XP and Vista to get new media player

Microsoft plans to jazz up its music player in Windows Vista, the company's next operating system. But at least some of the new features will debut much sooner.

The software, which will be built into Vista, is designed to offer better synching with portable devices, make it easier to scroll through long libraries of music, and be tightly integrated with Urge, a new subscription and download music service co-developed by Microsoft and MTV Networks.

But while most people won't be able to get their hands on Vista until next year, consumers will be able to get some of the media enhancements sooner. Microsoft is on track to release a Windows XP version of Windows Media Player 11 before the end of June, the company confirmed last week.

Microsoft has been uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the XP incarnation. The company briefly demonstrated it at the Consumer Electronics Show in January but has said little since. Microsoft has said the XP version won't have all the features of its Vista sibling, but the company won't say which features will be excluded. The company also has yet to offer a public test version of the software.

The Vista version, which has been in public testing for months, offers significant changes from the current version of the media-playing software, particularly when connecting to portable devices.

With the new media player, consumers will be able to "reverse sync," meaning they can send content from a digital device to a PC. That will allow users to transfer pictures taken with their camera phone, or music purchased on a wireless device.

Other sync options include synching a player to multiple PCs and filling a device with random tracks--a la Shuffle in iTunes--according to a Windows Vista product guide that was briefly made available on the Internet last week.

Another change is the ability to alter protected music and video files to change their quality level. With the new software, protected Windows Media files can be converted to smaller file sizes for playback on mobile devices, where there is less need for very-high-quality video files.

Of course, the player that most people want to connect with is Apple Computer's iPod. And no, Windows Media Player 11 won't allow conversion of purchased Windows Media Songs into iTunes' proprietary FairPlay format. So songs bought from a Windows Media store still won't play on the iPod.

"When people are taking their songs off their computer, it's usually to an iPod," said Yankee Group analyst Nitin Gupta.

It is unclear whether Microsoft plans to build any special options to connect to the world's most popular digital music player. With the Xbox 360, Microsoft allows users to play music from the player, even though it can't process songs purchased from iTunes.

"That's certainly something they could implement," Gupta said. "The real issue is the purchased music portion. That's not going to change anytime soon."

[nmcphers]

iTunes more advanced than I thought

I've been taking my "reverse sync" and "indexed search" for granted, not knowing some people don't have that luxury today.

[skeptik]

well, uh, thanks...

"Some tracks can be played on a PC but not burned to a CD or added to a portable player. Others can be put on a player but not burned, while still other tracks can be used in all three ways.
"Windows Media Player 11 includes features that make it easier to understand these rights and troubleshoot any problems that may arise," Microsoft said in the Vista product guide."

Great, so we'll be better able to see clearly how we're getting screwed by our own media. That really solves the problem... or maybe the troubleshooting will include a remove DRM now button?

[john55440]

Amazon.com's Subscription Music Service

In addition to MTV's new service, it's rumored that Amazon.com is going to offer a subscription music service.

I am interested in listening to new-to-me music, so I would prefer the subscription model to the iTune's pay-per-song model.

I hope that SOMEBODY can challenge iPod/iTunes; competition being a good thing for all consumers.

[deitiphobia]

Placing the Blame where it should lay

This article makes it look like it's MS fault for not being compatible with Itunes file format! That's rediculous. Apple has closed their format and is not licensing to anyone. It is Apples fault that no other MP3 player on the market or software works with Itunes music files.

Itunes users are isolated from the rest of the market...every other store Napster, BuyMusic.com, WalMart, Amazon, Yahoo Music...they all use WMA format. MS freely licenses the format to anyone that would choose to use it. All MP3 players other than Ipod support WMA format.

Apple has indeed created a "Walled Garden" and this is why they are being sued in France and elsewhere. It's monopolistic to close a format from all hardware and software vendors.

Cnet should get on the bandwagon and criticize Apple at every turn for not allowing their file format to be licensed to other companies or not making Ipods compatible with WMA. They should also be criticized for not having a subscription service!!! I mean come-on...everyone else is way ahead of the game.

[tech_junky]

Great - something else I dont want deeply embedded into windows

First it was the IE browser that they so tightly dug into windows that you cant remove the spyware prone junk or at best get it out but with a broken os

last I heard M$ had said IE would not be dug into windows in Vista as it now is in all versions from 9x to XP

I guess they had the heart to dig out IE was because they had been cooking up some other buggy software to embed so deeply into windows...

[Razzl]

Learning the lesson of Realplayer

I've been setting my freeware non-premium version of Realplayer as the default media player on all my computers for the last 5 years because, despite limitations for non-paying customers, there's still a ton of content there and Realplayer is constantly upgrading drivers. It's maddening to get a succession of messages on MP about not being able to read a file and even stupider when it goes to the web, downloads some kind of driver update, and then still tells you it can't read the file. Microsoft staff need to set Realplayer as their own default media player and see how much better an experience it is than their own empty product...

[technewsjunkie]

Monopolist not making Mac, or Linux versions!

Emulation will not due!
My, my, is this an exclusionary tactic my a "remedied" monopolist?
Is this the "kinder gentler" Microsoft (like in those "warm and fuzzy" commercials on TV)that the DOJ supposedly reigned in? Hello oversite group??

Windows Media Player on the Mac stinks, but I need it to be compatible with numerous web sites, including Educational/training, State, Federal sites, and entertainment sites.

These web sites are employing the use of WINDOWS Media by virtue of the Windows monopoly (not quality or innovation). The web site admin.s use WiMP because it has "widest user base", and "people don't have to install it, because it's the DEFAULT ON WINDOWS.")

Must Microsoft control freakin' THING?! What has Microsoft done historically for digital media artists?? It's been an empediment! It's made creating and distributing documents and apps difficult, that's what! Didn't the antitrust case WARN about "emerging markets" being threatened?? So MS is threatened by little old Apple computer/iTunes and they take their Media ball and go home?! Outrageous. Go E.U.!

[miketkrw]

Yawn, why bother?

I already have iTunes so why would I want this? For that matter, I already have OSX, so why would I want Vista (or is it vapor?)?

[umbrae]

Just More DRM

I will pass...

[JJWhitney]

2 Problems

MicroSoft makes terrible media players and MTV dosent play music.

[bobby_brady]

Just use AllofMP3.com - No DRM

and lots music to pick from.

[Llib Setag]

WMP 11 GETS AN "iTUNES TUNE UP"

"If you cannot innovate...imitate." Citizen Gates.

Q: Huh...where does that super geek Gates come up with all of that innovative stuff?
A: Apple / iTunes / iPod / iTune Music Store.
80-90% of the computer market & they still must "catch-up & copy" from Apple.

ALSO, just copy your WMF/MTV files to a CD, then load into iTunes for Windows...Bingo, auto-syncs with iPods!

[Llib Setag]

WMP 11 GETS AN "iTUNES TUNE UP"

"If you cannot innovate...imitate." Citizen Gates.

Q: Huh...where does that super geek Gates come up with all of that innovative stuff?
A: Apple / iTunes / iPod / iTune Music Store.
80-90% of the computer market & they still must "catch-up & copy" from Apple.

ALSO, just copy your WMF/MTV files to a CD, then load into iTunes for Windows...Bingo, auto-syncs with iPods!

Also, where did they get all those fancy, slick graphics & buttons? Mac OSX + Aqua Interface.

Finally, If you're tired of waiting for the Vaporware/Longshot/Astalavista OS you will be able to download a WinXP version of WMP11. But it will just look like the Teletubbies OS, not the slick transparent version that C-NOT is showing from the Vaporware MS Site...

Have Fun! (NOT)

[Peter Bonte]

To much confusion in DRM rights

Music bought in iTunes is practically the same as normal MP3's,
thats a big advantage.

Windows Media has:
- play on computer, don't burn, don't put on player
- computer, don't burn, on player
- computer, burn once, on player
- computer, burn unlimited, on player

- Rented music, computer, don't burn, put only on compatible
players
When changing to another renting service (MTV) we need to
delete all rented music and re download if possible. What it boils
down to is that most non iPod users only play unprotected files
or rent music to hack those into unprotected files.

This will never work, MS needs to simplify drastically. The only
option IMHO is going to a 100% renting model and leave buying
to iTunes but i don't think MS is willing to take such a drastic
step.

[bigjim01]

iPod Support

The only iPod support that I really want is to support people throwing their iPods away and get real digital music players, like the Creative Zen products.

[victor1719865543]

Rumors says that Microsoft wants to be compatible with iPod

¿What company doesn't want to? ...from Whirpool to Toyota...

[lkrupp]

But you don't mind...

if Microsoft doesn't allow competition and is a monopoly. Who is
forcing anyone to buy an iPod? Who is forcing anyone to purchase
music from the iTunes Music Store. Oh, I see. It's perfectly ok for
Microsoft to own 95% of the desktop OS market but it's NOT ok for
Apple to own 80% of the legal music download market. Microsoft
got that market share buy being a GOOD monopoly but Apple got
that market share by being a BAD monopoly. That makes perfect
sense...if you're a MS fanboy.

[Had_to_be_said]

Oh goodie, Just what WE wanted...

...Even more, "DRM", ...to be used as an ever tightening noose around the consumers throat.

...And yet another, completely un-related, "product" bolted directly into the core of a Microsoft-OS, ...clearly designed, solely, to give Microsoft even more "market-leverage" and control over consumers.

...And best yet, another "feature" integrated into your Operating System, ...which actually will only exist to try to sell you more Microsoft "products and services", ...as another, probably un-removable, "system-component".

Yippee...

[DraconumPB]

iPod not really an advantage

Having a NON-iPod MP3 player, such as my creative zen, means that I already have that capability anyway, regardless or iTunes or Windows Media or whatever.

I can also get the autofill option through the new Winamp..

Just because the iPod is popular doesn't mean that it has absolutely every feature that you could want in an mp3 player. For example, why would you want something that syncs and works better with a Mac when you probably don't own a Mac anyway? Why would you want to deal with proprietary formats (not saying that windows media is much better here, but at least it gives you a choice of MP3 player brand..)? Apple is shooting themselves in the foot with this proprietary crap, they would have sold twice as much if it didn't require that you use the iTunes bulls--. When I owned an iPod, the current version of iTunes at the time (dating back to probably v4) wouldn't even recognize it or sync. I had to download EphPod. Not to mention that the store itself is a DRM nightmare...

So why downplay a media player that is going to be 10x as versatile as iTunes by design? 'Cause if it's got a lowercase 'i' in front of it, it has to be cool..

[DraconumPB]

iPod not really an advantage

Having a NON-iPod MP3 player, such as my creative zen, means that I already have that capability anyway, regardless or iTunes or Windows Media or whatever.

I can also get the autofill option through the new Winamp..

Just because the iPod is popular doesn't mean that it has absolutely every feature that you could want in an mp3 player. For example, why would you want something that syncs and works better with a Mac when you probably don't own a Mac anyway? Why would you want to deal with proprietary formats (not saying that windows media is much better here, but at least it gives you a choice of MP3 player brand..)? Apple is shooting themselves in the foot with this proprietary crap, they would have sold twice as much if it didn't require that you use the iTunes bulls--. When I owned an iPod, the current version of iTunes at the time (dating back to probably v4) wouldn't even recognize it or sync. I had to download EphPod. Not to mention that the store itself is a DRM nightmare...

So why downplay a media player that is going to be 10x as versatile as iTunes by design? 'Cause if it's got a lowercase 'i' in front of it, it has to be cool..