Check Out MC screenshots in Windows 8

Looks like MediaCenter is still going to be included inside of Windows 8. Based off the screen shots nothing really has changes but the version number is different. This is a good sign with Microsoft still going to support it at this point.

Nothing looks to have changed with the UI yet, apart from the version number, but these pictures appear to confirm that at least Media Center is still present in this early Windows 8 build, which is good news.

The Media Center Blog

 

  • I don’t know, just because

    I don’t know, just because they haven’t taken it out yet doesn’t mean anything IMHO. It literally has not been touched, all UI elements are identical. I’m not saying it’s going away, but if Win8’s MC is identical to 7MC, that’s not exactly a good sign either.

  • I think it’s too early to

    I think it’s too early to tell which way Microsoft will go.

    It would be a shame if they were to drop or stop updating MC just when the new cable card tuners are coming to market.  Media Center is only game in town for recording premium content via cable card.  Maybe that’s the problem, MS is likely to sit on its laurels w/o competition.   I guess we can only hope that Google does something with Sage that gives us a viable alternative if/when MC gets stale.

  • I hear that they will leave
    I hear that they will leave it in, maybe not have any new features.

    Edit: Sorry had to take out the original comment.

  • There is going be an ARM

    There is going be an ARM version of Windows 8; I’m curious if MCE will run on those CPUs.

  • Actually, not that this means

    Actually, not that this means much, but there is one icon I don’t recognize, and the arrangement is different. Other than that, it’s 7MC.

  • I suspect that Windows Media

    I suspect that Windows Media Center has probably reached the stage that Notepad and Solitaire has reached.  It will be included in Windows from here on out, just don’t expect a lot (if any) of new features.  

  • I don’t think this says

    I don’t think this says anything about the future of Media Center. These screenshots are from a particular build of Windows 8 that was leaked. I’ve heard from multiple sources that certain builds contain only certain feature updates pertaining to the particular person’s job. So if someone at Microsoft was working on new Homegroup features for Windows 8, they’d have a build that was pretty much identical to Windows 7 except for whatever they needed for adding new features to Homegroup.

    I don’t think we can read anything into this. Even if they do drop Media Center, as sad as that would be, Windows 7 and Windows 7 Embedded will still be supported for 10 years. That’ll go on well beyond when CableCARDs no longer exist.

  • Vail had Drive Extender in it

    Vail had Drive Extender in it during beta also. I don’t see them removing it, but I don’t see them doing anything to improve it which is disappointing.