Windows Media Center Electronic Program Guide Alternatives

Anonymous
2019-10-02T00:29:35+00:00

I've recently received a popup on my Windows Media Center home screen stating that the Electronic Program Guide will not be available after January 2020.  I've long expected this day.  The popup gives you a click option for alternatives to the EPG, but the link it takes you to is a nothing link for generic guide troubleshooting (I got the same popup on my Windows Media Center Extender.  Clicking on it rebooted the extender).

Are any 3rd party EPG alternatives even in the works?  I am trying to figure what my next DVR setup will be and need to get on it.  Am thinking of getting an Amazon Recast box, but kind of want to see if they have a second generation (with larger HDDs) in the works.  Thinking about SiliconDust's HDHomeRun stuff, or perhaps rolling my own with Plex or something.  Again, having an EPG is paramount.  

For what it's worth - I've bought into WMC since the beginning - I was the lead factory escalation engineer for a vendor's line of Media Center products - it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend, and even though it was pretty much abandoned in place for the past ten plus years, there was someone there to make sure it still was working.  Just a thank you to the Windows Home team...

-Dale

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2019-10-28T00:53:58+00:00

Hi,

For what its worth I am also a long time WMC user and hate to see it go. However, in anticipation I've set up a Plex server and have been running it in parallel with WMC the last couple of months just to see how it would work as a DVR. You had to buy a one time DVR license from Plex which I think was around $80 (it's normally more than that but they were running a special over the summer). The one time fee was another reason that I decided to try Plex versus some of the other options that had recurring fees.  Anyway, I've been using Plex with my OTA antenna and an amazon firestick and it seems to be working fine without any EPG issues like the ones that always seemed to be popping up with WMC. As an added plus I can also stream from my server to my phone which comes in handy at the gym. 

Regards.

Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

64 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2019-10-29T04:29:48+00:00

    I've recently received a popup on my Windows Media Center home screen stating that the Electronic Program Guide will not be available after January 2020.  I've long expected this day.  The popup gives you a click option for alternatives to the EPG, but the link it takes you to is a nothing link for generic guide troubleshooting (I got the same popup on my Windows Media Center Extender.  Clicking on it rebooted the extender).

    Are any 3rd party EPG alternatives even in the works?  I am trying to figure what my next DVR setup will be and need to get on it.  Am thinking of getting an Amazon Recast box, but kind of want to see if they have a second generation (with larger HDDs) in the works.  Thinking about SiliconDust's HDHomeRun stuff, or perhaps rolling my own with Plex or something.  Again, having an EPG is paramount.  

    For what it's worth - I've bought into WMC since the beginning - I was the lead factory escalation engineer for a vendor's line of Media Center products - it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend, and even though it was pretty much abandoned in place for the past ten plus years, there was someone there to make sure it still was working.  Just a thank you to the Windows Home team...

    -Dale

    how do I get and or take my videos from my phone to the laptop by simply placing these in the files

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-10-28T02:31:18+00:00

    A good alternative to Plex, and in my opinion the better choice, is emby. Plex only allows a single guide lineup so if you have both OTA and cable, or are in-between markets, then you are limited in what you can get listings for. Also, Plex gets their guide data from Rovi which is what WMC currently uses. Emby, on the other hand, gets their data from Gracenote (Zap2it) which is what WMC used prior to July 2015. So for me, emby is the better choice... they just don't have the marketing power that Plex has.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2019-10-09T21:53:26+00:00

    I'm as sorry to see WMC go as I was to see Microsoft Money

    cw

    MS Money 2004 (v12) still works with a minor change to a single registry entry.  I'm still using it with the latest version of Windows 10.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2019-10-09T01:43:33+00:00

    I noticed that it was a subscription service for the guide - I will likely wait till the first of the year and buy a years subscription at that time.   Like I said earlier, will likely get an Amazon Recast box, but waiting for the second generation.  As to discontinued products I loved.  Office 2007, Money, Encarta, Cinemania, Streets & Trips, and last but not least - my Nokia Lumia Icon Windows 10 phone.   Office 2007, while it still got updates, wouldn't re-install once I updated to Win10, and I needed to reinstall after some update screwed up the Office install.  My Nokia had the best camera I've ever seen in a smartphone.  I held onto it as long as I could until it met a slow-motion death on a pile of rocks.  Now using most of the MS Suite of products on my Android phone.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments