This is the DVD player that Windows 10 offers to Windows Media Center users
A few months ago Microsoft reported that the classic Windows Media Center would not be included in Windows 10, due to its low use in versions previous Windows. This of course sparked complaints from the small but enthusiastic group of users still using this application on their computers, which is understandable since Media Center offers a couple of of functions that are difficult to find in free applications: playing DVDs and recording TV
Microsoft's response to these complaints was that they would offer these users a separate application, within Windows 10, that would allow play movies on DVDs And well, that application is already here: it is called Windows DVD Player, and it is not available in the store, but is downloaded and installed automatically every time a Windows 7/8.1 user with Windows Media Center upgrades to Windows 10.
It is important to note that all other users, those who clean install or upgrade from an edition of Windows without Media Center, will not be able to use this player for freeWhy does Microsoft apply this limitation? Most likely it is to incur a lower cost for using proprietary codecs, which are required to play protected content, such as DVD movies.
In fact, if we were using a Windows Insider test build, installed on top of a genuine copy of Windows 7/8.1 with Media Center, the player will not download either. If this is our case, we have to reinstall Windows 7/8.1, and from there upgrade to the final version of Windows 10. "
This also applies if we reinstall Windows 10 using clean install mode. The app will disappear, giving us no chance to download it again unless we reinstall Windows 7/8.1 and update from there.
And we better hurry as this app download will not be available forever, but only for a limited time. Microsoft points out that the offer to download this player for free will last a maximum of 1 year, but it could even last less, in which case they will notify you in a timely manner.However, the latter is very negative, as it implies that all users who do a clean install after that year will lose the player forever
Another important limitation is that the application does not play Blu-ray content, only DVD.
The reason for these limitations is that Microsoft has to pay roy alties for the use of codecs to play protected content. "The good thing is that Windows DVD Player will also be available for purchase in the store for all users who are not eligible to download it for free . And by buying it this way we can also install it on up to 10 other PCs, linked to our Microsoft account, and reinstall it every time we do a clean installation, without major restrictions."
However, in Redmond they still do not reveal the final price of this app, nor the date it will be available for download. For other questions, Microsoft has posted this Windows DVD Player FAQ page.
Luckily, there are a handful of alternative applications that replace DVD playback, and other Media Center features, without so much fuss.
Via | Windows Central In Xataka Windows | RIP. Windows Media Center, we briefly review its history and alternative apps
