Microsoft is expected to debut its “Release Preview” for its Windows 8 operating system in June 2012, with the release of the full version during the fall season. With many of us expecting great things from Microsoft, there are some changes being made to the OS that many of us could find disturbing. For the more adventurous among us, these changes will cause no concern. But for others, they could be enough to prevent us from upgrading to the new OS.
One of these changes revolves around Windows Media Player. This information was made available just last week when we learned that Media Center would continue to be available in Windows 8, but that it would no longer be included unless purchased as an add-on. However, this new information did not include how much Microsoft would be charging for this previously free software. In fact, in its blog posting, Microsoft justified its decision by stating that, since the number of those streaming videos from online sources will surpass traditional video purchases, the company felt that to include this feature was not worth the added cost.
Other changes to the Windows 8 operating system will include:
- Family Safety First: A program designed to assist parents in monitoring their children’s activities online previously required users to download and install Windows Live Essentials (which is now DOA). Within Windows 8, these parental safeguards will be automatically available.
- Dolby support: Windows 8 will feature support for the Dolby audio system, including 5.1 channel audio.
- No DVD playback: As previously stated, the cost associated to provide support for playback of DVDs has become prohibitive and Microsoft recommends the use of third-party software.
- SkyDrive included: No matter which device you choose, whether PC, tablet, or phone, Microsoft’s cloud will be available to you.
- Nook e-reader included: Microsoft will provide an e-reader so users can access all of the goodies available from Barnes & Noble.
Over on the ARM tablet side of Windows 8, we can expect these goodies:
- Windows desktop: The traditional Windows desktop, Control Panel, and Windows Explorer will be available.
- ARM chipmakers will be limited to Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm.
- The Windows Store will support both ARM and x86/64 implementations of applications.
- Windows-on-ARM will not be a standalone operating system and will only come preinstalled on specific tablet computers.
- No dual-booting will be allowed — think Linux.
- Need Office? No problem. Office will work for both ARM tablets and x86/64 computers.
But is everything perfect in Windows 8?
Here at LockerGnome, Chris is always challenging us to answer the question: What value will an article have for our audience? This same question can be asked of Windows 8. I am failing to see what value using Windows 8 on the desktop will have.
I am sure that, behind the scenes, there are improvements being made to the operating system that may improve its performance over Windows 7. But will these improvements be enough to convince consumers that Windows 8, on a desktop, is superior to Windows 7?
I wonder, however, if this is even what Microsoft is trying to do. My question is and always has been: Is Microsoft even concerned with the consumer experience, or is it merely concerned with keeping the wheels greased on the cash machine in Redmond?
Here is my personal opinion. I believe that Microsoft sees a potential threat from the Apple iPad, which is now starting to be used in the business world. Then it also can’t ignore the possible additional threat from Google’s Android tablet which, though not as impressive as the Apple iPad, has the potential to explode in the marketplace because of its lower pricing.
This means that Microsoft is finding itself two years behind in the touch screen tablet market and I believe that Windows 8, with its Metro GUI, is an attempt to stop the flow of Apple converts who have elected to buy the iPad tablet computer. In addition, Microsoft also sees the Windows 8 tablet computer as a way to protect another of its cash cows: its Office products.
So does it really matter that Microsoft is not going to include Media Center for free in Windows 8? Before you give any more of your hard-earned cash to Microsoft, give some of the free alternatives a try. One of the software programs I use and recommend is called VLC Media Player. This software is from a French developer and has been approved by the French courts as being legal*. In addition, VLC Media Player is free and is an open source that comes in a variety of flavors for Windows, OS X, Linux, and more.
Comments welcome.
*If you have any concerns about the legality of using VLC Media Player, I would contact the developer for additional information.
Source: Microsoft
Source: InformationWeek
CC licensed Flickr photo above shared by Paul Trafford
Well, from the MS Windows floor, it’s told only the more pricy edition of Windows will be eligible for the update/download (manual). Not fair if you ask me! However, I know they don’t even want it due to the codec licenses but shoot, it’s like the DVD situation, another thing they’d like to toss.
I was looking forward to upgrading to Windows 8, but this article changed my mind. I use Media Center for watching TV on my PC and if I have to buy it separately in Windows 8, that would suck.
Just make sure you have a Pro edition. It’ll be free to download. Microsoft also went from 8 initial OS releases and now, not the case. Also, you don’t need WMC to watch LIVE TV.
I had no love for WMP or WMC to being with VLC player FTW! Good on them for including the child monitor system although I wonder how easy that is to get around…
Well for someone like me who only plays games and uses VLC and XBMC it’s like getting told BYOB, I have no problem with that. I preferred XBMC to WMC anyway, I like customized setups and the blue background bored me to no end..
For anything I prefer to use Winamp. Real is good f if I have to stream real audio, but WMP? nah. Not often anyway. +
Things are going from bad to worse with Windows 8. I for one, am a person who’s uses WMC on a frequent basis for streaming media to an Xbox 360 – I also use WMP 12 on a hourly, if not more frequent basis as my main music player.
I do think it’s a good thing that they’re integrating another “Windows Live Essentials” feature. “Family Safety First” sounds like the current “Windows Live Family Safety”…more parents need to learn and know how to protect their children rather than what the UK government are proposing (a network wide block).
This announcement isn’t really a big deal. WMP has severely gone down hill with the last few releases. The latest version of WMP on Windows 7 cannot even handle the amount of music that I own. Since Microsoft has been putting it’s weight behind Zune lately, I would expect that the Zune software (which is a much better piece of software) will be bundled with Windows 8 just as it is with Windows Phone and the Xbox. Even if Zune is not included, there are still alternatives for playing your digital media. iTunes comes to mind for most things and Spotify for your music. The only thing here that really bums me is the lack of DVD playback. I don’t understand why it won’t be since it is included natively with Windows 7, so why not just bring it over. Even still, there are free programs that will take care of this as well.
Actually the article talking about Windows Media Center, not to be confused with Windows Media Player.
Still not that big of a deal. I have never even been able to use MC on my PC. Tried to a few times but just found that it didn’t work the way I had hoped. Thanks for clearing that up though, I must have misread it.
As far as no dual booting on ARM tablets goes…challenge accepted.
The exclusion of Windows Media Center I can understand…just last week I opened it up for the first time on an installation of Windows 7 that’s been around for a couple years now, and on other installations, I’ve never really ever used it. The interface certainly looks nice, but it’s just not open enough to be usable (no, the five apps out there that have MCE launchers don’t cover it for me). For a media center, I use a heavily customized XBMC. The removal of DVD playback from WMP seems just plain dumb, though. It works fine in Windows 7; just maintain the functionality in Windows 8 and don’t make changes if development costs are an issue. Again, it doesn’t really harm me since I have a variety of other programs capable of handling DVD playback, but I know a lot of people that aren’t the PC-wiz type that will be very confused when their new computers can’t play DVDs and Blurays, and I’m a bit ticked to think I’ll have to spend time being tech support for all of them just so they can have access to a very basic functionality. Thanks, Microsoft.
Other than that, I am still very positive about Windows 8 and think the interface works quite nicely, even on my desktop. I’ll be sure to make the upgrade when the time comes!
No media player on win 8 .. Meh so many better alternatives VLC being one of my favorites But also have to mention media player classic. Both have feature way more impressive then media player and are both on my list of needed apps on a new install
VLC Player FTW.
For anything I prefer to use Winamp. Real is good f if I have to stream real audio, but WMP? nah. Not often anyway
I completely understand Microsoft’s thinking behind this after reading their blog post the other day but I’m still not happy that they are taking out DVD playback.
This may keep me on Windows 7 rather than going to 8. Windows 8 is starting to sound less appealing.
I was really excited for Windows 8 tablets, but not being able to use other browsers, no dual booting, starting to sound like iOS, and I don’t like iOS for those same reasons. I’m just going to wait for someone to figure out how to unlock the bootloaders on them so I can wipe Windows off and install Linux and only Linux.
LOL @ charging for previously free software that hardly anyone used. We have Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and PSN/XBOXLive for that kind of stuff.
can’t people use VLC? and if VLC doesn’t runs on Windows, what for are people still using WIndows anyway?
While it will be a little annoying for us geeks who know what we’re doing to have to coach our family/friends on how to use VLC, Foobar2000, etc. as alternatives, I highly doubt the loss of media center will kill them should they upgrade to 8.
1: Windows Media/Office ANYTHING is a resource hog. People always question why their computers slow down and when it’s not fragmentation or registry fragmentation, it’s usually programs and the memory they suck up. You’re better off using Libreoffice or OpenOffice, both of which are cross compatible with M$O, have the same excel, etc. functionality (even if they’re not as fancy.). I’ll admit that M$O does have the advantage of having more options for templates, but how often do those get used by the average user outside of school/work related things?
2: There are formats that people watch/listen to that are not compatible with Windows’ default media center/player and most people don’t get the plugins necessary. In comparison VLC and foobar2000 or winamp play pretty much everything. Not to mention the fact that they use less memory.
Now, if only they could somehow lose Internet Explorer? XD