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Windows 8 to support Dolby Digital Plus audio codec
Dolby has announced that Microsoft will build support for Dolby Digital Plus stereo technology directly into all Windows 8 computers. The codec (also known as Enhanced AC-3) will enable 5.1-channel surround sound in desktop and Metro-style apps on both X86 and ARM devices. It will be included on the full OS lineup, including Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows RT — the latter of which has us dreaming of an ARM-based, Metro home theater PC, just a little.
While Dolby's Digital Plus has been found in Windows Vista and Windows 7, in August of last year Dolby stated that its technologies were "not currently included in the Windows 8 operating system under development," leaving the future of the relationship up in the air. Should the relationship have fallen through, manufacturers would have been left to license the codec from Dolby directly. However, just because Microsoft and Dolby have come to a deal doesn't mean manufacturers won't pay licensing fees. All Things D notes that OEMs will have to pay Dolby directly in order to use the codec, a fee that is higher for computers with an optical disc drive.
Windows 8 drops DVD playback, only available with paid Media Center upgrade
You might have heard that Windows 8 won't come with Media Center, but that's not the only missing multimedia piece of the puzzle. This week, Microsoft revealed that the new operating system won't have any kind of DVD playback, unless you specifically purchase Media Center or use third-party DVD software.
At the official Building Windows 8 blog, the company justifies the move by claiming that television and DVD use on personal computers is "in sharp decline," and says that it would have to spend "a significant amount in royalties" to offer support for optical media going forward. Microsoft says online media is the focus for Windows 8, and will include H.264, VC-1, MP4, AAC, WMA, MP3, PCM and (as announced earlier today) Dolby Digital Plus codecs, as well a variety of container formats to make that work, but oddly the primary use case for Dolby — those DVDs — won't be supported out of the box.
How do you play DVDs on a Windows 8 PC, then? Actually, it probably won't be very hard: if Windows 8 machines are anything like Windows 7 ones, every consumer PC that comes with an optical drive will probably have bundled DVD software. The other alternative is what the rest of the Building Windows 8 post is about: if you buy an add-on pack for Windows 8 (either the Pro Pack, or the Media Center Pack) via the new "Add Features to Windows 8" control panel, you'll get DVD support in Media Center as well as broadcast TV recording and VOB playback. Microsoft hasn't mentioned any prices for those add-ons quite yet, but says they "will be in line with marginal costs," which sounds promising.
Windows 8 to support Dolby Digital Plus audio codec
Windows 8 drops DVD playback
Dolby has announced that Microsoft will build support for Dolby Digital Plus stereo technology directly into all Windows 8 computers. The codec (also known as Enhanced AC-3) will enable 5.1-channel surround sound in desktop and Metro-style apps on both X86 and ARM devices. It will be included on the full OS lineup, including Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows RT — the latter of which has us dreaming of an ARM-based, Metro home theater PC, just a little.
While Dolby's Digital Plus has been found in Windows Vista and Windows 7, in August of last year Dolby stated that its technologies were "not currently included in the Windows 8 operating system under development," leaving the future of the relationship up in the air. Should the relationship have fallen through, manufacturers would have been left to license the codec from Dolby directly. However, just because Microsoft and Dolby have come to a deal doesn't mean manufacturers won't pay licensing fees. All Things D notes that OEMs will have to pay Dolby directly in order to use the codec, a fee that is higher for computers with an optical disc drive.
Windows 8 drops DVD playback, only available with paid Media Center upgrade
You might have heard that Windows 8 won't come with Media Center, but that's not the only missing multimedia piece of the puzzle. This week, Microsoft revealed that the new operating system won't have any kind of DVD playback, unless you specifically purchase Media Center or use third-party DVD software.
At the official Building Windows 8 blog, the company justifies the move by claiming that television and DVD use on personal computers is "in sharp decline," and says that it would have to spend "a significant amount in royalties" to offer support for optical media going forward. Microsoft says online media is the focus for Windows 8, and will include H.264, VC-1, MP4, AAC, WMA, MP3, PCM and (as announced earlier today) Dolby Digital Plus codecs, as well a variety of container formats to make that work, but oddly the primary use case for Dolby — those DVDs — won't be supported out of the box.
How do you play DVDs on a Windows 8 PC, then? Actually, it probably won't be very hard: if Windows 8 machines are anything like Windows 7 ones, every consumer PC that comes with an optical drive will probably have bundled DVD software. The other alternative is what the rest of the Building Windows 8 post is about: if you buy an add-on pack for Windows 8 (either the Pro Pack, or the Media Center Pack) via the new "Add Features to Windows 8" control panel, you'll get DVD support in Media Center as well as broadcast TV recording and VOB playback. Microsoft hasn't mentioned any prices for those add-ons quite yet, but says they "will be in line with marginal costs," which sounds promising.
Windows 8 to support Dolby Digital Plus audio codec
Windows 8 drops DVD playback
