Microsoft's HD video moves forward

Microsoft said its high-definition Windows Media 9 technology is being used in a variety of new places, including high-definition broadcasts on the Voom satellite system and on digital broadcasts used by the start-up U.S. Digital TV network. Highlighting announcements at the annual National Association of Broadcasters trade show, Microsoft also said Boxx Technologies, in association with Adobe Systems and others, will sell a new Windows XP-based computer built for high-definition video creation, considerably more cheaply than previous dedicated systems.

Microsoft's Windows Media 9 video codec also has taken another step forward in the process toward becoming an official standard for high-definition DVDs, the company said.