We've got Windows 7 6801, and a bunch of screenshots for you over at We Got Served. Looking very nice indeed and Music Wall rocks! :-)

http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2008/10/28/windows-7-media-center-revealed/

A write up by Charlie Owen...

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/permalink/225159/305535/ShowThread.aspx#305535

A link to his blog there with info...

I'm really glad to see the music wall being integrated while playing music.  I mentined this a while back that it was good eye-candy on the zune software.

the min-guide looks like it is going to take up more screen realestate now.

 

Wow, finally we're not limited to just 2 custom strips. Window 7 Media Center increased the limit to 20!

I'll have to admit, it looks pretty good. I'm kind of excited for it. My only complaint just by looking at it is the font. There's just something about it that I don't like.

Looks have never been the problem with Media Center. 

Good news H.264 suport!

Thanks! Real nice new stuff, but there are things that I'm real woried about:
- Is the album art resolution "bug" fixed? I mean can the Now playing suport album arts higher than 200x200 - I don't want the down scale no more;
- Is there a way to find songs by genre>artist now?
- I realy need a Brazilian digital TV (ISDB-TB)suport (it uses H.264 as a codec - so at least it will be easyer to support it now)

Thanks again!

Chris - Moderator:

Looks have never been the problem with Media Center. 

Absolutely - the looks (like always) are very good and is good for the Wife approval factor...Now if we can just get the functionality to the extenders we would have alot of problems solved.

Looks like I get to keep my Xbox360.

H.264 playback will be supported on the Xbox360.

Besides adding H.264 to extenders I wonder what else is beng done for extenders?  Hopefully they work on improving the speed and DVD streaming.

jcuesico:

Wow, finally we're not limited to just 2 custom strips. Window 7 Media Center increased the limit to 20!

TV Pack also removes the 2 custom strip limit

I wonder if H.264 support means TV can be recorded using H.264 -- I can't wait to use a HD PVR1212 to record HD cable!

PixelSlave

I dream of streaming h.264 blue-rays to my xbox

Come on beta :)

looks real good so far, i like it so far, id like to know too if the album art 200x200 is gonna be fixed cuz thats really my only complaint now with media center.
but im really diggin it so far

PLUCKYHD:

I dream of streaming h.264 blue-rays to my xbox

Come on beta :)

I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment here...