Microsoft launches MSN News Beta for Windows Vista Media Center

by Brad Linder Oct 1st 2008

Microsoft has begun rolling out a new application for Windows Vista Media Center that lets users browse, search, and watch videos from MSNBC News on their media center PCs. The new MSNBC News Beta should be available under the TV + Movies section in Vista Media Center. If you don't see it, try forcing an update by navigating to the automatic downloads option in the settings tab and hitting the download updates button.

Microsoft has been making some MSNBC content available through the Internet TV menu for the past year. But the MSNBC News Beta application has a completely new interface. You can browser top stories, election related stories, or view weather forecasts for your area. There's also a search box which lets you find recent news videos related to a specific topic, like Sarah Palin.

The interface is also unusual in that you can easily browser for additional content while watching a video in full-screen mode. Just click the OK button on a Media Center remote control and a window will pop up allowing you to navigate through the various news categories.

It's nice to see Microsoft release a new application for Windows Media Center. It would be even nicer if Microsoft would make more of the content that's available on MSN Video available using the 10-foot Media Center interface. Hulu content, perhaps?

Tags: msnbc, msnbc-tv-beta, windows-vista, windows-vista-media-center

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Brent said 4:17PM on 10-01-2008

Great move by Microsoft. It's no Hulu, but its a great start. Online video will become more and more important in the coming months/years.

Chris said 4:31PM on 10-01-2008

This actually popped up for me back in August, right after I may or may not have installed the TV pack... but it disappeared after like 3 days. I know it happened, because all of a sudden I could easily check the weather, but then it was gone, just like that.

Quikboy said 9:11PM on 10-01-2008

Nice find! I too really wish MS could talk with NBC (their partners after all?) into getting Hulu content onto WMC. And getting MSN Video content would be smart (even though it kinda sucks...) rather than keep it separated. HD would be a nice plus.

Can't wait what internet TV brings tomorrow.

Brian said 10:00AM on 10-02-2008

Agreed. I'd knock my cable down to channels 2-13 if Hulu was integrated into MCE. Between Netflix streaming through my Xbox, Hulu, and QAM, I'd be set.

matt said 11:56PM on 10-01-2008

once again, no love for anyone outside of the US.

Bob Dabalina said 8:02AM on 10-02-2008

Yes first Pandora and now Microsoft is run by
the lawyers. I get both MSNBC and CNBC here
in Europe on satellite, and yet these online services can't go
international. So much for the global economy.
Why is it that Microsoft can sell their OS internationally
and can't support those customers ? Media Lawyers !
kill the trade........

**1 MSNBC News is available only in the U.S. and Canada **

Good luck Microsoft.

Jash Sayani said 9:15AM on 10-02-2008

Nice to see M$ catch up with the Media Center...

Kim said 9:16AM on 10-02-2008

Great idea, but it froze for me. Maybe once this is out of beta there will be other news "channels" and support for other countries.

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