Featured Community Summit Scratch Notes

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/relatedsites.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/relatedsites.mspx</a><br /><br /></div>A little over two months ago I was invited to come down to Microsoft's main campus in Redmond, Washington. They picked up my airfare and hotel tab, so I was happy to go. ;-) It was a <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/relatedsites.mspx">Featured Community Summit</a>, so I got a chance to meet people from some amazing Web sites. I also stayed an extra day to have meetings with people from various Windows Media teams - Portable Media Center, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center Edition, PhotoStory, and more. It was very interesting, and very eye-opening, because I'm somewhat new at the inner workings of the Windows Media team - this was the first time I've gone to Microsoft representing Digital Media Thoughts. During my time there in the meetings, I took notes on a piece of paper - both questions I wanted to ask, interesting things I learned, and comments I wanted to make about future ideas for products.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/digitalmedia-scratchnotes-big.jpg"><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/digitalmedia-scratchnotes-small.jpg" /></a><br /><span>(click on the image for the a larger version)</span><br /><br />I had a lot of fun, and learned a great deal about Microsoft's digital media technologies, but rather than do a boring write-up of what happened at the event, I thought I'd publish my notes and then answer any questions that people might have. Fire away!

[Phronetix]

For starters, I can't believe you actually wrote on paper. Gasp!

Did you use a real pen too? :P

What did you mean about "Last state" with repect to the WMP?

[Neil Enns]

Whaaa? What is this paper thing you speak of? Surely you have a Tablet PC with OneNote? 8O

Neil

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Handwritten note! Avert your eyes people!!!!!!

[Macguy59]

Hmmmm where do I begin . . . :mrgreen:

[RWC_Zippy]

it also looks like you digitally 'whited out' one line from the top WMP10 section :wink:

top secret micro$oft stuff? random musing too personal to share on the site? &lt;kidding :lol: >

just thought I'd jump on the 'hey let's razz Jason about the paper note" bandwagon! :P

[ctmagnus]

Ya know, you'll never ever get a paper cut from a Pocket PC. Just something to keep in mind ;)

[Jason Dunn]

For starters, I can't believe you actually wrote on paper. Gasp!

Yes, it was real paper. ;-) I had my laptop and Pocket PC there, but I found that when it comes to randomness and brainstorming, paper works the best for me. If I had a Tablet PC, mind you, I may have used that instead. :-)

What did you mean about "Last state" with repect to the WMP?

I had a complaint that it should always go back to the library after you shut it down and re-start it. It turns out they have it set to return to last state - meaning if it was on the library view when it was shut down, it will return to the library view. Since I always queue up music then switch to the Now Playing view, and I have WMP10 set to not store URL histories. So whenever I start up WMP10 it's a "blank slate". If I just leave it on library, it will go back to the library. ;-) At any rate, I think there should be an option to View Library on Start.

[Jason Dunn]

Surely you have a Tablet PC with OneNote? 8O

Nope. I can't justify the cost - I don't do meetings very often, so while I LOVE the slate concept (extremely thin and light) I just wouldn't use it enough. Paper is my solution for now. :lol:

[Jason Dunn]

it also looks like you digitally 'whited out' one line from the top WMP10 section :wink: top secret micro$oft stuff?

Yes, Microsoft asked me to edit out one line. NDA stuff. ;-)

[Philip Colmer]

How committed are Microsoft to enhancing MCE with regard to the UK market? My (limited) understanding at the moment is that it is possible to buy MCE systems that will record digital terrestrial programmes and that it uses an EPG supplied by the BBC.

However, there isn't any support for the primary satellite supplier (Sky) who do have their own PVR so could do with the competition, nor is there any support for recordings off cable systems, where you have to resort to an analogue picture capture and infrared control of the STB.

Also, any thoughts from MS about working with hardware companies to produce a cheaper but (perhaps) more limited version of MCE? I'm thinking here that if they could build a living room device that just did MCE and didn't, for example, allow you to run Office, Premiere, etc, you might be able to get the hardware costs down to possibly competing with other devices that are out there.

--Philip

[Jason Dunn]

However, there isn't any support for the primary satellite supplier (Sky) who do have their own PVR so could do with the competition, nor is there any support for recordings off cable systems, where you have to resort to an analogue picture capture and infrared control of the STB.

That's not just a problem in the UK - current MCE 2005 units can't control cable boxes or satellite recievers either. My understanding is that they're working on this problem, but you have to understand that the cable companies don't really WANT you to take this content and be able to repurpose it - so Microsoft has to persuade these companies that it somehow benefits them...not a fast or easy process.

Also, any thoughts from MS about working with hardware companies to produce a cheaper but (perhaps) more limited version of MCE?

That wasn't brought up when I was there, but my hunch is that, no, they don't want to see that happen - for Microsoft, MCE is a part of their platform, and a Windows-based MCE that couldn't do what a "real" Windows computer can do wouldn't be part of their drive for a unified platform. That said, you can see some interesting stuff going on with their IP-TV efforts and partnership with Comcast, so who knows what the future will hold. :-)

[wilkinsjme]

What was the response as to why they chose to use the MS-DVR format instead of using standard MPEG?

[Jason Dunn]

What was the response as to why they chose to use the MS-DVR format instead of using standard MPEG?

MS-DVR is an MPEG2 file wrapped in (I think) an ASF file that also contains metadata such as the date, time, description, and the other stuff it pulls from the electronic program guide. I told them I'd rather have the ability to edit an MS-DVR file rather than know who starred in it. ;-)

[Kris Kumar]

Jason, you should check out Logitech io2. (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/demo/US/EN,crid=1553,contentid=9097,sh=1) ;-)

I recently bought one for myself, have had it for 4 days now, but my Smartphone and Pocket PC (sensing my intentions) teamed together to put a jinx on me. I have been sick for the last few days. Today is the first day I used the digital pen. And I like it. It recognizes handwriting pretty well.

My only wish: Logitech should provide some kind of support for Pocket PCs/Smartphones. It can be a great text input medium for the mobile devices.