Enthusiast site Neowin is reporting that a second beta of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, code-named Symphony, has been made available to testers. MCE 2005 will incorporate the enhancements of Windows XP Service Pack 2, as well as Windows Media Player 10 technology. Symphony is expected to debut new digital media experiences for customers, and places a premium on television.
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Is this upgrade going to be free if you have 2004. I got 2004 free because I had 2003.
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Although I can't officially answer that question, I believe it will be up to the OEM. Not knowing who you got your first edition Media Center, or Media Center 2004 machine from, I don't know what their policy is. You should consult with them.
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This whole MCE seems a very good idea to me.
But I have to say that the early versions (2003, 2004) compared quite badly to my Sky+ system:
1. Two tuners isn't an added extra, but a necessity;
2. Poor support for DVB-T (or DTT), the free-to-air digital TV used in the UK.
3. No support for any form of CAM (conditional access module) so you can't use it with digital satellite (Sky), digital cable (DVB-C) or the encrypted DTT/DVB-T system (top-up-tv).
4. MCE seems an ideal system for a set-top-box. The system should be aviliable with Windows cut-down and totally hidden. Sky+ and other PVRs cost around £250 - having to pay £120 for Windows XP makes any MCE system over priced.
5. Radio integration is very poor. It is possible to listen to (say) Radio 1Xtra via DVB-T (channel 71), DVB-S (channel 887), DVB-C (depends on provider), DAB (digital radio) and on the Internet. There needs to be a simple way of finding the best possible broadcast.
Research shows that 25% of radio listening in the UK is via the TV.
6. There is no support for the open standard MHEG-5 that provides text and graphics alongside the DTT transmissions. Clealy open-tv can't be added, which is a shame.
7. How about providing IE and MSN messenger as part of the TV interface?
IMHO Microsoft could wipe the floor with an inexpensive set-top-box proposition with a box that could take cable, satellite and terrestrial DVB, no Windows and somewhere to stick a subscription card.
Stick in a ADSL card, with NAT home-networking preconfigured, and two LAN card slots and five-channel sound output and you could sell millions!
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