R.I.P., Windows Media Center

z3r010 said:

After much testing SichboPVR is my MCE replacement of choice for my Windows 10 tuner card needs.

thank you for your hard work testing software to replace media centre its good too know I am in two minds about upgrading to win 10 as it does not really bring anything new for me infact its taken more away but I thank you for your time I guess its up too me now to ponder the real pro's and conn's

I have a preview card in one pc & satellite card in the other should be interesting

Hi there

for BBC programs you can retrieve for off line use and remove DRM by using the GET_IPLAYER app. Saves the hassle of Real time recording.

Easy to use.

1) Find the PID of the program you want -- that's the set of numbers you see if you look for the program in the BBC Iplayer itself (you don't have to PLAY the program). All BBC TV AND RADIO channels available.

2) Now start up the get_iplayer application itself (note it's not the bbc iplayer !!)

For TV for best quality (HD)

3) in the command line type get_iplaver --get --pid=xxxxxxx --mode=best --subtitles

leave off the subtitles if you don't want those - I usually take those as they are an .srt file which you can optionally use with VLC media player etc when watching the program.

For RADIO

4) get_iplayer --get --pid=xxxxxx --type=radio..

Easy enough. Much easier than recording in real time --also the downloads happen at your Internet speed.

https://squarepenguin.co.uk/guides/tv-download-guide/

For other channels -- afraid you are on your own here however it's often the BBC stuff that is IMO the only thing worth recording --especially some of the Radio programs.

Note the downloads are DRM free and don't expire after 30 days. I like a lot of the Radio stuff both classical, and factual - great for listening later in a Car etc.

Application runs on both Windows (works on build 10162 BTW) and Linux.

There's also a GUI version (PVR) but IMO the CLI / command line is actually the easiest.

I've shown for example the PID of Masterchef (not that I want to download that program) but just as an example. The PID in this case starts with b061... as shown in the screenshot.



Cheers
jimbo

Trust_No1 said:

As for your assessment of Windows 10, it is purely an individual assessment by each person. I personally, don't find Windows 10 an improvement, at best I think it is a lateral shift if not an actual downgrade. After 30+ years, this is really what it has evolved to? I won't go into the pros and cons, and my appreciation for Microsoft as a company has been greatly diminished, I don't trust them as I did 10 years ago. I think the whole free thing is just a marketing gimmick, pitiful in my view. Again strictly a personal opinion.

To each their own.

I think there's some misunderstanding in here. Win10 is not about being personal. MS is only getting insiders opinions so they don't have to deal with complaints like they did with Win8 (ie. no start button, then they had to waste time and money to make 8.1 to bring the start button back) - anyway, I'm in IT and the way the IT world is moving is everything is becoming a "service" - I'm not sure if you have ever heard of XaaS, PaaS, SaaS, etc....everything is becoming a service because it's cheaper to maintain, faster and easier to deploy, and everyone seems to love it although they have no idea that they are using services. MS doesn't care about anyone's personal hobbies because they know people will adapt, just like we've all adapted to touch screens. I for one, was anti-touch screens when they came out. While Win10 may not improve anything for you, they are looking at improving entire infrastructures within companies. That is their bread and butter, you are getting handed a slice of bread if you want it. Their new System Center has capabilities to manage all things Windows at a large enterprise level, one universal OS will do wonders for corporations especially since 90% still run Windows as a primary platform. But as you said, everyone has their own opinion. I don't really have an opinion of it, it's windows, but it's going to make my job 50 times easier so that has me excited. :)