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Ina Fried at CNET reports that Windows XP users will shortly be getting the Vista version of Windows 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 seems to be playing the details of the XP version close to the vest, but there is some speculation about features in the full article. We’ve previously mentioned the Urge deal, which despite its unpromising announcement, may well be a winner.
May 15th, 2006 at 11:46 PM
[...] Jupiter Research’s Michael Gartenberg: It was first announced back before CES but today, I can start talking officially about my experiences with the new URGE music service being released jointly by Microsoft and MTV. Rather than wait until Vista ships next year, Microsoft and MTV have gone ahead and released the first version of URGE this week. Closely tied to Windows Media Player 11, URGE will formally go into a public beta on Wed. and you can sign up for a free two week trial of the service. The early release for Windows XP was not unexpected and early testers are giving the Urge and Media Player 11 betas positive reviews. Follow the link for Gartenberg’s and also see the reviews at CNET and PC Magazine. [...]
August 7th, 2006 at 12:08 PM
[...] The original buzz was that Windows Media Player 11 would be available in June and there’s been a beta available for download since May in coordination with the joint Microsoft-MTV URGE music service, but now HotFix.net (via Bink.nu) says the wait is nearly over: Windows Media Player 11 for XP will RTM on September 14th, 2006. We obtained this information from the same very reliable Microsoft source who gave us a dead-on accurate date for the Public Preview of WMP11 a few months back. This is the XP version of the media player that will be standard with Vista. Filed under OS - Client, Windows Vista, Alliances, Coopetition, Digital Media, Technologies, Media Player, MTV, Microsoft [Permalink] [...]