Saturday, October 8, 2011

Microsoft TV IPTV Edition becomes Mediaroom

Microsoft has given its awkwardly named TV IPTV Edition a slicker name: Mediaroom. This isn't something you can download and install on your home computer. Rather, it's a platform for television service companies that want to provide internet-based television services.

Along with the name change, Microsoft has introduced a series of new features including:

    Enhanced picture in picture support allows you to view multiple channels or different camera angles, with support for up to 16 separate picture windows on one TV screen.
    View pictures or listen to music stored on a PC connected to the home network
    Microsoft has opened up the platform for development of 3rd party applications with a new HTML-based Multimedia Application Environment

Ten service companies around the world, including AT&T, BT, and Deutsche Telekom are using Microsoft's current IPTV platform.