pay NBC for the BETA TEST. Sorry, in case you missed it, this is a BETA TEST.




Beta test.

[krypto @ Sep 27th 2007 11:34AM]

this is sweet!!! if they go live with this and add real TV i can get rid of my cable company PIGS!!!

[Bushrod @ Sep 27th 2007 9:17AM]

I don't spend a lot of time in front of my PC when I'm at home. I wonder if this will work with Webguide...

[LennyMan @ Sep 27th 2007 9:35AM]

[sarcasm]
Yippeee!

Just what I need... 1kb/s, stuttering and lossy TV on a 17" PC screen.

I don't need to buy that 50" LG HDTV now!

[/sarcasm]

[Ruben @ Sep 27th 2007 11:34AM]

Really, thats too bad that your ISP and you computer screen is shit. Dont blame microsoft for you not having the proper goods to handle this.
And how do you know its going to be poor quality? Have you seen it work? Are you a prophet?

If this becomes popular, ISP's will boost bandwidth (assuming your isp isnt involved in cable) and people will start to buy Media Center PC's. Thats the idea.

The IPTV is suposed to be HD, and this i assume, so i dont get where your getting your information.

[Fitz @ Sep 27th 2007 6:52PM]

Yeah seriously....its 2007, if you don't have high-speed then you're living somewhere worthless anyways.

I have a HTPC just for Media Center and watch all media content through it on an 84" screen. This will be a great addition to the 2 analog (1 cable ready, 1 digital cable) and 2 HDTV (only 8 free channels over QAM at the moment, but still worthwhile) feeds I can already record at the same time.

[LennyMan @ Sep 28th 2007 6:56AM]

I take it you both understand the definition of "Sarcasm" ?

I have broadband (about 8Mb/s), IP Telephony (BT HomeHub), Media PC(s), BBC iPlayer etc.

My point was that I really can't be bothered to watch compressed streaming TV when I have a perfectly good Digital Satellite and HDTV....

[Neeko @ Sep 27th 2007 10:10AM]

Hey, anybody know if this will work on MCE2005? if its just for vista users that CRAP. crap i say.

[BuhdeeDuh @ Sep 27th 2007 10:16AM]

I hope most of you realize what this is for. Not so much Internet TV on your PC, so you can sit infront of your laptop at Starbucks sipping your double shot.
No, this is a Mediacenter plugin... For those that have the vision M$ does you will understand and see where they are going. My computer runs Mediacenter Vista, it sits in my living room, and it's connected to my 42inch LCD TV. Its my well... mediacenter, I run my cable thru it, play all my movies off it, use it as my DVR etc... Amazingly enough I'm not the only person on earth that does this =)

Now... whats the BIG picture? Imagine, no need for Cable TV, a vast array of channel selection, same service and channel line up no matter the region personalized ads and commercials during the station break, vast "On Demand" shows, movies and the like.

This will be the ground work for the Cable killer, M$ wants to blend, your computer, your TV and your gaming system into one. Look at the 360, it's one step closer to that end goal, look at Mediacenter...

Need I say more?

[Andrew @ Sep 27th 2007 10:20AM]

Yeah, you beat me to it. Obviously there's been other options in i.p.t.v., but this one's backed by the major company that's been investing in this idea/technology for 20 years. This is big.

[soadchik @ Sep 27th 2007 10:29AM]

I have an HTPC with Vista Home Premium and I LOVE Window's Media Center! Sooooo this is great news for me! Definately happy to be able to get my Arrested Development fix whenever I want. I dont really use any of the other web apps that came with Media Center.. I usually just watch/record TV.. but I think I'll prob actually use this app if it has decent content on it.

Now... if I didnt have a HTPC.. then yea... I prob wouldn't use this.. I hate watching stuff on my small computer monitor... but everyone should get an HTPC anyways! They rock! :P

[Dean Murphy @ Sep 27th 2007 10:46AM]

how can i get this?..

[Miguel @ Sep 27th 2007 2:14PM]

all we need is divx support for the 360 media extender and we are set!

[frankwick @ Sep 27th 2007 2:27PM]

I have MCE 2005 and LOVE it. Unfortunately, I think this new feature is Vista only. :-(

MCE is not about sitting at your keyboard with a monitor. That is the 12" interface. Imagine the 10' interface where you're on a coach, holding a remote, watching your 42" LCD. MCE has its own interface and you don't even realize you're in XP. Most MCE PCs have digital audio outputs, DVI, extremely large hard-drives, and high-end graphics cards. Connect to your LCD and your A/v receiver, then you are ready to roll in a a full surround sound environment.

You can record TV, watch live TV, scroll through photos, listen to music, watch videos, DVDs, etc...

With MCE extenders, you can stream all of the above content to another TV in the house. I wonder if you'll be able to stream IPTV as well???

I think this is a great idea. The only problem with me and dropping my cable company, is that they provide excellent high speed Internet.

[Beth Motes @ Sep 27th 2007 12:13PM]

I knew when Apple came out with their iTV that M$ would come out with a competitor. I've found the extenders that will push it to your TV. They are here http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Content_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1175237536068&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper I'm getting estimates of $300 for the base and $350 for the one with a DVD player built in.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Sep 27th 2007 12:19PM]

Actually, Microsoft did that amazing time travel thing they often do, and came out with their competitor to Apple TV years before Apple. Of course, we know it is impossible for Microsoft to ever make a product without copying Apple, so obviously time travel is the only reasonable explanation, right?

[Fitz @ Sep 27th 2007 10:05PM]

Jeez...it must suck to stuck in 'AppleWorld' all the time. MS Media Center was available in 2002 (and maybe even earlier), so much for being behind the curve. Not everything Apple does is innovative. You should really open you horizons to the world outside of Apple.

[jeff @ Sep 27th 2007 12:24PM]

How do we get this?

[Beth Motes @ Sep 27th 2007 12:39PM]

From what I've heard it's set to come out in November, just in time for the holiday season.

[Christian @ Sep 27th 2007 12:44PM]

Finally, I don't have to keep tracking on the status of cablecards if they'll ever release one to add for my pc, I can just use an ethernet!

I do hope the quality would be great though and not youtube style. It'd be awesome if it's all in HD too.

[phrank @ Sep 27th 2007 12:49PM]

It amazes me how people will complain about a free feature. You all must live miserable lives.

This is a great feature. I have a Media Center PC dedicated to watching TV (on my TV's in the main rooms, not on my PC). I already use the Online Spotlight section like crazy. It is great when I am bored or there just isn't anything to watch.

This stuff IS very cool when compared to the other options you have out there. Media Center PC's are far better than Tivo to run your TV needs.

[granny down east @ Sep 27th 2007 1:20PM]

This is gonna make me install that Vista upgrade that I have been saving for "whenever they come out with SP1".
What a carrot on a stick.

[Neeko @ Sep 27th 2007 1:55PM]

is MCE2005 GONNA BE AN OPTION ALSO. IAM NOT INSTALLING VISTA TILL ITS MATURE ENOUGH. My PC is pretty fast but its prob not vista good enough which is bull. Iam not upgrading my setup just cause the OS is a CPU HOG.

[Moorio @ Sep 27th 2007 10:08PM]

CAPITAL LETTERS

[frankwick @ Sep 27th 2007 3:07PM]

You can check your Vista speed rating by downloading the Vista Upgrade Advisor. you'll need .Net 1.1 from Microsoft Update.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=42B5AC83-C24F-4863-A389-3FFC194924F8&displaylang=en

[Marty @ Sep 27th 2007 2:44PM]

I think the part of the article that states 'vista' means its only for Vista. I don't know though, I haven't been to the library in awhile and my contextual skills may not be up to snuff.
Seriously... did MS abandon XP and MC2005 altogether? I don't want Vista! I don't need Vista! But I LOVE Media Center.
And yes, to the detractors... you're not quite understanding what MC can really do. Supposedly they working on Media Center and Windows Mobile connectivity. Which means I'll be able to walk into a Starbucks with my MDA, connect via wi-fi, and watch the TV I recorded at home. Good stuff. Except for the whole Vista-only part. That blows.

[frankwick @ Sep 27th 2007 3:12PM]

I don't like the idea of it not being for XPMCE, but you can't blame them for this being Vista only. Vista is their current desktop product. Who knows, maybe XPMCE doesn't have the guts to handle this feature in the first place. They haven't abandoned XPMCE, I just don't think we'll see IPTV.

Regarding MCE content on Windows Mobile, this is not a stretch. The original extenders from 2002-2003 were written on Windows CE.

[Alexander @ Sep 27th 2007 5:54PM]

SWEET found this online MICROSOFT Mediaroom CANT WAIT!!!

http://www.microsoftmediaroom.com/

[soadchik @ Sep 27th 2007 7:49PM]

Well I replyed about this while I was at work... and low and behold.. I come home and my Media Center has it (Vista Home Premium)!!!!!! *woot* It's soooo freagin awesome! I hope more networks join this!

I get ALL 3 seasons of Arrested Development at my disposal.. They also have clips and shows from A&E, NBC, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, History Channel, MS NBC (of course), and some other stuff... as well as concerts and music videos and movie trailers... sports highlights... news clips.. they also had shorts (like internet shorts from jibjab.. etc..)

I wish the channels had more full shows instead of clips.. but this could very well be in development... being able to access full episodes of whole series is awesome!

The picture quality is pretty decent.. It's like regular cable quality... not pixelly or youtub-ish.. The video on some selections was jerky when you first start it... but it's nothing that's really annoying and it could just be due to my crappy internet conection. Overall.. great service from what I've seen so far.. great that it's FREE and the commercial they show at the beginning is no longer than 15 seconds... so it's not too annoying. They had some Heroes extras so that's definately a perk too! ;)

[ben @ Sep 27th 2007 11:58PM]

Problematically, it only works well on my PC. Whenever I try to stream to the Xbox 360 the thing just chokes up. It will give the spinning circle thing for long periods of time so that I will be unable to do anything.

[Alan @ Sep 28th 2007 7:07AM]

Once more UK users have paid inflated prices for Microsoft software only to find that many of the facilities are not available. Surely we should be paying half US price for this software in its crippled version supplied to us.

[Law @ Sep 28th 2007 2:27PM]

Don't blame MS, blame the media companies and regional restrictions. Believe me, I'm just as pissed that I can't get the BBC's awesome iptv-esque program in the states as you are about not being able to get a lot of content through Windows.

[Alan @ Sep 28th 2007 5:59PM]

Yes, but you haven't paid for the BBC, I have paid Microsoft for Vista and don't get my own regional programs let alone yours !

[Ray @ Sep 28th 2007 9:45AM]

Here’s how you get the update for anyone interested:
1. When in Media Center, go down to Tasks, then go over to settings and press ok
2. Go down to TV and press ok
3. Go down to Guide and press ok
4. Go down to “Get Latest Guide Listings”, press ok and then click Yes.

That’s it, after the download you’ll be able to see the Internet TV option under TV and Movies.

[Dustin @ Sep 28th 2007 5:37PM]

Awesome! Thanks for the tip!

[johnathon @ Sep 28th 2007 6:56PM]

I cant get the damned thing to come up on my VMC...odd