Windows 8

[Forgiven]

Windows 8 dropping the ability to play DVDs


By Tecca | Today in Tech
May 4, 2012



Okay, we get it — DVD is starting to go the way of the VHS tape and film reel. But we've still got hundreds of DVDs in our house, and always pack a few in our laptop case for viewing on those long flights. That's why this news is so frustrating: The upcoming Windows 8 operating system (which you can download and preview now) is dropping the ability to play DVD content.


According to Windows engineering team member Steven Sinofsky (emphasis his), "Windows Media Player will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support. For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray." In other words: If you want to watch that Bridesmaids DVD on your next plane trip, you're going to have to pay extra for software that will let you play it, even if your laptop already has a DVD drive. And don't think getting Blu-ray is an option — you can't play that straight from the box, either.


If you're left scratching your heads, the rationale behind dropping DVD support is simple: It's about the bottom line. Says Sinofsky, "traditional media playback scenarios, optical media, and broadcast TV, require a specialized set of decoders (and hardware) that cost a significant amount in royalties." Windows 8 will allow customers the option to install a Windows Media Center upgrade to allow DVD playback at extra cost, though Microsoft is not saying exactly how high that cost will be.


Will the move confuse customers when Windows 8 hits stores this October? Almost certainly. Will not including DVD playback hurt sales of Windows 8? Probably not at first, but we're willing to bet the change adds to the level of frustration people sometimes have with a new operating system. And when combined with some of the other frustrations of Windows 8, such as a tablet experience being shoehorned into a PC format, Microsoft may very well be playing with fire. There's a reason why so many people are still running Windows XP on their computer, after all.


This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca



Windows 8 dropping the ability to play DVDs | Technology News Blog - Yahoo! News

[Forgiven]

Microsoft has posted a table with the ending dates of sales, support and service packs for its various "older" operating systems.
If you prefer to procrastinate about updating security patches or installing the latest service pack, you can find the last dates here:


Windows life-cycle fact sheet - Microsoft Windows

[Carl]

Just like banks everything now has a service fee. I'm still running XP. However if the demand is there I think that the DVD drives will offer a patch to allow your computer to access the drive.

[GlennO]

Carl -

We're running XP as well....

[Petezzzz]

Just like banks everything now has a service fee. I'm still running XP. However if the demand is there I think that the DVD drives will offer a patch to allow your computer to access the drive.

It's not about drive access. It will still read data disks. It only means the DVD movie codecs and menu features will be gutted from the "new" Media Player.

[mattfivefour]

And DVD codecs are downloadable for free if you go to the right places. Just be careful, some of them come bundled with ad-ware and other unwanted "extras".

[duckdogger]

Speaking of W8, anyone know why Firefox cannot play videos from Fox Network yet IE can? The help section at MS had a thread but no one was providing any answers. On purpose? Is the lack of Java a factor?

[Noah Cotterill]

Speaking of W8, anyone know why Firefox cannot play videos from Fox Network yet IE can? The help section at MS had a thread but no one was providing any answers. On purpose? Is the lack of Java a factor?

It's either Java, flashplayer, or an addon that's interfering with it.

It works for me

[duckdogger]

Flash is installed but Java is not so I'll take care of that. Thanks as I absolutely do not like the nanny approach IE takes.

[YeuEmMaiMai]

MS decided to leave DVD playback up to 3rd party solutions, VLC is a good free option. Personally W7 is most likely be around up to the point of rapture so I am not so worried about getting updates.

Win 8 is nice outside of the GUI but the GUI is meant to touch devices and not a proper desktop.

I purchased DVD Fab a long time ago and I just rip what I own to DVD. 300GB and counting with an average file size of 1.1 - 1.3GB for full blown movies and about 550K for TV episodes. This is video that has had the black bars removed due to letterboxing.

[JC1949]

I have windows 8....
no bad...but not too good either....
waiting for Jesus to take me in The New Jerusalem where apparently use Cloud 9 system ...ahahhhahh sorry I have a silly moment..

[Carl]

At one time Bill Gates used a comparison of MS to the auto industry and saying that cars would be so cheap if they worked as good as windows. Now we can say that if MS was as good as the auto industry it wouldn't have so many problems with the unchanged basic system that is being put into a new body!

My wife has windows 7. I cannot figure out why they made changes that completely change the ways that you interface with the system. I do not like windows on two counts. One it comes out with a new version as quickly as it can just to make more money. Two the despicable and deceitful way that Bill Gates eliminated the competition.

[forensics]

It's either Java, flashplayer, or an addon that's interfering with it.

It works for me

Java is not supported by Win 8. Actually this is new to me and I am confused............as I just bought a new lap top with win 8 (I hate it) and windows media player came installed and dvd player plays and records fine. So I am confused on this thread unless I am misreading it so someone please help me better understand what's going on here.

[forensics]

If anyone running anything other then the new windows 8 I suggest not update to it...............pop ups from windows will continue............just click ask later as they do not have a do not ask again check.

[MikeD]

Personally, I use Windows 7. My big thing at home is my trading. Many in our group of traders have said don't even try Windows 8 and have your trading software run and make sense. So, I've left it alone. Actually, I use my Mac laptop to do most, if not all, of my trading. Plus, my wife uses the laptop for all her banking things; bill paying and all that stuff. I just don't trust the security, or lack thereof, of a Windows unit.