Future

The Latest from Microsoft

WMV HD

·         First, Microsoft is announcing major new support for “WMVHD” which stands for “Windows Media Hi-Definition Video” and is based on the award-winning Windows Media  Series.  And are announcing 16 new high definition movies being released including 10 IMAX titles from MacGillivray Freeman, titles from Artisan Home Entertainment, National Geographic, and more. 

·         These will ship as “companion” DVD discs inside of the DVD package, which play back on a Windows XP PC.  This gives users the ability to watch the entire movie as it was meant to be seen – in glorious high-definition – up to 6 times the quality of standard DVD and with full 5.1-channel surround sound (using WMA).

·         They will be available in retail starting with the IMAX film “Coral Reef” available right now and others coming to market over the next 30-60 days

Windows Media Center :

·  Windows^® Media Connect (or Media Connect for short), which will power the next generation of networked devices, enabling the devices to seamlessly access and playback digital media from a Windows XP PC, including content from popular music and movie services.  Major vendors are fully supporting WMC including Arcadyan Technology, Creative Labs, Dell, Mediabolic, PRISMIQ, Rockford, Roku, Simple Devices, and Toshiba.

• Media Connect will overcome two critical hurdles faced by networked media devices today: first – today’s connected devices will not play secure content from the popular music/video services and second – there is no standard/consistent way to access media on a Windows XP PC using networked devices.

HighMAT

·         Third, we’re announcing broad new support for HighMAT technology by leading consumer electronics manufacturers, chip vendors and software providers.  HighMAT is designed to enhance the interoperability of digital media between Windows PCs and consumer devices using physical formats such as CD and DVD discs.  New support from HighMAT comes from Ali Corp, Analog Devices, Apex Digital, BHA, Cyberlink, Equator, Malata North America, MediaTek, Panasonic, Sigma Designs, Ulead Systems, and Zoran,

WM Momentum

·   Windows Media is now supported on over 500 devices which is 150% growth in just 1 year.  

• WMA is now supported on over 60 devices that work with the new music services (BestBuy, Musicmatch, Napster, Walmart, etc).   These 60 devices combined are the largest installed base of devices that support secure digital music– over 2 times that of Apple’s iPod installed base and certainly offer more choice!
• 80 chips from the premier integrated circuit manufacturers that support WMA and in some cases WMV right on their chips – even high definition WMV!
• There are a host of new devices being announced at the show:
  • The first DVD players to support WMV playback - from Apex Digital, KiSS Technology, and Malata;
  • The first Windows Media-based PVR - from Malata;
  • Taking media to a whole new level with Portable Media Center which supports ALL your media including music, music videos, photos, photo stories, home movies, movies from music services as well as TV shows from Windows XP Media Center Edition.

WMS News in Press Releases Outside DMD:  www.Microsoft.com

·         Beyond DMD’s announcements, Windows Media Series is powering the new MSN Video on Demand service as well as the new Portable Media Center, and supported by the new MCE Extender technology.  WMS is part of all three of these announcements.

·         Windows Media  Series is also part of many other announcements at CES including Sonic Solutions (joint), Sigma Designs (3rd party), Equator (3rd party), Malata Diva (3rd party), Sand Video (3^rd party), MacGillivray Freeman (3rd party), KiSS Technology (3rd party), PortalPlayer (3^rd party), Rockford and Simple Devices (3^rd party) and Centrality (3rd party).

DRill down on WMV HD