Windows 7 Media Center wishlist

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freitasm

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#43136 18-Oct-2009 10:21

I have a couple of things I would like to see on Windows 7 Media Center and thought of starting a list here:

- MHEG5 support: clearly the missing link for New Zealand's Freeview|HD - and perhaps the future of interactive EPG for broadcast services?

- Zune Marketplace: Zune Marketplace is coming to Xbox 360 and PCs in 27 countries including New Zealand. What else could we want than the ability to select a movie directly on Media Center using a remote control, rent and download without having to resort to Apple iTunes or a Zune application outside Media Center?

What else would you like to see on Media Center?

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Ropata

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#264781 18-Oct-2009 11:40

MHEG5 support would be all i need.

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#264782 18-Oct-2009 11:42

The ability to record multiple channels on the same MUX is always cool. Both GB-PVR and Media Portal have had this for some time.

Satch

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#264798 18-Oct-2009 12:31

It would be nice if the damn FM radio functionality would work, and not start breaking up 30-60mins into listenting!

Also as sbiddle said, one mux multiple channels would be nice too.

This one isn't to do with the software itself, but a good bluetooth or RF remote would also be nice. I've got a Philips SRM-7500 RF Media Center remote, but the silly thing loses its connection after every reboot...

Disrespective

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#264805 18-Oct-2009 13:19

Onscreen keyboard available via a general menu. (Or at least text input via remote number pad ala cellphones)

Better subtitle support.

Entrypoint changes for default video/movie apps. (So i can press red and yellow e.t.c. on my remote and open up a different entry point for MediaBrowser and MusicBrowser e.t.c.)

Agreed on better multi mux support.

Maybe metadata support for the default movies and videos side of things.

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#264807 18-Oct-2009 13:24

The ability to 'book' programs like you can on Sky TV...

I don't want to record everything, even if it deleted anyway, I would prefer the choice to just book the programs I want to watch for the night, and then MC would automatically change the channel to that off the booked program when they due to screen.

rhysb

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#264898 18-Oct-2009 20:48

I want the interactive online services that the US has, but localised.

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#264981 19-Oct-2009 09:25

sbiddle: The ability to record multiple channels on the same MUX is always cool. Both GB-PVR and Media Portal have had this for some time.

Just to extend this a little...
Be able to record multiple channels on the same mux with one tuner and to allow two recordings of the same channel at the same time so you can get some overlap (both are features of MP).

And to recognise the raw freeview .TS files with NZ audio and be able to play them as Videos if not recorded TV.

And some simple way to convert NZ WTV to WMV so it can be media-served.

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browned

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#264993 19-Oct-2009 10:06

1. This probably goes along the lines of interactive content, but being able to browse the internet from within Media Center with a full screen IE session or something similar. That way online content from anywhere could be utilised. Also make favorites available on the Media Center menu so say sport scores are easily accessible

2. Booking shows to watch, but not recording them.

3. Music wall that will pull more album covers than what it currently does. I only get A to F album covers. Perhaps my music collection is to large.

4. FM Radio section updated to include digital radio channels and not ask me to install a FM tuner when there are 3 music channels available on Freeview HD.

5. EPG should pull TV show details, ratings, actor, director, year, IMDB details etc etc from somewhere online. This would add Tivo type features to the EPG and make it a whole lot better than what it currently is.

6. Native Blu-ray playing without Cyberlink or any other plugin/addon.

7. Browse folders in Music, Movie, DVD, Video libraries.

8. Better volume control, a lot of mp3, TV, xvid, divx, mkv's volume's a so far apart it is not funny going from TV where I might set the volume from 12-20 and then back to MP3's I have to turn it down to 6-8 otherwise the house will fall down. Some xvids, divx's and mkv's require a volume close to 50 to be heard. Very frustrating.

9. If Media mode is set, turn off unwanted, unused services so the PC is dedicateed to media playing, recording, and distribution only.

cheers
db

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#265034 19-Oct-2009 12:42

Dingbatt: [snip]and to allow two recordings of the same channel at the same time so you can get some overlap (both are features of MP).[snip]

This is a big fustration for me.. I have 4 DVB-T tuners available for MC to use but if I am recording two things on the same channel one after the other then it will stop recording after the padding on the first recording before starting to record the second recording so the second recording starts part way into the program.
Just how hard is it for MC to work out that it has a free tuner that could be used to record the second program from the proper programed start time?
Or write the data to both recordings during the overlap (not sure if that is as easy).
You also lose some of the program because it drops a bit from the time it stops recording to the time it starts the new recording.

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#265588 21-Oct-2009 10:52

The lack of full Freeview program guide was the only important feature I needed.

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#266623 24-Oct-2009 22:37

Hmm, surprised that no one has yet mentioned built-in media centre extender functionality so that the TV signal can be streamed to another W7 box in the network... Or if this was built into Windows Home Server so that it could act as the central TV server hidden away somewhere, streaming the signal to W7 clients...

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Regs

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#266633 24-Oct-2009 23:45

i'd like the ability to filter photos etc by tags once you've navigated by folder.... currently its tags -or- folders.

the ability to use another win7 or vista box as an extender would be great too. homegroups are OK, but live TV needs an extender. i'd also like to see the cost to license the extender tech removed. It appears that this cost plus the fact that xboxes are sold so cheaply is the reason extender vendors are dropping out. best extender tech yet? the HP LCD TV with 802.11n and extender built in!

abillity to 'block' genres or songs from being chosen in auto playlists. I always delete my xmas music from the MCE after xmas as i prefer not to listen to it year round. it would also be nice to filter kids music out from the adults playlists and vice-versa.

a karaoke/lyrics plugin for music would be nice too.

i'd really like to see a decent windows live video/im and/or skype client for MCE. I dont care if its in MCE as part of product or not, just like to have one. XP used to have messenger integration until a service pack broke it

I think that a partner-app with an online backup company might be a good add-in to provide semi-free-of-charge too. something designed to back up photos & videos to an online backup host as they are added would be great. like flickr, it could have a limit to free accounts and a paid up option too - better if it didnt just handle photos though, many people have home videos saved to their MCEs these days too.

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freitasm

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#273253 15-Nov-2009 16:08

I am just looking at my iTunes library...

If I use Media Center and map the iTunes Library folders I can plya iTunes music and iTunes music video clips. Obviously it won't play iTunes DRM movies.

So my wish is that Apple and Microsoft would work together and if the device running Media Center is an iTunes Authorized device (iTunes account) then Media Center should play the iTunes movie using the QT decoder. This would still keep iTunes movies with DRM but would make then playable on Media Center.

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