Windows Media Center by SiliconDust?

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StarfishPrime
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Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 10:31 am
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Windows Media Center by SiliconDust?

Post by StarfishPrime »

I have been using Windows Media Center (WMC) for almost 20 years, mostly with SiliconDust TV tuners. First the official version from MS on the Windows7 platform. When that went away I got the unofficial WMC versions from "the green button" user group that run on Win10 and Win11.

MS recently released the 24H2 update for Windows 11. Unfortunately , that Windows update does not work well with the unofficial WMC; sound problems, startup problems and channel scan problems.
Why am I still using WMC? Because I can not find any app replacements that works as nice and intuitively as WMC. Just google "WMC alternatives" and they all show up - and they ALL suck. Including - you guessed it - the HDHomerun app. Sorry, SiliconDust guys, but your app just isn't the same as WMC. The HDHomerun app is a huge step down from the WMC app. Clunky in the user interface at best - unusable at worst.

Let there be no mistake; I have been using SiliconDust tuners for years in combination with WMC. Nothing but praise there; your network tuners work perfect. Great product. No doubt.
So my question is - Why doesn't SiliconDust buy the rights from Microsoft for the Windows Media Center app (shouldn't be too expensive, MS is clearly done with it) and turn it into a HDHomerun app with the same user interface and same functionality as what WMC has been?
Complete with a SiliconDust supplied EPG subscription for those who want it? How hard can such an app strategy be for such a tech-savvy company that SiliconDust clearly is?
I think that sales strategy would be a huge additional selling point for all the excellent SiliconDust hardware. And you would do your customers/subscribers a huge service with such a product strategy!

Windows Media Center - for more than 20 years the ONLY available user-friendly app for OTA / cord cutter users! Jump into that market hole, SiliconDust!

nickk
Silicondust
Posts: 20420
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 9:39 am
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Re: Windows Media Center by SiliconDust?

Post by nickk »

Hmmm, that might be a fun phone call.

HDHomeRun app - is there a specific action or feature on the top of your list that WMC does better?

Nick

pixelstuff
Posts: 163
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:27 am

Re: Windows Media Center by SiliconDust?

Post by pixelstuff »

I don't know about StarfishPrime, but when I switched over to Plex years ago one of the things I felt was a downgrade was the interface and lack of a full featured remote. I liked the animated transitions and overall atheistic of Windows Media Center. Even going back and looking at videos on Youtube, WMC still looks more futuristic to me than anything else a decade later. Aside from the shiny design style and animations between screens I think part of the appeal might be how WMC strips out the clutter and forces each screen to be focused on just a few options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7P8gKRdrIg&t=40s

Of course the biggest downside to WMC, and the reason I moved to Plex, is it wasn't very network friendly to the trend of cheap streaming boxes.

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