Media Centre on an LCD TV without PIP

I'm about to purchase a new HDTV LCD TV. The one I want doesn't have PIP. I
was planning on hooking my Media Center computer to the TV. I would like to
be able to have the PIP feature so I can watch TV while surfing the net, as I
do now, with my computer. Does the TV, itself, have to have PIP, or is it
handled entirely by the Media Center software?

Thanks, in advance.

David
Fri Jun 27 13:33:28 PDT 2008

MCE does not support PIP, you'd have to do it through the TV.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375



"SCSC" <Blair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D33C2D86-E139-4686-AC14-716A0B2AAF82@microsoft.com...
> I'm about to purchase a new HDTV LCD TV. The one I want doesn't have PIP.
> I
> was planning on hooking my Media Center computer to the TV. I would like
> to
> be able to have the PIP feature so I can watch TV while surfing the net,
> as I
> do now, with my computer. Does the TV, itself, have to have PIP, or is it
> handled entirely by the Media Center software?
>
> Thanks, in advance.
>
>

Blair
Fri Jun 27 13:43:01 PDT 2008

Really? Currently, I start up MCE, get my program going and then "restore"
it so that I have the PIP on my computer screen, while I surf the net. If
this is not an MCE function, it must either be the computer, or the monitor,
right? So... if it's the computer, then logic would tell me I would be able
to do the same thing with my TV set up as my computer monitor. If it's the
monitor, then I guess I'm SOL.

B

"David B." wrote:

> MCE does not support PIP, you'd have to do it through the TV.
>
> --
>
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>
>
>
> "SCSC" <Blair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:D33C2D86-E139-4686-AC14-716A0B2AAF82@microsoft.com...
> > I'm about to purchase a new HDTV LCD TV. The one I want doesn't have PIP.
> > I
> > was planning on hooking my Media Center computer to the TV. I would like
> > to
> > be able to have the PIP feature so I can watch TV while surfing the net,
> > as I
> > do now, with my computer. Does the TV, itself, have to have PIP, or is it
> > handled entirely by the Media Center software?
> >
> > Thanks, in advance.
> >
> >
>
>

autopaint
Fri Jun 27 13:58:00 PDT 2008

There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
Center in window mode.
You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.

--
Richard A Miller MCE mvp
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp




"Blair" wrote:

> Really? Currently, I start up MCE, get my program going and then "restore"
> it so that I have the PIP on my computer screen, while I surf the net. If
> this is not an MCE function, it must either be the computer, or the monitor,
> right? So... if it's the computer, then logic would tell me I would be able
> to do the same thing with my TV set up as my computer monitor. If it's the
> monitor, then I guess I'm SOL.
>
> B
>
> "David B." wrote:
>
> > MCE does not support PIP, you'd have to do it through the TV.
> >
> > --
> >
> > ----
> > Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> > How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> >
> >
> >
> > "SCSC" <Blair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:D33C2D86-E139-4686-AC14-716A0B2AAF82@microsoft.com...
> > > I'm about to purchase a new HDTV LCD TV. The one I want doesn't have PIP.
> > > I
> > > was planning on hooking my Media Center computer to the TV. I would like
> > > to
> > > be able to have the PIP feature so I can watch TV while surfing the net,
> > > as I
> > > do now, with my computer. Does the TV, itself, have to have PIP, or is it
> > > handled entirely by the Media Center software?
> > >
> > > Thanks, in advance.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >

Blair
Fri Jun 27 14:36:05 PDT 2008

Perfect, thanks. :-)

"Richard Miller" wrote:

> There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
> Center in window mode.
> You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.
>
> --
> Richard A Miller MCE mvp
> http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
>
>
>
>
> "Blair" wrote:
>
> > Really? Currently, I start up MCE, get my program going and then "restore"
> > it so that I have the PIP on my computer screen, while I surf the net. If
> > this is not an MCE function, it must either be the computer, or the monitor,
> > right? So... if it's the computer, then logic would tell me I would be able
> > to do the same thing with my TV set up as my computer monitor. If it's the
> > monitor, then I guess I'm SOL.
> >
> > B
> >
> > "David B." wrote:
> >
> > > MCE does not support PIP, you'd have to do it through the TV.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > ----
> > > Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> > > How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "SCSC" <Blair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:D33C2D86-E139-4686-AC14-716A0B2AAF82@microsoft.com...
> > > > I'm about to purchase a new HDTV LCD TV. The one I want doesn't have PIP.
> > > > I
> > > > was planning on hooking my Media Center computer to the TV. I would like
> > > > to
> > > > be able to have the PIP feature so I can watch TV while surfing the net,
> > > > as I
> > > > do now, with my computer. Does the TV, itself, have to have PIP, or is it
> > > > handled entirely by the Media Center software?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks, in advance.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >

Nigel
Sat Jun 28 01:58:02 PDT 2008

On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:58:00 -0700, Richard Miller <autopaint at aol.com>
wrote:

>There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
>Center in window mode.
>You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.

Picture In Picture (PIP) normally refers to one or more TV channels displaying
in a small window or windows on the TV screen that is showing another TV
channel. So it's a TV thing & unrelated to Media Center.
--

Cheers

Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
MCE MVP

Gene
Sat Jun 28 14:05:43 PDT 2008

On 6/28/2008, Nigel Barker posted this:
> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:58:00 -0700, Richard Miller <autopaint at aol.com>
> wrote:
>
>> There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
>> Center in window mode.
>> You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.
>
> Picture In Picture (PIP) normally refers to one or more TV channels
> displaying in a small window or windows on the TV screen that is showing
> another TV channel. So it's a TV thing & unrelated to Media Center.

OTOH, it is a conceivable thing for MCE or other media programs to
provide (someday). E.g. I have a TV that doesn't provide PIP, but my
satellite receiver does.

Obviously, MCE would need to have two STBs (plus two AV inputs and two
IR blasters) or two tuners available - not to mention the related
future software functions.

Just dreaming...

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")

John
Mon Jun 30 03:03:52 PDT 2008

On 28/6/08 22:05, in article mn.e34d7d86a351a9e4.1980@nobody.invalid, "Gene
E. Bloch" <spamfree@nobody.invalid> wrote:

> On 6/28/2008, Nigel Barker posted this:
>> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:58:00 -0700, Richard Miller <autopaint at aol.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
>>> Center in window mode.
>>> You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.
>>
>> Picture In Picture (PIP) normally refers to one or more TV channels
>> displaying in a small window or windows on the TV screen that is showing
>> another TV channel. So it's a TV thing & unrelated to Media Center.
>
> OTOH, it is a conceivable thing for MCE or other media programs to
> provide (someday). E.g. I have a TV that doesn't provide PIP, but my
> satellite receiver does.
>
> Obviously, MCE would need to have two STBs (plus two AV inputs and two
> IR blasters) or two tuners available - not to mention the related
> future software functions.
>
> Just dreaming...

Elgato EyeTV for Mac does do PIP (i.e. two TV channels at the same time) but
as mentioned here already Media Center (even Vista) does not.

Note: Both EyeTV and Media Center can run in Windowed mode (not the same
thing as PIP).

For what it's worth, I have seen no indication the forthcoming Fiji update
will include PIP capabilities.

Personally this is well down my list of priorities.

Gene
Mon Jun 30 11:35:59 PDT 2008

On 6/30/2008, John Lockwood posted this:
> On 28/6/08 22:05, in article mn.e34d7d86a351a9e4.1980@nobody.invalid, "Gene
> E. Bloch" <spamfree@nobody.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 6/28/2008, Nigel Barker posted this:
>>> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:58:00 -0700, Richard Miller <autopaint at aol.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
>>>> Center in window mode.
>>>> You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.
>>>
>>> Picture In Picture (PIP) normally refers to one or more TV channels
>>> displaying in a small window or windows on the TV screen that is showing
>>> another TV channel. So it's a TV thing & unrelated to Media Center.
>>
>> OTOH, it is a conceivable thing for MCE or other media programs to
>> provide (someday). E.g. I have a TV that doesn't provide PIP, but my
>> satellite receiver does.
>>
>> Obviously, MCE would need to have two STBs (plus two AV inputs and two
>> IR blasters) or two tuners available - not to mention the related
>> future software functions.
>>
>> Just dreaming...
>
> Elgato EyeTV for Mac does do PIP (i.e. two TV channels at the same time) but
> as mentioned here already Media Center (even Vista) does not.
>
> Note: Both EyeTV and Media Center can run in Windowed mode (not the same
> thing as PIP).
>
> For what it's worth, I have seen no indication the forthcoming Fiji update
> will include PIP capabilities.
>
> Personally this is well down my list of priorities.

Well, I use PIP almost every year :-)

Thanks for the info about EyeTV. Not so much for me, but for other
readers, since I no longer watch TV from my computer, which these days
is a Mac; I run this newsreader and some other Windows apps that I use
on a VM.

I don't know why I still lurk in this NG...I have a warped idea of fun,
I guess.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")

Nigel
Tue Jul 01 03:17:44 PDT 2008

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:03:52 +0100, John Lockwood <john.lockwood@amtec.co.uk>
wrote:

>On 28/6/08 22:05, in article mn.e34d7d86a351a9e4.1980@nobody.invalid, "Gene
>E. Bloch" <spamfree@nobody.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 6/28/2008, Nigel Barker posted this:
>>> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:58:00 -0700, Richard Miller <autopaint at aol.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
>>>> Center in window mode.
>>>> You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.
>>>
>>> Picture In Picture (PIP) normally refers to one or more TV channels
>>> displaying in a small window or windows on the TV screen that is showing
>>> another TV channel. So it's a TV thing & unrelated to Media Center.
>>
>> OTOH, it is a conceivable thing for MCE or other media programs to
>> provide (someday). E.g. I have a TV that doesn't provide PIP, but my
>> satellite receiver does.
>>
>> Obviously, MCE would need to have two STBs (plus two AV inputs and two
>> IR blasters) or two tuners available - not to mention the related
>> future software functions.
>>
>> Just dreaming...
>
>Elgato EyeTV for Mac does do PIP (i.e. two TV channels at the same time) but
>as mentioned here already Media Center (even Vista) does not.
>
>Note: Both EyeTV and Media Center can run in Windowed mode (not the same
>thing as PIP).
>
>For what it's worth, I have seen no indication the forthcoming Fiji update
>will include PIP capabilities.
>
>Personally this is well down my list of priorities.

I don't rate PiP either. It seems to me that you must be wanting to watch two
programmes neither of which you car very much about:-)
--

Cheers

Nigel Barker
Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
MCE MVP

Gene
Tue Jul 01 10:07:03 PDT 2008

On 7/01/2008, Nigel Barker posted this:
> On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:03:52 +0100, John Lockwood <john.lockwood@amtec.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> On 28/6/08 22:05, in article mn.e34d7d86a351a9e4.1980@nobody.invalid, "Gene
>> E. Bloch" <spamfree@nobody.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> On 6/28/2008, Nigel Barker posted this:
>>>> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:58:00 -0700, Richard Miller <autopaint at aol.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> There is no PIP in Media Center, but all you have to do is just put Media
>>>>> Center in window mode.
>>>>> You can have explorer and Media Center running the same time on your TV.
>>>>
>>>> Picture In Picture (PIP) normally refers to one or more TV channels
>>>> displaying in a small window or windows on the TV screen that is showing
>>>> another TV channel. So it's a TV thing & unrelated to Media Center.
>>>
>>> OTOH, it is a conceivable thing for MCE or other media programs to
>>> provide (someday). E.g. I have a TV that doesn't provide PIP, but my
>>> satellite receiver does.
>>>
>>> Obviously, MCE would need to have two STBs (plus two AV inputs and two
>>> IR blasters) or two tuners available - not to mention the related
>>> future software functions.
>>>
>>> Just dreaming...
>>
>> Elgato EyeTV for Mac does do PIP (i.e. two TV channels at the same time) but
>> as mentioned here already Media Center (even Vista) does not.
>>
>> Note: Both EyeTV and Media Center can run in Windowed mode (not the same
>> thing as PIP).
>>
>> For what it's worth, I have seen no indication the forthcoming Fiji update
>> will include PIP capabilities.
>>
>> Personally this is well down my list of priorities.
>
> I don't rate PiP either. It seems to me that you must be wanting to watch two
> programmes neither of which you car very much about:-)

One of the rare occasions when I found PIP useful (OK, PiP!) was when
a ship was coming into the San Francisco Bay (I live in the Bay Area)
and going under the Bay Bridge with only 2 or 3 feet clearance. I put
two local channels on the PiP and switched to the one with the better
picture (or no commercial) as warranted...

That was 5 or 6 years ago :-)

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino) letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")