Microsoft Working On SDV Support For Windows Media Center

Posted on Saturday, September 6, 2008 by MegaZone

According to this post at The Green Button by Charlie Nilsson, Program Manager for Microsoft eHome Division, Microsoft is working on support for the Tuning Adapter in Windows Media Center to allow MCPC users to handle Switched Digital Video. The Tuning Adapters were approved by CableLabs in July and TiVo has already deployed support. Since the TAs are USB devices, it might seem like PCs would be amongst the first platforms to support them. However, it sounds like it may be a while yet:

Microsoft recognizes the impact of this technology on our customers and partners. We are working to enable support for the CableLabs SDV Tuning Adaptor for Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuners, ensuring that Windows Media Center users will be able to access switched content.

While we have no further details at this time, we will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

While it is good news that MCPC users will be getting SDV support, I’m sure the users with cable systems using SDV would like to see it sooner rather than later.

About MegaZone

MegaZone is the Editor of Gizmo Lovers and the chief contributor. He's been online since 1989 and active in several generations of 'social media' - mailing lists, USENet groups, web forums, and since 2003, blogging.    MegaZone has a presence on several social platforms: Google+ / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / LiveJournal / Web.    You can also follow Gizmo Lovers on other sites: Blog / Google+ / Facebook / Twitter.
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  • http://bjdraw.com Ben Drawbaugh

    Although I think that more communication from MS on this subject is a good thing, I’ll cut ‘em a little slack until the TAs actually hit the street.

    But more importantly, since when did you start covering Media Center news?

  • http://www.gizmolovers.com/ MegaZone

    I’ll mention it once in a while, usually when in intersects with something like this. I’ve talked about the DirecTV tuner module for MCPCs in the past too. IN general I don’t really care much about Media Center. I don’t use it and don’t have any plans to do so. My main machine is a laptop and I don’t feel like buying a dedicated PC for MCPC – and I’d have to buy one since if I went that route I’d want CableCARD, and you can’t build one with CC.

  • http://bjdraw.com Ben Drawbaugh

    Yeah, I hear you. I have Media Center now, and coming from two Series3 TiVos I’m convinced there is no great solution. While the TiVo’s have a terrible multi-room functionality and dated (and ugly) UI, the Media Center doesn’t have the stability of a STB (especially since installing the TV Pack.