Xbox programmers to rewrite Media Center code? [update 2]

by Blake Snow { Mar 24th 2006 at 12:45PM }

Due to release delays of Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, it is rumored that the software company will utilize developers from its Xbox division to meet 2007 deadlines. From the article: "In an effort to meet a deadline of the 2007 CES show in Las Vegas Microsoft has pulled programmers from the highly successful Xbox team to help resolve many problems associated with entertainment and media center functionality inside the OS."

This information comes via an unconfirmed source. If true, who's to say how this might affect Xbox or Xbox 360 development milestones?

[via Slashdot]

UPDATE: Original post cited that up to 60% of the Media Center code would be re-written despite being pure speculation. Linked-to article has since been updated and a MSFT employee has contacted us denying the rumor and "verified" email.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andy @ Mar 24th 2006 12:52PM

Riiight, they're going to rewrite 60% of the operating system that took 5 years to develop in 9 months. An unnsubstantiated rumor being printed as fact? Perhaps.

spikeystitch @ Mar 24th 2006 12:53PM

:-|

If this does set back the xbox in anyway..people will be pretty upset. Considering they're already hacking at the programmers for not updating the BC list.

Brad @ Mar 24th 2006 12:54PM

Any bets on that's what the 360 back compat team has been doing?

Art Vandolay @ Mar 24th 2006 1:17PM

I'm with Brad .

.ed @ Mar 24th 2006 1:19PM

this looks like a sneaky way to tie in the "xbox" name with the windows brand to boost popularity of the [xbox name] brand. the same thing microsoft went to court for by bundling windows media player and internet explorer with windows 95.

they have 90% of the OS market, by putting the xbox team's name on the software or in the news, they are looking at [shady] distribution of the word "xbox" to 90% of the worlds lips.

i swear to god if they put a "powered by xbox" logo on the windows software...

go back to court micro$oft, do not pass go, do not collect $200

MarxMarvelous37 @ Mar 24th 2006 1:29PM

Wow, I can't believe you linked to that article. What a bunch of exaggerated BS.

First of all the title is completely misleading. They are only talking about the Media Center functionality which is a small part of Vista. I wouldn't be surprised if the 60% really only refers to even a subset of the Media Center functionality (i.e. such as the "extender" portions that the Xbox team would actually have experience with).

boots @ Mar 24th 2006 2:10PM

"...from the highly successful Xbox team to..."

I didn't know that you had to lose 5 billion dollars to be considered successful. Is it because they've won at losing?

Slashbunny @ Mar 24th 2006 2:18PM

Vista is probably more than 60% reused code to begin with, so to think they were rewriting over a decade worth of work in a year is completely absurd. The number is completely made up, probably only referring to a partial rewrite of Media Center, as MarxMarvelous37 alluded to. If even that. The whole article has the musky smell of BS around it.

GlitchCog @ Mar 24th 2006 2:19PM

So... now Vista's going to overheat and break?

darryl @ Mar 24th 2006 2:31PM

Vista is an OS with about 60% bloat code.

"They are only talking about the Media Center functionality which is a small part of Vista."

... Yeah, only about 60% - I guess that's a small amount - garbage.

Tucker @ Mar 24th 2006 2:35PM

It's actually nice to hear they're bringing on members of the Xbox to work on the media center functionality. I think the 360's integration of all its functions works nicely. If they can bring some of that tightness to Vista, and strengthen the media capabilities/360 extension, that's a very positive thing.

Alex K. @ Mar 24th 2006 2:46PM

screw vista, MS, with so much cash, could at least get good programmers working for them.

Apple spends some of the least R&D dollars in their industry, yet they have a world class OS along with all their other hardware offerings.

How can MS slack on the business of home operating systems, the one that put them on the map? seems like they are pouring resources into everything BUT vista.

Nick @ Mar 24th 2006 3:13PM

Oh how ignorance brews at Joystiq once again. Unfortunate.

Nick

jaemz @ Mar 24th 2006 3:23PM

Personally, as an OSX fan and an owner of an Xbox360... this is bad news. I fear we won't see some of the improvements that the Xbox360 needs (downloading while playing games, media connections for XP, backwards compatability...)

On a professional level, the improved security and stability for Vista will go a long way in my tech/administration position at work.

Overall: 'I have a bad feeling about this'.

slow news day @ Mar 24th 2006 3:42PM

There's no way they're re-writing 60% of the Vista code. More plausible is they're re-writing 60% of a component that happens to be in Vista. And there's no way they pull from the Xbox team, unless that team was responsible for working on OSes in the first place, or works on common media features that the two share.

Anyway, that's my two cents

alienhead @ Mar 24th 2006 4:26PM

Complete bunk. Check AP and Reuters.

John Porcaro @ Mar 24th 2006 5:42PM

I don't agree with Scoble that anyone quoting this story should be FIRED (http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/where-the-heck-is-scoble/), but I can confirm that this is speculation with no demonstrable basis in fact. There aren�t any Xbox developers moving over to the Windows Vista team. Windows Vista is on track for business availability in November 2006 and consumer availability in January 2007. Windows Vista is feature complete which means the code �writing� process is in essence over. The next phase of development focuses on security, testing and fit/finish � not writing new code.

Glad to see the commenters, who maintain level heads about the story...

Matt Gerlach, Xbox MVP @ Mar 24th 2006 5:50PM

First the "successful Xbox team" has produced good software for the Xbox360. The Xbox dashboard...the Xbox360 guide...all software developed by the team. You could also add them working with the MCE team to get specific software to work on the 360 to use it as a media center extender.

And also note, that Robert Scoble has said this is 100% false.

http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/rewrite-of-windows-vista-underway-hogwash/

Griffon @ Mar 24th 2006 6:10PM

Great, now we will have to stair and at the download screen in vista too instead of being able to do somthing else, then by contrast the 360 won't seem so bad....

Razer @ Mar 24th 2006 7:19PM

"First the "successful Xbox team" has produced good software for the Xbox360. The Xbox dashboard...the Xbox360 guide...all software developed by the team. You could also add them working with the MCE team to get specific software to work on the 360 to use it as a media center extender."

Whaa?? There are people out there who code for free that make a better and more functional dashboard(cough XBMC cough) and the MCE portion of the 360 is a complete joke. When I think of the Media Center part of the 360 all I see is a crippled product designed that way to sell more MCE machines. And even when you have an MCE machine it is so limited in support that its worthless.. I've try to watch a few movies on it and gave up as has everyone I know that has a 360 w/ MCE. So PLEASE keep the people who were responsible for the 360 media portion off of Vista!!

Tobor is robot spelled backwards @ Mar 25th 2006 1:35AM

Sounds like April Fools is starting early this year.

Tim @ Mar 25th 2006 8:50AM

"Whaa?? There are people out there who code for free that make a better and more functional dashboard(cough XBMC cough) and the MCE portion of the 360 is a complete joke."

Not true. I never watch live TV any more. Record standard and HD TV on Media Center wich is extended to my home theater through the 360. Also plays all the music recorded on my Media Center. Works great and the interface is beautiful. I've even got my non-tech wife recording (too many) shows and using the 360 Harmony universal remote.

Guys, this is Cesar from the Xbox team. To those who said "this story is bogus," you're right on. Vista is feature complete, even. Check this link on our team blog for the full story: http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2006/03/24/533961.aspx

(yes, I do work for Xbox)