I’m not sure if this is good or bad news, but the list of versions for the new Windows Vista has been leaked, and there is no MCE in it! The old MCE functionality will be rolled into Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions. All the details are at Paul Thurott’s Superistefor Windows here.

This is one interesting looking MCE box… from I4U:
The Blueado Mini measures approx. 4.2×8×12 inches. It features a 200GB hard drive, TV-Tuner and a built-in DVD writer. Users can record about 250 hours of video with the Blueado Mini. An Intel Pentium M CPU and 1GB RAM are used in this system. The company says […]

Just when you couldn’t think of another program to add to Win MCE, someone comes up with Google Maps for Windows Media Center.
Colin Savage has hacked together a solution combining the Google Maps API and the Windows Media Center SDK to make a map surfable from your DIY PVR enable TV. Up and down buttons […]

BetaNews reports that Microsoft is Testing Media Center TV Streaming:
“Microsoft is currently testing a Slingbox-like add-on that would allow Windows Media Center users to watch programming on their PCs from anywhere using mobile devices and laptops, BetaNews has learned.
The feature uses a software application rather than a set-top box, as Slingbox utilizes to control a […]

Look like there might be some competition in town for the Windows MCE uber-forum The Green Button: Remotely Cool, although at this stage there isn’t a lot of posting going on. Competition is always good though
(via Eirikso)

IT World Canada:

Though Microsoft has not gone public about whether there will be a separate Media Center release for Windows Vista, it’s very likely Microsoft will eschew a separate edition in favor of building Media Center features directly into the edition of Vista that goes out on most consumer machines, said Matt Rosoff, analyst with […]

More good news on the MCE front: Bill Gates has announced a deal with DirecTV that will see DirecTV support in MCE.
From ArsTechnica:
“DirecTV and Microsoft have signed a long-term agreement that will tightly integrate DirecTV’s programming with PCs running Windows Media Center edition, the Xbox 360, and some portable devices. Most significantly, HTPC owners will […]

Still no word on MCE/ Yahoo TV integration, but Yahoo has put out an official press release with this description:
“Yahoo! Go TV will deliver the power and depth of the Internet to the PC-connected television. By bringing consumers’ community and content such as digital photos and movie playtimes at local theaters and other personalized services […]

Yep, some big announcements from Bill Gates in relation to MCE at CES:
1. Partnership with Intel VIIV
“One of the partnerships that’s going to be very important is our partnership with Intel. You’re going to see another great example of this with VIIV. It rhymes with five and live. You’re going to see […]

Longhorn blogs reports that for some reason, the version of Windows Media Center included in the 5270 Vista build expired on January 1, 2006. That means that developers who needed to work with it only had thirty days to do so.
Inside Microsoft suggests that Microsoft did this because they are set to reveal something new […]