Microsoft released to the public Microsoft Windows Media Player
11 for Windows XP, describing it as a significant milestone for
music fans and the digital entertainment experience on Windows.
This latest version of Windows Media Player offers consumers a
test-drive of the capabilities in Windows Media Player 11 for
Windows Vista, including enhanced search and media management
technologies, a visually driven user interface, and optimized
support for portable music players.
"Windows Media Player 11 is the first media player to be truly
designed with the digital entertainment lover in mind, " said
Mike Sievert, corporate vice president of Windows at Microsoft.
"The fresh, exciting new look, the ability to find songs and
videos in an instant, and the enhanced capabilities for syncing
with portable devices are not only exactly what customers have
asked us for, they're also a preview of what's to come in Windows
Vista."
Windows Media Player 11 features seamless integration with URGE,
MTV Networks Co.'s digital music service. The fast search
capabilities of Windows Media Player 11 provide consumers with
instant access to the entire URGE catalog of more than 110, 000
artists and 2 million songs.
"MTV Networks' collaboration with Microsoft on Media Player 11
gives URGE users a fully immersive and integrated music and
entertainment experience, " said Michael Bloom, vice president of
Digital Music at MTV Networks and general manager of URGE. "Our
expertise in music programming and design combined with
Microsoft's technology gives music fans the best way to discover
and stay connected with the music and artists they love."
The search capabilities of Windows Media Player 11 also enable
consumers to easily scroll through and access music fast, whether
the library contains 50 or 50, 000 tracks. The Instant Search in
Windows Media Player 11 provides results that instantly narrow
with each keystroke, whether the consumer is searching in a
personal library or browsing URGE. Drag-and-drop capabilities
make building playlists and moving music to portable players
easier than ever.
Microsoft encourages all customers of genuine Windows to download
Windows Media Player free of charge at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia . People currently
using earlier versions of Windows Media Player will also be
notified of the availability of Windows Media Player 11 through a
pop-up alert, and Microsoft encourages customers to click on the
alert for access to the download.