Windows Live TV
Encyclopedia
Windows Live for TV is a Windows Media Center
application that was part of Microsoft
's Windows Live
services. It provides users to access Windows Live Spaces
, Messenger
, and Call on their large-screen monitors or TVs using their PC.
The goal of Windows Live for TV was to bring social networking to a new form factor that is both intuitive and fun to use. The application is built using Windows Presentation Foundation
(.NET Framework 3.0) and runs within Windows Media Center or directly in Windows Vista
's Internet Explorer
7.0 browser.
Planned features of Windows Live for TV included:
Although beta versions of this service have been released, only Spaces functionality is available. A Program Manager has stated that development has ceased, and the service will be shut down on June 24, 2008. The Windows Live for TV team blog has not been updated for a year, while the WPF
/XBAP technology used in Windows Live for TV was deprecated by Microsoft in Windows Media Center SDK
5.3.
Windows Live for TV requires the following system requirements prior to installation:
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows users to view and record live television, as well as organize and play music and videos...
application that was part of Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's Windows Live
Windows Live
Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require...
services. It provides users to access Windows Live Spaces
Windows Live Spaces
Windows Live Spaces was Microsoft's blogging and social networking platform. The site was originally released in early 2004 as MSN Spaces to compete with other social networking sites, and re-launched in 2006 as a part of a shifting of community services away from the MSN brand...
, Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
, and Call on their large-screen monitors or TVs using their PC.
The goal of Windows Live for TV was to bring social networking to a new form factor that is both intuitive and fun to use. The application is built using Windows Presentation Foundation
Windows Presentation Foundation
Developed by Microsoft, the Windows Presentation Foundation is a computer-software graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI...
(.NET Framework 3.0) and runs within Windows Media Center or directly in Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
's Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
7.0 browser.
Planned features of Windows Live for TV included:
- Browse Windows Live SpacesWindows Live SpacesWindows Live Spaces was Microsoft's blogging and social networking platform. The site was originally released in early 2004 as MSN Spaces to compete with other social networking sites, and re-launched in 2006 as a part of a shifting of community services away from the MSN brand...
in 3D graphics with new "Gallery" views and full keyword search - Real-time text and voice conversations with Windows Live MessengerWindows Live MessengerWindows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
- Call your friends' mobile or landline telephones with Windows Live Call to make affordable domestic and international calls
- Make free PC-to-PC calls to other Windows Live Messenger users
- Easily navigate with a mouse, keyboard or a TV remote (remote navigation requires Windows Media Center Remote and Infrared Adapter)
Although beta versions of this service have been released, only Spaces functionality is available. A Program Manager has stated that development has ceased, and the service will be shut down on June 24, 2008. The Windows Live for TV team blog has not been updated for a year, while the WPF
Windows Presentation Foundation
Developed by Microsoft, the Windows Presentation Foundation is a computer-software graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI...
/XBAP technology used in Windows Live for TV was deprecated by Microsoft in Windows Media Center SDK
Software development kit
A software development kit is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.It may be something as simple...
5.3.
Requirements
- Windows Vista Home Premium (x86) or Ultimate Edition (x86)
- DirectX 9 GPU (with WDDM and Pixel Shader 2.0 support)
- Windows Media Center remote and Infrared adapter
- 1GB of RAM
- A speaker and headphone for PC-to-PC phone and video calling
- A Webcam for PC-to-PC video calling