Microsoft to demo Windows TV product at CES

By on Jan 4, 2011 at 11:16 AM
CES January 4, 2011

According to an unconfirmed report in The Seattle Times, Microsoft is preparing to demonstrate a new home entertainment product set to combat Apple TV and Google TV. The rumored service will supposedly be demonstrated this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Said to be powered by a “stripped-down version of Windows tailored for set-top boxes and connected TVs,” a customized version of Windows Embedded is the likely candidate for this type of product. The devices are also said to feature a UI similar to the Windows Media Center interface, and will include a “polished and familiar TV-program guide that makes it easy to blend and navigate both online and broadcast content.” While no manufacturing partners were revealed in the report, an initial round of Windows TV boxes will apparently go on sale later this year for around $200.

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  • http://twitter.com/livingbasehead Shelton

    Is it just me or does it seem kinda stupid for Microsoft to create a new product to do this… why wouldnt you integrate this with the xbox, compete against both sony and apple. seems like a no brainer.

    • Blumpkin Man

      Exactly. Microsoft plasters the windows brand on everything these days.

    • KidPhat

      This would have been perfect. They already have tons of Xboxes out there; why not take advantage of it. Microsoft seems a little too reactive these days.

      • Anonymous

        I know what you mean, I just wish my XBox would stream a wide spread of video formats from my own collection let alone web content. MS Has done a great job of restricting the XBox into a hopeless media extender and I’m not buying new MS hardware to correct this.

    • DevStar

      I suspect the reason is the lack of a TV tuner in the XBox. They probably realize (hopefully) that having people buy third-party TV tuners is a loser (never worked for PCs, so why would it work for consoles?). So instead create a single box that has a tuner(s) in it, that can also access the internet (via apps), and presumably USB/network shares.

      Your XBox can still work as an extender, but the problem has always been getting the tuner hooked up.

      With this, MS has what GoogleTV wanted to do. But in one seamless package, without an IR Blaster.

      At least I hope so! :-)

    • Anonymous

      who’s to say the 360 can’t run new windows TV program? The 360 could extend any new windows TV UI that comes along just like it can extend MC now. The MS hate is strong here.

  • http://twitter.com/samcconnell Samuel McConnell

    I’m a huge Windows Media Center fan. Make this thing $250 or less and have it accept M-Cards, and I’m sold.

  • http://mindmirror007.blogspot.com Sathya

    No more Windows product for me unless I have to buy one for my work!

  • Stan Winstone

    Pfft- drop dead Redmond. Come back when you have an original idea, *any* original idea.

    • Anonymous

      Tell me about it. I thought we stopped playing follow the leader in 4th grade. Funny how the tables are completely turned 10-15 years later.

    • Chut Pata

      “MS Originality” is an “Oxymoron”. I do not know of MS-DOS came first for DR-DOS, but DR-DOS was far superior and got killed just because of better marketing by MS. Then Windows came on Apple first, that much I remember.

  • https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawm4gkbWTCaZ74XIm3ySfdXQEWGhPOEyOg0 Rob

    Will the content providers block this like they blocked GoogleTV?

  • Bringit

    Windows had its day for me, but it’s in the past.

  • The Android Guru

    Microsoft is becoming the “me too” company

    • Bringit

      And the “too little too late” company.

    • KidPhat

      Lol. They should call it Windows Me-too.

      • Chut Pata

        Hmm. Sounds like “Windows ME 2″, the worst OS ever. Some say ME stood for “Million Errors”, and not Millinium Edition. Then these same guys says MS does not stand for Microsoft, it stands for Multiple Sclerosis.

  • Chut Pata

    Good, now we can watch the soothing blue color on our TVs. No more boring or mind controlling programs, just plain old blue screen of death.

    • KCRic

      Guess you forgot to buy the $400 anti-virus program for it. Think it will come equipped with a handy ctrl+alt+delete button? Oooo better yet – a rrod to match the xbox.

  • Mgl323

    I guarantee it will be better than the Google TV.

  • asseen products

    Great resources…thanks for rounding them together

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