Windows Live TV

Windows Live for TV
Developer(s)Microsoft
Operating systemWindows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate
TypeWindows Media Center application, Social Networking
WebsiteArchived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

Windows Live for TV (codenamed Orbit, previously Nemo) is a Windows Media Center application that was part of Microsoft's Windows Live services. It provides users to access Windows Live Spaces, Messenger, and Call on their large-screen monitors or TVs using their PC.

The goal of Windows Live for TV was to bring social networking to a new form factor that is both intuitive and fun to use. The application is built using Windows Presentation Foundation (.NET Framework 3.0) and runs within Windows Media Center or directly in Windows Vista's Internet Explorer 7.0 browser.

Planned features of Windows Live for TV included:[1]

  • Browse Windows Live Spaces in 3D graphics with new "Gallery" views and full keyword search
  • Real-time text and voice conversations with Windows Live Messenger
  • Call your friends' mobile or landline telephones with Windows Live Call to make affordable domestic and international calls
  • Make free PC-to-PC calls to other Windows Live Messenger users
  • Easily navigate with a mouse, keyboard or a TV remote (remote navigation requires Windows Media Center Remote and Infrared Adapter)

Although beta versions of this service have been released, only Spaces functionality is available. A Program Manager has stated that development has ceased, and the service was shut down on June 24, 2008.[2][3] The Windows Live for TV team blog has not been updated for a year,[4] while the WPF/XBAP technology used in Windows Live for TV was deprecated by Microsoft in Windows Media Center SDK 5.3.[5]

Requirements

Windows Live for TV - Phone Call feature

Windows Live for TV requires the following system requirements prior to installation:

  • Windows Vista Home Premium (x86) or Ultimate Edition (x86)
  • DirectX 9 GPU (with WDDM and Pixel Shader 2.0 support)
  • Windows Media Center remote and Infrared adapter
  • 1GB of RAM
  • A speaker and headphone for PC-to-PC phone and video calling
  • A Webcam for PC-to-PC video calling

See also

References

  1. ^ Windows Live Ideas - Windows Live for TV beta program information
  2. ^ Windows Live for TV Beta shutting down on 6/24
  3. ^ Windows Live for TV Officially Dies
  4. ^ In Orbit : The official Windows Live for TV - Orbit Team blog
  5. ^ What's New