As to favorites… I agree, but TiVo doesn’t have that done well either.

I’ve read where Microsoft thought of Channel Logos. The basic problem came down to that the team was too busy to get permission (and a set of images) from each operator. Not a good excuse, since TiVo has already done all that in a single release…

Channel flipping is meant to replicate a traditional TV or DVR, which would only remember the last channel.

As to H.264… I’ve already ranted on that.

Virtual Channels – I don’t like to have to use the ‘*’ button to tune my QAM channels. I’d like to reassign it to its ATSC equivalent.

Favorite Lineups – Why can’t we set one of these lineups as the default when we click on the guide button and when using the channel up/down button for channel tuning

Channel Logos – I don’t expect Microsoft to provide them, but at least give us a directory where VMC will look for them so we can provide our own

Now, that it provides up to 12 sources for Ultimate and 6 for premium, why does the OK/Enter button only take you to the last channel on the same source. Last channel across all sources makes sense.

H.264/Direct TV support – I know they were working on this but it doesn’t seem like we will see it until Windows 7.

It’s the same argument that Microsoft uses to say why the Bluetooth and Storage Feature Packs are OEM-only. Those updates are getting rolled into SP2, why not TV Pack 2008?

OEMs can roll/slipstream these updates into their new installs, with much less testing required.

Now, I am giving Microsoft the benefit of the doubt with this argument, I suspect the reason that they really did it was to encourage the sale of new PCs with features like Blu-Ray burning, Bluetooth 2.1, and ClearQAM. By forcing people to wait until next year for the software that enables these (unless they buy a new PC), Microsoft in turn assures some of them will go out and buy a new PC… just for the drivers.

And, that helps Microsoft boost a rather bleak picture for Vista sales.