Microsoft Execs: New Media Center Edition Ushers In 'Experience Computing'

In a multicity press conference, Jim Allchin, group vice president of Microsoft's Platforms Group, said via a satellite broadcast that Windows XP Media Center 2004 provides "experience computing," where software, hardware and services are shaped around particular user experiences and tasks, such as downloading music, viewing digital photos and accessing online content. With Windows XP Media Center 2004, he said, consumers now have a seamless, integrated solution for engaging in multimedia experiences, rather than having to perform different tasks on various IT and consumer-electronics devices and applications.

"We've moved from designing feature by feature to designing complete scenarios that influence not just software, but also hardware and services requirements," Allchin said. "The best example of experience computing that we have today is Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004," he added.

Describing the Media Center platform as "all about lifestyle," Allchin said consumers can now blend work, home and leisure activities onto one system that they can navigate through a single user interface and direct via one remote control. They also can run the platform on various PC form factors--including desktops, notebooks, all-in-ones and tablets--and connect it to current and upcoming IT and consumer-electronics devices.

"We see the Media Center as an entertainment hub for the home. You can link it to other PCs and other devices," he said, pointing to digital cameras, LCD displays, televisions, audio systems and printers. "It gives people simple and compelling experiences that move the PC into the living room."

Taking the stage at the New York City press conference, Kevin Eagan, general manager of Microsoft's eHome Division, said Windows Media Center 2004 solves a big problem for consumers. As more and more multimedia capabilities and technologies emerge, it's impossible for most people to purchase, connect and install the menagerie of computer and consumer-electronics products that pop up in the marketplace. But the Media Center solution melds everything onto a single system, he said.

"It takes a lot less money now to enjoy all of the different consumer-electronics experiences because it's all in one package," Eagan said.

New features and enhancements in Windows XP Media Center 2004 include access to FM radio stations; CD-copying capability to the software's Media Library; improved photo features, such as slide-show and red-eye reduction functions performed via remote control; the ability to display photos via flash-memory cards; a Calibration Wizard, which lets users customize picture quality for various types of displays (CRT, LCD, plasma and projection); enhanced 16x9-inch widescreen display support; an electronic programming guide; and Online Spotlight, an Internet guide for online services, software and content.

In addition, Microsoft announced that Sony and Dell Computer now plan to produce Media Center PCs, which brings the platform's total number of computer OEMs--which already include Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, ViewSonic and Toshiba--to more than 40. Windows XP Media Center, introduced last fall, is available only in Media Center PCs.

"This [Media Center PC] has really been a great product for us. We've sold more than expected," said Tom Anderson, vice president of marketing for HP's personal systems group and consumer PC global business unit.

Anderson, who participated in the New York press event, spoke in an informal roundtable discussion on the Media Center platform along with executives from Gateway, Dell and Toshiba. "Media Center is the glue that's going to make all of our PC and consumer-electronics products work well together," said John Long, vice president of consumer marketing at Gateway.

To generate services for Media Center 2004, Microsoft inked content services deals with CinemaNow, Movielink and the soon-to-be-relaunched Napster. The Redmond, Wash.-based vendor also is offering a software development kit to spur developers to build new applications and services for the Media Center platform.

"Media Center expands the power of the PC and the power of peripherals," Allchin said in the satellite broadcast. "There are about 100 partners that have the SDK. And over the next few years, we expect to see more applications and services developed for Media Center."

In an interview with CRN after the press conference, Eagan said the Media Center platform "drives a system approach" to digital convergence. VARs eyeing the home networking market can take a similar approach, he said, by bundling other IT and consumer-electronics products with Media Center PCs and using the SDK to create custom solutions, such as those geared toward home entertainment, automation and communication.