M
michail iakovou yos
http://news.com.com/Vista+testers+g...No+TV/2100-1016_3-6147259.html?tag=html.alert
Some people testing Microsoft's Windows Vista got an unexpected holiday
surprise: Their TVs stopped working.
Media Center, which is included in the Home Premium and Ultimate versions of
the Vista operating system, allows remote-control access to a variety of
entertainment options, including television, for machines that have a TV
tuner.
However, for those running the "release candidate 1" version of the
software--the most broadly distributed of the Vista test versions--the TV
feature stopped working on Dec. 31.
Microsoft blamed the issue on the fact it has a paid license for the video
decoder and Dolby sound technology, and it only licensed those through Dec.
31. The overall RC1 software is not scheduled to expire until June.
"As of December 31, 2006, users running Windows Vista RC1 beta code will no
longer have access to the Media Center functionality, due to the expiration
of the MPEG 2 decoder and Dolby Digital components built into Windows Vista
and used by the Media Center experience," Microsoft said in a statement, in
response to inquiries by CNET News.com. "Because these technologies are
licensed and royalty bearing, they will expire within a certain time period,
according to our license agreements."
A Microsoft representative declined to comment on whether the company could
have extended its license, saying it doesn't comment on the terms of such
licensing deals.
Windows wait
Some enthusiasts have installed their own third-party video decoders. But
that won't solve the TV issue, as many have discovered.
"There is not a solution Microsoft can provide around this in RC1, as it is
not within our rights to extend the trial period for these licensed
technologies," the company said in its statement.
The representative noted that Microsoft did recommend that users not try
Vista on their main machines. The software maker said that testers who are
members of its MSDN developer network have access to the final version of
Vista. That version, along with a revamped Office suite and new Exchange
e-mail server, went on sale to business customers in November.
Some people testing Microsoft's Windows Vista got an unexpected holiday
surprise: Their TVs stopped working.
Media Center, which is included in the Home Premium and Ultimate versions of
the Vista operating system, allows remote-control access to a variety of
entertainment options, including television, for machines that have a TV
tuner.
However, for those running the "release candidate 1" version of the
software--the most broadly distributed of the Vista test versions--the TV
feature stopped working on Dec. 31.
Microsoft blamed the issue on the fact it has a paid license for the video
decoder and Dolby sound technology, and it only licensed those through Dec.
31. The overall RC1 software is not scheduled to expire until June.
"As of December 31, 2006, users running Windows Vista RC1 beta code will no
longer have access to the Media Center functionality, due to the expiration
of the MPEG 2 decoder and Dolby Digital components built into Windows Vista
and used by the Media Center experience," Microsoft said in a statement, in
response to inquiries by CNET News.com. "Because these technologies are
licensed and royalty bearing, they will expire within a certain time period,
according to our license agreements."
A Microsoft representative declined to comment on whether the company could
have extended its license, saying it doesn't comment on the terms of such
licensing deals.
Windows wait
Some enthusiasts have installed their own third-party video decoders. But
that won't solve the TV issue, as many have discovered.
"There is not a solution Microsoft can provide around this in RC1, as it is
not within our rights to extend the trial period for these licensed
technologies," the company said in its statement.
The representative noted that Microsoft did recommend that users not try
Vista on their main machines. The software maker said that testers who are
members of its MSDN developer network have access to the final version of
Vista. That version, along with a revamped Office suite and new Exchange
e-mail server, went on sale to business customers in November.