We have been waiting for Microsoft to open the beta for Fiji, the suspected codename for the next version of Media Center for well over a year now. I first posted about it in March of last year, with invites first opening just a month after that, and now it appears we may finally have taken a step forward.
Users (who shall remain nameless, because I edited them out) at The Green Button are reporting that they have received e-mails from Microsoft Connect. If true, this would be the first step to finally getting something in our hands to play with (under NDA of course).
This release will bring DIRECTV support among other unannounced features. I had expected it to include HD DVD support, but I wouldn’t count on that any more. Other features have been kept under tight wraps, though I’ve got a few in mind that I’m rather sure will be there.