This Reuters news agency report tells us of the latest from the folks at Redmond. Not satisfied with the desktop PC market any longer, Microsoft has positioned the Windows platform with it's DRM and media Player 9 series as a must have for using digital media or just plain media such as television.
The protection of Windows Digital Rights Management has media companies relieved and worried at the same time. They are pondering if there is not a dangerous power shift on the horizon. Leaving them concerned, will they lose control of their own products?
|
Microsoft has invested heavily in making its Windows Media Player software meet media companies' exacting standards as they shift more of their works to handheld devices, personal computers and high-definition digital televisions and cinemas. On Friday at the IBC2003 trade show in Amsterdam, Microsoft announced deals with a batch of firms that will use the ability of Windows Media to shrink large video files while maintaining the quality so it can be used to send video to TV set-top boxes, digital audio tuners and broadband Internet computers. This compression technology is key to converting ordinary sound and video transmissions across digital media devices. The deals strengthen Microsoft's grip on the emerging digital media world in which music and video are shared and sold over digital networks. "Well over 100 companies now support Windows Media 9. And the adoption curve continues to steepen," Microsoft's Jonathan Usher, director of Windows digital media division, told Reuters in an interview in Amsterdam. |
Mr. Usher went on to say "Over 300 consumer electronic devices like DVD players and portable audio players already contain a chip that can decode and play songs that are encoded with Windows Media."
Among the new deals announced, Microsoft said its Windows Media compression technology, or codec, will be used by German Internet service provider (ISP) T-Online to offer video-on-demand services across its broadband Internet network. In addition Microsoft will launch a digital audio broadcasting service with Capital Radio in London next month capable of broadcasting in cinema-style 5.1 channel surround sound.
According to the article, While the media companies are happy to see deployment of DRM technology to cut down on digital piracy. There is also concern among the media companies that a single market dominant DRM technology could ultimately determine how consumers view or listen to media in the future.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Zoom Player 3.1 does the trick for me 
Very fast, tonnes of features and not bloated. While it plays windows media files, I don't think it supports DRM crippled media though.
[edited by Sherrif on 13.09.2003 04:02]
If only blogs had spell checkers built in. I can see a new HTML tool in the making
ASSimilate this! Top news
Our Community messages
Happy Birthday to you Malle 
CDan thank you for your reaction in the news section. 
deanimator just logged in, Good to see you back!