MSN Launches Remote Record for Media Center Edition

[Filip Norrgard]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://tv.msn.com/tv/guide' target='_blank'>http://tv.msn.com/tv/guide</a><br /><br /></div>Microsoft has officially (and quietly) launched the MSN Remote Record feature for all users of Windows XP Media Center Edition to remotely schedule recordings for TV shows. This free service is available currently only in the US and Canada and requires a PC with always-on Internet connection and a Microsoft Passport account. The service has got most (if not all) local cable, satellite and terrestrial channels and their programs covered, and it lets you choose to record either one episode or all for a TV-series. Unless a scheduling conflict arises, which is when it lets you decide what to do.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/MSNtvRemote.jpg" /> <br /><br />This service sounds amazingly nice, and I would love to have this feature, whenever I decide to build a proper MCE PC. If you need help setting up Remote Recording on your MCE, then check out the FAQ <a href="http://tv.msn.com/help/tv/rrfaq">here</a>. And, remember to let us know how well it works. ;)

[rzanology]

set up was painless. It works very good. just got done recording what i told it to. I must say....media center is really becoming the apple of my eye! especialy with my new netflix membership and the mce plug in....now this! GO BILL GO!

[kagayaki1]

After a few days of testing, it seems to work pretty well. I do have two major complaints, however:

1) When I try to record my first show, it always comes back with an error that it couldn't connect with the Media Center to schedule the recording. It says it will "keep trying" to schedule it, but it only seems to go through about 50% of the time in my informal testing.

What's interesting about this is when you record another show right away afterwards, everything goes fine. A confirmation promptly shows the show was scheduled to record. It's almost like the first request activates the dynamic DNS connection to the Media Center (and for some reasons fails), and then all subsequent requests know exactly where to go, so they go through just fine.

2) When you find a program in the TV listings, you have to click "more program details" to access the pop-up program page, which has the "record this show button" at the bottom. I would prefer to see some sort of Java implementation that would allow for a drop down menu in the guide that had a record button. It's a major usability problem to have users click through muliple screens just to record a show.

Also, eventually I would like to see a mobile version in MSN Mobile, something similar to ORB's setup. I'm just thankful to have the ability at all, to be honest.

[Mike Temporale]

I've been playing with it for the last couple days, and once you get things working it's pretty nice. I do have some suggestions for this app. It would be nice if there was a GUI that walked you through getting everything setup - including running the Add User link. Once it's installed, it's not very clear what step is next and what has been done.

Also, it would be nice to have some way to check who has been granted rights to record shows on the given Media Center.

All in all, it's pretty neat. I'm enjoying it. :mrgreen: