Matt's Media Center Weblog

 

msft blogs
Bo
Charlie
Ethan
Michael
Sean

mce sites
Official MSFT
eHomeUpgrade
The Green Button
MC PC World
MCESoft
XPMCE

mvps
Andy
ChrisL
Peter

other blogs
PVR Blog
Thomas Hawk

helpful links
AVS' MCE FAQ
MSFT HW List
Matt's MCE Wiki
Newsgroup
Demos
Setup

 
 

Permalink to this day Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Engadget links to this cool looking Media Center from Beblu:


10:32:20 PM  Permalink to this item []


Scott Williams thinks Microsoft has lost it's groove with respect to product naming and points to Media Center, What's in a name?:
I think that Windows Media Center Edition 2005 is an excellent product, but sheesh, you practically have to take a breath while saying it and it sounds lame. If Apple came out with a media center product they would probably call it iRock or something like that. The last good Microsoft name I can remember off the top of my head is XBox. It does a great job at sounding interesting and even manages to detach itself somewhat from the stigma of being a Microsoft product.

Yes, I'd love an XBox type name for Media Center.

Suggestions?

Update: Ming also goes off and explores some names:

Whatever name's out there, MS needs to seriously rebrand its OS. Windows followed by 10 descriptors (like XP Pro N for Europe) just doesn't cut it anymore.

10:29:38 PM  Permalink to this item []

I called and cancelled our $80/month digital cable subscription from Millennium Cable today.

When the customer service rep asked why, I said that all the channels I wanted were available via over the air HD broadcasters. He at first didn't know what OTA was but I explained it and he followed up asking 'what if there were a special promotion, would you stay?' and I responded that it certainly was hard to compete with free. And not just free, but free and works with my Media Center.

Of course, HBO isn't available via either OTA or through Millennium so we're out of luck there when Six Feet Under comes back on. We'll likely turn to an alternative distribution mechanism to get the shows and I'll feel a bit guilty, but not so guilty since it doesn't matter how much I'd be willing to pay I still couldn't get them in HD short of moving into a new building. Millennium does offer HBO via standard def digital cable, but I'll be honest, I can't watch standard definition TV anymore.

I'm a HD convert and there's no going back.
6:36:06 PM  Permalink to this item []


Recently Inside Digital Media interviewed both Joe Belifore, general manager of eHome the Microsoft division responsible for Windows Media Center (MP3 of the interview) and Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Brightcove the new video delivery platform (audio interview).
1:01:11 PM  Permalink to this item []

© Copyright 2005 Matt Goyer.
I work at Microsoft in the eHome division on the Windows XP Media Center Edition team as a Program Manager.

Disclaimer: The posts on this weblog are provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confer no rights. The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.

March 2005
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31    
Feb   Apr

mail *at* mattgoyer.com

Please include a good subject line in your email! And I will read all emails but may not be able to respond to them all.

Click here to visit the Radio UserLand website.

Click to see the XML version of this web page.

Updated: 4/11/2005; 10:34:09 PM.