WinInfo Daily News   |   Windows IT Pro
in

SuperSite Blog

Microsoft finalizes Fiji

Mary Jo Foley reports that the under-tested and underwhelming Fiji update to Windows Vista Media Center has been completed. Hopefully the 6 or 7 people who tested it did a thorough job.

Microsoft is done testing “Fiji,” its update to Windows Media Center and is preparing to release the product — officially known as “Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008.”

Microsoft notified testers that it had RTM’d (released to manufacturing) Fiji on July 17, according to testers who requested anonymity. From the alleged release note:

“Fiji, officially known as Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, has Released! The input from Self Host testers has been invaluable to this product and the team would like to thank each of you for your bug reports and feedback.

“As the release team is taking a much needed break, our next focus will be to post the final build onto the Products servers. Please check the newsgroups for updates. Once the build is live, we will notify you.

“-Windows Media Center-”

According to one Fiji tester:

“The (Fiji) release going to be OEM only on new machines. They have not been testing any upgrade scenarios whatsoever — even when they were at RC (Release Candidate) 0. Did they not watch the whole Ultimate Extras debacle? They put Media Center on millions of PCs thru Home Premium, and then give them all the shaft?”

Published Jul 18 2008, 10:57 AM by pthurrott
Filed under: ,

Comments

 

Ocean said:

It's over.

Sony sold more than 405,000 PlayStation 3s in the U.S. in June.

Microsoft came in third for the month among the current-generation home consoles, selling 219,800 Xbox 360s in the U.S.

Nintendo, meanwhile, posted another monthly home console win, selling 666,700 units of its Wii console in the U.S., according to the NPD data.

July 18, 2008 9:30 AM
 

RaaJ said:

You fecking retard !! Or is that Wiitard?

What do PS3 and Wii have to do with a Microsoft Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008? Why do you keep thread-crapping with your NPD numbers BS?

Someone kick this Wiitard out of here.

July 18, 2008 9:40 AM
 

kalewallace said:

Abour effin' time.  Now if they get CableLabs to allow me some hi-def action, I would be happy.  Can't wait to download this one.

July 18, 2008 9:47 AM
 

brostbeef said:

@kale

I think you missed the last part:

“The (Fiji) release going to be OEM only on new machines. They have not been testing any upgrade scenarios whatsoever"

That means NO download last time I checked.

It really grinds my gears too.  I paid for Vista Ultimate (not just for Ultimate extras thankfully), but I'm sick and tired of getting shafted on all of this.  They're starting to do what Apple always did with the iPod.  New software functionality = New hardware.

@#$@

July 18, 2008 9:54 AM
 

Dipsh t Admin said:

Well, that was unexpected.  Ocean, once again trolling.

Let me rewrite Paul's commentary and let everyone tell me if the reaction here would be different:

"[Someone] reports that the under-tested and underwhelming [blah] update to [some Apple product] has been completed. Hopefully the 6 or 7 people who tested it did a thorough job."

July 18, 2008 10:32 AM
 

weedmonk said:

C'mon...they're not gonna leave the rest of us out in the cold. This is just unconfirmed snippets. They'll push the Fiji update though WinUpdate eventually.

July 18, 2008 10:49 AM
 

weedmonk said:

Btw....looks like their Marketing team is completely intact.

"Microsoft Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008"

ROFLMAO

July 18, 2008 10:50 AM
 

wwilson said:

I used to love media center as it was always years ahead of everything else.  Now with this release, that took YEARS to get to, not to mention 3 or 4 beta surveys from Microsoft to join the beta testing group, I feel that they missed the boat.  

I know that Paul says Vista does not suck, and it may not on the basic level, but Microsoft has not helped this at all with everything from features getting dropped,  long delays, Ultimate Extras that mean nothing, and now this.  A media center upgrade that is nothing more that a small service pack.

July 18, 2008 11:11 AM
 

Ocean said:

>>As of last month, US consumers have purchased 10.9 million Wii consoles, compared to about 10.8 million Xbox 360s. There are two more relevant statistics I'd like to see. Of those 10.8 million Wiis, how many are still used regularly? (My guess is less than 50 percent of them.) <<

Your numbers make no sense.  As the market begins to realize that the Wii is a flash in the pan, we should see those strong sales begin to weaken based on word of mouth and the second hand market.

But there is no weakness in the demand for the product.

July 18, 2008 11:38 AM
 

Ocean said:

Hardware first half sales:

WII 3482K

NDS 3187K

PS3 1608K

PSP 1482K

360 1354K

When you look at the Wii and the DS, it’s clear that  Nintendo has found something that strikes a chord with a far broader audience than any previous system has ever reached.

July 18, 2008 11:57 AM
 

weedmonk said:

Paul ban this iTard.

July 18, 2008 12:13 PM
 

DRWAM said:

You guys are tough on those that disagree with you, but your tone looks like it's all in good fun, so you have the iCabal Medical Seal of Approval:)

Doc

July 18, 2008 12:39 PM
 

kalewallace said:

@brostbeef

Yeah, I have Ultimate too, and let me just say that a new sound pack isn't my idea of "extras."  We'll hope the Fiji tester is wrong and they will eventually push this down through Windows Update.  I really love Media Center, but I'm sick of all the unfulfilled promises (CableLabs Digital Cable, DirecTV anyone?).  I wish Apple Front Row had have of the features that Media Center does even without all the promises...

July 18, 2008 1:47 PM
 

james3mg said:

@kalewallace:  Wouldn't hardware like DirecTV cards be made (or at least licensed) by the TV provider itself, therefore it's their fault that they haven't released PCIx cards you can drop their "key" card into and get TV?  I think the TV companies are afraid of encouraging third-party DVR solutions, since it's hard for them to get their hand in that pot, which is why DirecTV is pushing their own DVR solution (for a subscription, of course).

I just use an IR blaster on the front of my DirecTV decoder box, and I can do anything I want through my extender...less than ideal, but it works better than fine.  If I want to record/watch different live TV shows, I could stack two cable boxes at my computer and use two IR blasters.  Other than smacking a bit of Radio Shack, there's nothing wrong with this setup.

July 18, 2008 2:55 PM
 

tayme said:

Bonch....is that you???/ Its been a while. How ya been? Oh, wait...maybe that is Preseton or Vandil. Nope, just Ocean...Dude, seriously, give it up. Those are pure, 100% troll posts. They have nothing to do at all with what Paul posted.

--tayme

July 18, 2008 5:33 PM
 

tayme said:

@kalewallace and james3mg - Check out the rumoured DirecTV HDPC20.

www.engadgethd.com/.../directvs-pc-tuner-is-real

If it ever comes to market, it could be waht a lot of us have been waiting for!

--tayme

July 18, 2008 5:40 PM
 

Anthony Cook said:

I have tried the Fiji Beta and i didn't see anything that had dramaticly changed. I hope the RTM has more features as what's the point in calling it the Feature Pack when there's nothing that a quick KB on Windows Update would do.

July 19, 2008 2:35 AM
 

whiplash55 said:

I'd like to see some kind of upgrade, that said I find Media Center to work great as is. I don't think MS or its partners have done a decent job of touting the features of Vista, especially  the Media Center component, which is a large part of that OS for consumers.

As for Ultimate, the full image back up is the best feature I've found to recommend it. Especially for the home user.

July 19, 2008 9:45 AM
 

subzerohitman721 said:

That absolutely sucks that at this time, regular Vista users who have it aren't getting this media center upgrade. Especially the Ultimate users should get this as a part of the Ultimate Extras. I'm really not happy with this, and Microsoft is going to get a piece of my mind.

July 21, 2008 10:38 AM

About pthurrott

Paul Thurrott is the guy behind the SuperSite for Windows. Way behind. :)
SPONSORED LINKS FEATURED LINKS

Interested in Email Encryption? Read about the advantages of identity-based encryption in this free report. Order Your SQL Fundamentals CD Today! Learn how to use SQL Server, understand Office integration techniques and dive into the essentials of SQL Express and Visual Basic with this free SQL Fundamentals CD. Virtualization Congress Oct. 14-16 in London Don't miss Virtualization Congress, the premiere EMEA conference dedicated to hardware, OS and application virtualization. Oct. 14-16. IT ConnectionsDive into the new Microsoft platforms and products you implement and support with the experts from Microsoft, TechNet Magazine, Windows ITPro and industry gurus. There are 70+ sessions and interactive panels with networking opportunities. Attention User Group Leaders...Announcing the eNews Generator—a FREE HTML e-newsletter builder for user group leaders. Build your HTML and text e-newsletters in minutes and add Windows IT Pro & SQL Server Mag articles alongside your own message!. Master SharePoint with 3 eLearning SeminarsLearn how to build a better SharePoint infrastructure and enable powerful collaboration with MVPs Dan Holme and Michael Noel. Register today! Get SQL Server 2008 at WinConnectionsDon’t miss Microsoft Exchange and Windows Connections conferences, the premier events for Microsoft IT Professionals in Las Vegas, November 10-13. Every attendee will receive a copy of SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition with one CAL.
Windows IT Pro |  Subscribe |  Register |  Windows FAQ |  Media Kit |  WinInfo News |  Europe Edition |  About Us |  Contact Us/Customer Service |  Affiliates/Licensing
SQL Server Magazine |  Office & SharePoint Pro |  Windows Dev Pro |  IT Library |  Technical Resources Directory |  Windows Excavator |  ITTV |  IT Job Hound

Copyright © 2008 Penton Media, Inc., All rights reserved.  Terms and Use | Privacy Statement | Reprints and Licensing