For those of us who are interested in using the PC as a media center, Microsoft's new Windows 7 seems to have some promise. Extremetech has a detailed feature list of the various version of Windows 7. But thay have this to say about the multimedia capabilities of the new OS.
QUOTE
First, with the exception of Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic, all Windows 7 machines will play DVDs, period: no extra software, no additional downloads. Microsoft hasn't officially said anything about Blu-ray support in Windows 7, however.
Second, Microsoft has added support for a number of media codecs, including WMV, WMA, and MPEG-4 files, plus the AAC, and AVC/H.264 codecs.
That only means unprotected iTunes music tracks can be played back (without installing iTunes, of course), plus audio and video podcasts, FlipVideo-captured video, and most Divx and Xvid files. Windows 7 will also play AVCHD video from popular high-definition digital camcorders, according to Microsoft.
Specifically, all Windows 7 client SKUs will now play back MPEG-4 ASP and H.264 video, and AAC-LC and HE-AAC (v1 and v2) audio, which are all new to Windows with Windows 7.
Microsoft has also added support for MPEG-2 Video and Dolby Digital Plusbut not in Windows Home Basic. That's another difference between the two.
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Read the full details at All Windows 7 Versions--What You Need to Know - OS, Software & Networking by ExtremeTech
Cheers
QUOTE
First, with the exception of Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic, all Windows 7 machines will play DVDs, period: no extra software, no additional downloads. Microsoft hasn't officially said anything about Blu-ray support in Windows 7, however.
Second, Microsoft has added support for a number of media codecs, including WMV, WMA, and MPEG-4 files, plus the AAC, and AVC/H.264 codecs.
That only means unprotected iTunes music tracks can be played back (without installing iTunes, of course), plus audio and video podcasts, FlipVideo-captured video, and most Divx and Xvid files. Windows 7 will also play AVCHD video from popular high-definition digital camcorders, according to Microsoft.
Specifically, all Windows 7 client SKUs will now play back MPEG-4 ASP and H.264 video, and AAC-LC and HE-AAC (v1 and v2) audio, which are all new to Windows with Windows 7.
Microsoft has also added support for MPEG-2 Video and Dolby Digital Plusbut not in Windows Home Basic. That's another difference between the two.
UNQUOTE
Read the full details at All Windows 7 Versions--What You Need to Know - OS, Software & Networking by ExtremeTech
Cheers