Ramblings of a CTO

Microsoft and DirecTV Cancel HDPC-20 Development

From GearLog.com

"According to a company spokesperson, 'DIRECTV has suspended the development of the HDPC-20 tuner project that was designed to integrate DIRECTV service into Windows Media Center after assessing the impact of missing the August 2008 release of Windows Media Center update and considering timing of the next release'.

'Both DIRECTV and Microsoft understand the desirability of offering consumers an all encompassing DIRECTV programming solution via Windows-based PCs. We are continuing to explore ways to integrate DIRECTV service with Windows-based PCs in the future.'"

I am really pissed about this, but honestly not surprised. I just came back from a BNI IT get together where I was told that most people who are purchasing new PCs still request XP - even if they have to PAY EXTRA for it. I use Vista on all my PCs and it works fine for me, but other people are having major issues with Microsoft's latest OS.

I thought Windows 7 with DirecTv support would show that Microsoft learned from its mistakes. They would get everyone excited about their latest product. But it sounds like it is going to be the same old Microsoft.

I will now be looking into Boxee and Myth TV as replacements.

Media Center DirecTV HDPC-20 pictures, Dish Network, Boxee

From EdgadetHD:

"Microsoft invited us, with a few others, to tour the eHome team office and lab's and of all the great things we saw the one that got us the most excited was to see the rumored DirecTV HDPC-20 USB tuner in action."

Here are the pictures and full article.

Here is an article about Dish Network possible joining the Windows 7 Media Center fun.

Click here to read

If the Windows 7 Media Center is a dud. I will be moving on to other things like DirectTv HD Tivo and Boxee. The only thing I don't like about Boxee is the lack of a TV Tuner card. It doesn't, from what I hear, record live TV.

ZDNet: DirecTV’s HD tuner set to debut with Windows 7?

That is the word from ZDNet's Ed Bott. According the Ed, in the pre-build of Windows 7 distributed at PDC. There is a DirecTv Driver.

So when will we get some official word from Microsoft and DirecTv?

"Microsoft has announced plans to release an official beta of Windows 7 “early next year.” I expect Microsoft to make a big splash with Windows 7 at next year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Will DirecTV finally make up for its embarrassingly premature announcement by unveiling its HDPC-20 tuner there? Stay tuned…"

Click here to read the full article

No DirecTV Vista Media Center Till 2010

Enagadgethd.com  posted this terrible and horrifying headline.

'No DirecTV HD for Vista Media Center until 2010"?

"The testers we've talked to have reportedly been told that H.264 and DirecTV support have been pushed to Windows 7, which would mean it'll be 2010 before we see it."

Sometimes I feel like supporting Microsoft these days seems to get harder and harder. I hope this is not true, but it probably is. Who are we kidding.

Apple TV anyone?

DirecTv Tivo Update has arrived

Well, it finally happened. We got our notice from DirecTv to download their software update for our DirecTv Tivo. I've talked about this software update in a previous post.

We downloaded the software update and didn't really notice any difference. My wife noticed that there is now a 'Deleted Items' folder. Which is OK, but nothing earth shattering. I would have been surprised if people were asking for this type of feature.

The main feature of this software update is you now have the ability to schedule TiVo to record programs online. Now that is something to be excited about. I tried it and it works fine.

My only question is why this big hype from DirecTv? First, they wanted to phase out the DirecTv Tivo and have their customers switch to the DirecTv DVR. Then good old Rupert Murdock sells DirecTv and now they seem to be revising their stance a bit. But still no talk of a new DirectTv Tivo. It's like they are telling their customers, here's a little something but not really. Without a new DirecTv Tivo in the future what's the point of this exercise. You may be asking, what about the DirecTv DVR?

From what I hear from friends and what I've read on forums is that the DirecTv DVR stinks. It's buggy and slow and most people who have it, hate it. Especially if they come from the Tivo background.

So again, back to my question. Why did DirecTv hype this software update? Were they afraid people were going to leave for cable? Is there something new coming from Directv and Tivo? Don't get me wrong, I love a good software update, but where do we go from here?

NBC Chooses TVTonic to Provide Downloadable Olympics Coverage

TVTonic is partnering with NBC Olympics to bring the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to Windows Media Center. Congrats to TVTonic for this big announcement. I use TVTonic all the time with my media center to watch downloaded shows like. DL.TV, Cranking Geeks, and Revision3 content.

"In partnership with Wave systems’ Wavexpress, a provider of broadband media technology and services, NBC Universal will be able to offer viewers the option of watching the games on the go. Through Wavexpress’ TVTonic IPTV service, users can essentially set up a TiVo TiVo -like service that will automatically download content which can be watched at a later time. "

More of this story

Windows codename Fiji Screen Shots

ArsTechnica.com, a great technology news site, has an article up about the new version of windows 'Fiji' which supports DirecTv. They have posted some pictures but nothing too earth shattering. But non the less, Directv on my media center PC is coming ;)

"Windows codename Fiji, also known as "Media Center Edition +1," is the next version of Windows Media Center Edition, the private beta program for which began in early May, according to Mary Jo Foley. Microsoft has been very quiet about Fiji, but we do know that the software giant plans to add DirecTV support and a (separate from Windows Update) built-in updating engine dubbed "Windows Media Center Update." There has also been much discussion on whether or not Fiji will come in late 2008, or whether it would simply arrive with Windows 7 (unlikely, according to a rumor). Now it looks more like it will come before even Vista SP2. "

Read On....

Beta testing next gen Windows Media Center with DirecTV tuner

Windows media center with DirecTv tuner is back in the news.

This is from TVSquard.com

"It's likely that the update will add support for the upcoming DirecTV tuner. But other than that, it's not entirely clear whether Fiji will sport any new features, or whether it'll just be a refined version of Windows Vista Media Center."

I have been a Media Center user ever since I heard about the possibility of a DirecTV tuner. I think since the 2003 version, if I'm not mistaken. Tivo has been a favorite of my wife and I for a long time. Our current Directv Tivo is old... too old in PC years. I even had to open the box and replace the hard drive. I thought my wife was going to have a nervous breakdown. She had to leave the room when I started messing with it.

Directv said they were going to do this great update at the beginning of 2008. They even called us about it, sent an email and a post card.  Still nothing. In the last 6 months, I built a new Home Theater PC. (Extreme Tech.com for parts details) It's waiting for this tuner.

But I've been waiting and waiting and waiting. But it looks like more waiting is needed.