From DailyTech: Paul Thurrott, proprietor of the Supersite for Windows and various other blogs, has a pretty good track record when it comes to having the inside scoop on upcoming, unannounced Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) news. According to a Monday post from Thurrott his sources have confirmed that Microsoft is indeed planning to replace Windows Media Center (WMC) with its Xbox One console, and moreover is looking to expand the Xbox One's functionality to fill in the gaps in what WMC functionality the Xbox One currently lacks.
WMC is a special software suite that enables you to turn your PC into a home theater PC (HTPC). Features include built in support for content streaming, plug-ins to access Netflix Inc.'s (NFLX), support for remote controls and cablecards, and DVR functionality.
Officially Microsoft had said nothing about the status of WMC with the upcoming Windows 10 release at the time details of the death of WMC were leaked. But according to ZDNet's Ed Bott Microsoft officials have said in closed door meetings that the software pack -- which was degraded to being a "Pro" edition add-on in Windows 8 -- was officially being killed off.
On Monday we received official confirmation from Windows manager Gabriel Aul (@gabeaul) that WMC was headed to the Recycling Bin. So it appears that Microsoft's answer to replacing WMC is to beef up the Xbox One to bring it closer to WMC's abilities, while at the same time also adding a few basic barebones features ot the PC version of Windows to replace what few features of WMC did see more mainstream use.
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