Vista Windows Media Center - Internet TV?

[ashenRiot]

Windows Media Center has a new feature, Internet TV, that’s still in beta. It will ultimately let me use my remote when watching internet tv from hulu and that ilk. All searches say it should just “show up”, but on my machine it has not. I have done all the updates, even the “recommended” ones, nothing. I’ve googled and searched Microsoft to no avail. I know it’s really out there cause we just got my girlfriend a new laptop with Vista and she has it. :smack:

Ive got the 64bit version and she has the 32bit, could that be the reason? Do any of you Vista-wise dopers know where I could get it or at least find out some more info?

Thanks!

[Reply]

You might have automatic downloading disabled. From this site:

The Windows Media Center Internet TV beta will be automatically downloaded if you opted in to receive CD album art, media information for DVDs and movies and Internet Services during the initial Media Center setup wizard that appeared the first time you launched Media Center on your Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate system. It will appear as a new tile named “internet tv” in the TV + Movies strip on the Windows Vista Media Center start menu after it has been downloaded to your system.

If you did not previously opt in for automatic downloads, you can opt in by doing that sense:

* Launch Windows Vista Media Center
* Go to the Tasks menu, choose Settings, then General, then Automatic Download Options
* Check the box labeled Retrieve CD album art, media information for DVDs and movies, and Internet Services from the Internet
* Click Save to save this change
* If you would like to immediately download available updates, click the Download Now button at the bottom of the Automatic Download Options page - you may be prompted to configure internet settings if you did not do so the first time you launched Media Center
* You will need to restart Media Center after clicking Download Now in order for the Windows Media Center Internet TV beta tile to appear on the start menu

ETA: Indeed. I didn’t have it either until I turned it on and then there it was.

[ashenRiot]

BINGO! And there it is…

You totally rock!

[Reply]

bow

[Kinthalis]

One more thing, there are already a lot of third party apps that give you access to stuff like BBC online, HULU, Netflix streaming, etc. all fully integrated into VMC. You might want to take a look at some of those.

I’m currently running windows 7 on my HTPC and I can stream netflix straight through media center, watch hulu, and of course access my regular TV channels and all network video sources. I’ll never go bakc to a cable box based DVR.