Windows 8

[sub]

Hmmm, I'm not sure what to make of this http://blogs.forbes.com/ericsavitz/2011/...r=yahootix

I wonder what this means for WMC?

[pcostanza]

Very interesting. W8 has not gotten good press but there's so many rumors going around.
I was hoping I'd get asked again to beta test but no one I've tested with since 2006 has been invited. Microsoft wants to be an Apple type company I assume.

[sub]

I suspect they're going do away with WMC, and instead push the new Win8 tile based UI for fullscreen use on a TV, along with online streaming/downloads like the iTunes model. It guess it kind of makes sense for them, since thats where the market seems to be going and they'll be able collect a bit of money for every show the user buys, vs the current WMC setup where they get nothing by providing support for tv cards.

[mian]

Microsoft wants to be an Apple type company I assume.

A little more each day. I can't figure myself how they could pull it off. Apple users love Apple. I'm not sure you can breed that kind of loyalty (which is important when you're charging a premium in price and offering fewer options) when your starting point is as the 800lb gorilla with decades of ill will baggage. And an existing user base that tolerates you for very specific reasons, without which they'd be happy to toss you.

[sub]

I suspect they're going do away with WMC, and instead push the new Win8 tile based UI for fullscreen use on a TV, along with online streaming/downloads like the iTunes model. It guess it kind of makes sense for them, since thats where the market seems to be going and they'll be able collect a bit of money for every show the user buys, vs the current WMC setup where they get nothing by providing support for tv cards.

Or they could be triming out stuff that until today has had 3rd party licensing costs, and make thing that stuff some sort of extra cost download. They could be doing this to get low prices to compete with Mac OS X Lion etc.

This dolby license is needed for DVD playback and for playback of AC3/E-AC3 audio, so that includes digital television in most parts of the world, and would be needed if WMC was to be included (in it's current form).

[pcostanza]

I can't find it now but I know I read some where recently of rumors that WMC would be available as an add on. The way the marriage of TV and Internet is evolving, who can even guess.
I actually have a concern that after we all have tv sucking on the internet, the ISP's will zap us with ridiculous data charges. There's even discussion in the states of doing away with free local tv. I can't see that passing.

[re-Barr]

Oh how the government wants to sell off the tv spectrum. Make it all wifi or cell or whatever. Amazing how other parts of the world are looking @ how america is doing with TV and how can they improve upon their stuff by doing it the American way. and all we want to do is sell it all off for scrap.

But back to the Dolby thing. Maybe ol' MS is wanting to negotiate the price of the license down.

[lovemyram4x4]

Aside from the new UI, isn't win 8 supposed to be going away from offering different levels of the same OS, making it cheaper(at least initially as they don't need to include all the license fees into the base OS cost) and offering you the ability to add things via the app store? If this is the case maybe all these things rumored to be missing may be available to add.

[pcostanza]

I don't think anyone knows for sure what to expect for W8. From what I've seen, it definitely looks to be more tablet oriented. I wish Microsoft and Apple would just merge because it's tiring to watch each one try to 'one up' the other one.

[Reddwarf]

I don't think anyone knows for sure what to expect for W8. From what I've seen, it definitely looks to be more tablet oriented. I wish Microsoft and Apple would just merge because it's tiring to watch each one try to 'one up' the other one.

Now THAT will happen when we get two friday's á week