14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows 7 operating system is not the only Microsoft product developed far from the eyes of the world. In fact, the Redmond company has successfully gagged almost all information related to products adjacent to Windows 7, including Internet Explorer 8, Windows Live Wave 3, and Windows Fiji. However, the next version of Windows Media Center, designed as the successor of the default WMC component of Windows Vista Ultimate and Home Premium editions, is inching forward in almost complete silence alongside, but independently from Windows 7.
Earlier this month, Windows Fiji debuted into a very hush-hush, selective private Beta according to Mary Jo Foley. But just because it is developed in parallel with Windows 7 does not mean that the two projects are intersecting. In fact, Windows Fiji is set up as the evolution of Windows Media Center in Windows Vista, building on what Service Pack 1 delivered.
The development process of Fiji is at this point over one year old, and the next version of Windows Media Player continues to cook over in Redmond with nothing more than scarce details slipping through. Microsoft has so far given no official indication on when or even if the Windows Fiji testing stage becomes public, or on a possible release date. In terms of the availability of Windows Fiji, the second half of 2008 will potentially be synonymous with the launch of what is reported to be an out-of-band build of Windows Media Center. Still, holding your breath at this point in time might not do you any good, since the Redmond company has confirmed absolutely no plans for Fiji.
From the signals that I am getting, Microsoft continues to focus on Content Protection technologies. Just as Windows Media Center in Vista, Windows Fiji will also feature Windows Media DRM (Digital Rights Management). Fiji will also advance the current multimedia capabilities of Vista's Windows Media Center, signal the creation of new Media Center Extender solutions and provide support for DirectTV. One of the key aspects of Fiji orbits around taking TV and video playback to the next level. But nothing is set in stone, especially since Microsoft has failed to even confirm that a Windows Fiji is now in Beta phase.