RIP Windows Media Center: Microsoft’s HTPC software won’t come to Windows 10 - prestonhowas1950

Just in case you missed it during the early years of Windows 8, the era of the home theater Microcomputer (HTPC) is concluded—at any rate for Microsoft. When Windows 10 rolls out this summer IT will not be able to run Windows Media Center, Microsoft's dedicated software package for entertainment PCs.

Anyone who upgraded early builds of Windows 10 already knew the preview versions of the operating organization weren't compatible with Media Concentrate on. Nevertheless, dedicated fans held out hope that Microsoft would get along the said thing it did with Windows 8 and offer Media Core as a paid or liberate bestow-on.

That's not going to happen. "We can confirm that due to remittent usage, Windows Media Essence will not follow part of Windows 10," a Microsoft spokesperson told PCWorld via email.

The end of Media Center isn't that surprising. The software hasn't had some significant updates in nearly sixer years, and the version for Windows 8 was No different from the variation that appeared in Windows 7.

windowsmediacenterui — The Windows Media Center user interface happening Windows 8.1.

With Windows 10, Microsoft is in the end letting operate of the long-neglected dream of turning the PC into a parlor entertainment hub. The notion of connecting a PC to your television always made a careful gumption. With a Personal computer running Media Centrist you had access to all your stored digital media, you could watch and platte live television, and bring off a DVD all in one spot. That ignores the pain of getting everything up and running, but erst everything's rocking and pronounceable, HTPCs act fine.

But the HTPC just never caught on and now, HTPCs just Don't make sense for the vast majority of people. Who needs a dedicated living room PC when you behind send a Netflix or YouTube stream from your smartphone to a $35 HDMI dongle plugged in to your flat sieve?

That's not to enounce Microsoft is abandoning the notion of putting its software in the living-room, IT just won't be along a Microcomputer. Microsoft also offers a Miracast-battery-powered TV dongle dubbed the Receiving set Display Transcriber that lets you wireless mirror your Windows 8.1's screen on your television.

mircast 3 of 5 — Microsoft's Miracast-powered Tune Display Adapter dongle.

For the more serious A/V types, the Xbox I offers a crew of TV-centric features, including an sheathing for many an cable boxes, digital TV tuner potentiality (sold-out separately), atomic number 3 asymptomatic as apps like Netflix and Sling TV.

A PC is, of course, more customizable and flexible than these options, but it was never a popular choice for most people. All that said, if Valve's living room-focused Steamer Machines twig, they could be used for HTPC functions too as their main PC play functionality.

The impact on you at home: If you're running a Windows-based HTPC that relies on Windows Media Gist do not upgrade IT to Windows 10. If your current HTPC is on its last legs then you'd better pick-up a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC quickly (plus the WMC media pack if you opt for the latter). If you don't mind losing Media Center, something corresponding the Plex Media Server English hawthorn suit your needs. You could also look at XBMC, which industrial plant on Windows and Linux, including the Bronx cheer Pi.

[via ZDNet]

This article was updated on 5/5 with comment from Microsoft.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/427290/rip-windows-media-center-microsofts-htpc-software-wont-come-to-windows-10.html

Posted by: prestonhowas1950.blogspot.com