RSSMS Testing Media Center TV Streaming
By Ed Oswald | Published January 13, 2006, 1:43 PM
UPDATED Microsoft is currently testing a Slingbox-like add-on that would allow Windows Media Center users to watch programming on their PCs from anywhere using mobile devices and laptops, BetaNews has learned.
The feature uses a software application rather than a set-top box, as Slingbox utilizes to control a TiVo, cable or satellite box remotely. The resulting stream would play through Windows Media Player.
A demo viewed by BetaNews last week indicates that the service would even work over slower mobile data connections, such as EDGE.
Unlike Slingbox, only existing content could be viewed, as there currently is no way to control the Media Center PC remotely. However, one could start recording a live broadcast, and would subsequently be able to view it through the stream.
The recorded programming would appear through a Web interface that would then launch Windows Media Player to play the stream, the demo indicated. The bitrate of the video adjusts automatically based on the bandwidth available.
Joe Wilcox, senior analyst at Jupiter Research, says the streaming feature is a logical step. "Microsoft already has extended Media Center capabilities, for example, with the remote programming of content to record. Streaming content is another natural extension of Media Center capabilities."
Trials are now underway internally with plans to eventually publicly test the product. However, sources say Microsoft is wary of copyright issues that surround devices like the Slingbox, and is attempting to ensure that such a product would not draw the ire of broadcasters and copyright holders. Slingbox has become quite popular in recent months following its release last year. Since the company is privately held, it does not release sales numbers, but high-profile users like Robert Scoble have helped the device attain a cult following.
Requests for comment from Microsoft were unanswered as of press time.
In the title of this article you state that this MCE beta feature will kill ORB/Slingbox. However, the writer only talked about the MCE vs Slingbox in terms of streaming home media content over the internet. The author completly skipped any mention of ORB Networks software after his article title. That is a major mistake!!! Microsoft's new MCE streaming feature should have been included in it's first release since streaming content to remote locations not on a MCE equipped LAN network is the primary reason to digitize home media content in the first place! ORB's software already has an MCE plugin that allows internet streams like this. Orb can also stream live tv channels in realtime, and set remote recordings. Orb also allows TIVO2go software to allow sharing of any recorded TIVO DVR box content over the web using your home network connections. To the writer of this article I say do not state the names of products you plan to compare in your titles and then skip over one third of the hardware mentioned!!!! Use ORB people it's free and WAY more functional than using Slingbox or any new MCE feature and you can use orb with MCE. Trust me.
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MS's solution will probably be all DRM'd up anyway. I prefer olivelink (www.olivelink.com). No DRM and I can broadcast to myself or a whole bunch of people.
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I dont understand the difference between this and between slingbox.
I was planning on buying slingbox but i also do have media center windows...
Whats the difference should i wait will it be able to stream television from my house?
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check out vlc it can do this and more!
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Just like Orb www.orb.com
You can stream audio, recorded TV and live TV to any device (including non MS devices)
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Great now the only thing missing is easily available content for the PC to serve out
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