Windows 7 Beta 1 and Blu-Ray

[treefrog]

So if Microsoft does not support Blu-Ray, what 3rd party program will I need to stream Blu-Ray to a Windows Media Center Extender? What is the easiest way to do that now on Vista Premium with MCE?

 

[mSeliga]

You can use Cyberlink Power DVD 8, and then install My Movies. My Movies will(should) create a link between PowerDVD and MCE. Not sure if it will stream to a extender, but you can try it. Unfortunately, PowerDVD is commercial software but it should come with any BLuRay drive you buy. Or similar software.

 

[darkassain]

Yes this will now be final

Media Center Gets Blu-ray, Just Not From Microsoft


I’ve talk about Microsoft and Blu-ray more times than I can count and it never fails I end up saying they will not be the ones to build Blu-ray support in Windows. My thoughts have officially come true with yesterday’s announcement that Microsoft is outsourcing Blu-ray support in Windows 7 to Cyberlink. According to the press release, PowerDVD “automatically integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full Blu-ray playback capability on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware.” The extent of that integration remains to be seen, but I’m hoping for full integration using Media Foundation and PVP (aka real integration). That's a lot of wishful thinking on my part, what we will likely end up with is Media Center launching PowerDVD in a Play Movie-esk way.
I guess this is a good start and I’m interested to see what the product will look like but I’m not getting my hopes up too high just yet for it being the perfect solution.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2009/01/09/1659927.aspx

CyberLink to Demonstrate PowerDVD with Microsoft at CES 2009

TAIPEI, Taiwan - CyberLink Corporation is pleased to announce that PowerDVD will be utilized by Microsoft Corp. in a demonstration of their newest version of Windows Media Center, for Windows 7. This demo will be shown in the Microsoft booth (7144), in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Additional demonstrations of the forthcoming version of PowerDVD will be available to PC and Consumer Electronic manufacturers and members of the press by appointment, in CyberLink’s private suite in the Hilton Hotel.
CyberLink has been working closely with Microsoft to support many of the advanced capabilities of Windows 7. PowerDVD Cinema mode has been designed to automatically integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full Blu-ray playback capability on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware. PowerDVD Cinema mode integrates seamlessly with the advanced user experience that Windows Media Center provides and allows consumers to be able to use a remote control to select and watch Blu-ray titles from the comfort of their couch. PowerDVD also provide a great user experience when launched directly from Windows, with new and exciting ways for everyone to browse and enjoy movies and video files on any Windows desktop or laptop PC.
TrueTheater™ HD, one of the new video technology CyberLink will demonstrate in PowerDVD, provides the capability to up-sample videos and transform standard definition video files, or DVD titles into high-definition quality. This would allow users to enjoy DVDs today in high definition quality.
“We are proud that PowerDVD is Microsoft’s choice to support Blu-ray Disc playback for Windows 7,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “PowerDVD is the leading DVD, Blu-ray Disc and AVCHD movie player software application, chosen by top-brand PCs and optical disc drives purchased by consumers and businesses around the world. We are excited to demonstrate the smooth integration and the incredible sights and sounds of Blu-ray disc movies for Windows 7 at the coming CES.”

http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2009/01/08/1659436.aspx

 

[mSeliga]

@darkassasin Thats great news. Now only need to see how exactly that all pans out. Hopefully it'll be just a update for WMC.

 

[ldoodle]

As long as it's true integration then great, such as in Vista you need a codec to play most avi files, but once the codec is installed you can play through Media Center without needing/launching 3rd party software.

If Media Center just launches PowerDVD in a new 'window', game over Microsoft! If PowerDVD appears as a seperate menu item in Media Center, then still game over. I want to see 'Play BluRay' next to 'Play DVD' (or rename and combine into one). And most importantly, I hope this 'integrated' version costs £0 otherwise that's the biggest game over for me!

Basically, if you can still completely use Media Center, without any form of the PowerDVD app being visible or additional cost, then that is OK.

Microsoft need to realize that most of the users of their operating systems are not IT engineers - you should have seen the look on my mrs face when I said use this for DVD but use this application for BluRay!

 

[ldoodle]

So if Microsoft does not support Blu-Ray, what 3rd party program will I need to stream Blu-Ray to a Windows Media Center Extender? What is the easiest way to do that now on Vista Premium with MCE?

If they don't supoprt BluRay, the answer is to not use Windows 7, or any version of their OS until they incorporate it.

That will soon give them the kick up the backside they so desperately need!