Re: Re: RE: Windows XP Media Center Edition Review

["Paul Gordon" <paul_gordon@xxxxxxx>]

That's true, but have you noticed....

recently, various big manufacturers have started using the phrase
"Home 
Automation", Bill Gates has uttered those very words (and we know he's
a 
fan..)

We know that a good deal of them are talking to each other, the UPnP spec
is 
already out there....

These guys are *serious* about producing exactly the kind of common
standard 
that you are talking about, more to the point, they have the influence to
make it happen in a truly universal way.. - You try persuading Indesit to
fit a Xap interface to their tumble-dryers... However, a consortium of 
Microsoft, Intel, AMD, 3Com, Bang & Olufsen, Cisco, Clipsal, Crestron,
Dell, 
Disney, Eastman-Kodak, IBM, Linn, Lutron, Sharp, Sony, - (to name but a
very 
few current members), - just might swing it...

Granted, that if *You* don't design the standard, there's a good chance
that 
it won't be 100% how you'd like it - we obviously have that luxury with
Xap, 
but where's the future in that if in 5 years time, *everything* you buy in
Curry's has some UPnP capability built-in, and it all just works together
seamlessly, whereas nothing will ever have a Xap interface unless we build
it ourselves, and retro-fit it (voiding the warranty)?

Of course, if someone here wants to start working on a Xap-UPnP gateway,
that could be really usefull... :-)

We can only guess at what the future holds, but I think it's going to be
pretty exciting from our perspectives...

Paul G.



>From: "BEN.MCCORMACK" <ben.mccormack@xxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: Re: RE: [ukha_d] Windows XP Media Center Edition
Review
>Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 02:47:40 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
>
>
>For the box to be a Home Automation Controller we need a standard for
Home 
>Automation Control. I am sure that Xap will be very good but I am sure
that 
>MS will not include it in the next release.
>
>What would be nice is if something like Zap could 'hook' into this
Media 
>Edition?
>
>Ben
>
> > Or it will converge with the XBOX, so that the next xbox will be
a true
> > all-encompassing device which will:
> > play games
> > play DVD
> > play all music formats (WMA, MP3, et al...)
> > Offer all the ususal PVR functions
> > play all video formats (DiVx, MPEG2/4 et al...)
> > be a web gateway
> > be a home network hub
> > be a Home Automation controller
> > be a home web server
> > BE RELIABLE!
> > In a nice shiny silver box much like a current Tivo...
> > ... that's my hope anyway!
> > Paul G.
> > >From: "Chris Bond" <chris@xxxxxxx>
> > >Reply-To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > >To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > >Subject: Re: RE: [ukha_d] Windows XP Media Center Edition
Review
> > >Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 09:50:02 -0000
> > >
> > >I think the future with regards Windows XP Media Center is
that they'll
> > >produce a Windows CE Version or Windows XP Embedded and
produce a
> > >Set-topbox
> > >with Windows CE/Windows XP Embedded built in and Media Center
on it.  
>It
> > >means the hardware will be optimised so that stuttering wont
occur etc.
> > >
> > >I think its a while off yet but certainly worth looking at,
very much 
>like
> > >the tivo and I think they'll put it a price where its very
competitive 
>for
> > >the martket and charge a fixed monthly fee like tivo. 
After all thats 
>what
> > >microsoft want money from normal puters on a regular
basis.
> > >
> > >Kind Regards,
> > >Chris Bond
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "BEN.MCCORMACK"
<ben.mccormack@xxxxxxx>
> > >To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > >Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 9:36 AM
> > >Subject: Re: RE: [ukha_d] Windows XP Media Center Edition
Review
> > >
> > >
> > > > I think that there are a few issues that it can do that
Tivo etc are 
>not
> > >able to.
> > > >
> > > > Ability to share recordings over the network. Not sure
if it can 
>cope
> > >with
> > >2 or 3 shows playing from the same pc. (prob held up by HD
speed?)
> > > >
> > > > Ability to play music as well.
> > > >
> > > > Ability to be a Digital Picture frame
> > > >
> > > > Basically it seems like we are entering the age of
convergence with
> > >PVR's,
> > >mp3 players etc. No longer will we have to have many boxes to
perform 
>many
> > >functions.
> > > >
> > > > Regards
> > > >
> > > > ben
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
> > > > Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
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> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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