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[naven_r_johnson]

I have learned of a very unfortunate product name conflict between Microsoft and JRiver.  While searching for OS updates at Microsoft i became aware of another version of XP named "Windows XP Media Center Edition".  This  situation will surely add to JRiver' difficulty in establishing stand-out product name recognition.  The following text is from the Microsoft site...

DirectShow Playback Support for Files Recorded with Windows XP Media Center Edition
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1

If you want to play files that were recorded in Windows XP Media Center Edition (.dvr-ms files) on a PC that is running Windows XP SP1, download the "Q810234: Recommended Update - DirectShow Playback Support for Windows XP Media Center Edition Recorded Files" update from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site. This update may also be referred to as the "Windows XP TV Performance" update.

[RhinoBanga]

Or it could be considered clever marketing by J River in that Microsoft are going to spend millions pushing their Media Centre so J River can ride their product on the back of that.

Note that this type of marketing happens all the time.

Check your local supermarket and notice how shops own brand products sit right beside popular name brands;  plus it's no coincidence that they look the same too.

[whoeveryouare]

If JRiver is lucky, they came up with (and TM'd) the name first.  Short of that, hopefully Microsoft won't threaten a lawsuit over it.

Microsoft seems to jealously guard their TM names, even to a potentially ridiculous extent (the "Lindows" suit is still in court, I believe).

[JeffB]

Microsoft can fight the name only if they TM'd the name first and it can be confused with their own product.

I believe JRiver's Media Center is called 'JRiver Media Center' or some such.

[KingSparta]

I remember back in 1976 I had a Media Center and MS was not around at that point in life. I called it "My Media Center TM"

Back when the cavemen wanted to play music they went over to there media center and beat on it with a stick.

[whoeveryouare]

Microsoft can fight the name only if they TM'd the name first and it can be confused with their own product.

Hmmm, I thought Microsoft could do whatever they wanted.  

[kcorbett]

JASC has a product "Media Center Plus" that claims to be "the smart way to organize and share photos, Web graphics, MP3 sound files, MPEG videos, and other multimedia files". By "share" they seem to mean conversion to HTML, then email or upload to a Web server.

The online product info doesn't elaborate on the audio/video capabilities. JASC is heavily focused on image software, maybe this is their initial foray into other media.

/kmc

URL: http://www.jasc.com