Windows Media Player 10 Beta Coming Today?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.com.com/Microsoft+offers+peek+at+new+Media+Player/2100-1025_3-5224094.html?tag=nefd.top' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/Microsoft+offers+peek+at+new+Media+Player/2100-1025_3-5224094.html?tag=nefd.top</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Microsoft is expected to release the first test version of its new Windows Media Player software Wednesday, marking a significant upgrade aimed squarely at the burgeoning portable device market. The revamped Windows Media Player 10, which will be released in final form to the consumer market later this year, contains substantial changes to the way music, videos and other media can be organized and retrieved. But the biggest changes in the new "technical beta" software will be invisible to most users until new portable music and video players reach store shelves this summer and fall."</i><br /><br />I can't say much more about this (NDA) other than the fact that I'm quite excited about getting my hands on it. :D

[piperpilot]

I wonder if it will be an open Beta.

[Jason Dunn]

I wonder if it will be an open Beta.

I get the feeling it will be, but I guess only time will tell...

[Mojo Jojo]

Bring on the P.M.Ps! Woohoo!

[James Fee]

any change to the format? Should we be looking for WMA10 and WMV10 files?

[Felix Torres]

any change to the format? Should we be looking for WMA10 and WMV10 files?

No.
Windows Media Audio was locked down at version 8 and Video at version 9.

Expect no changes to the formats any time soon.
After all, they're trying to get them accepted as universal standards and you don't do that by changing the format on the eve of approval.

What *is* coming is the new JANUS DRM and data transfer protocols.
More than enough to enable several new lines of business.

[James Fee]

What about WMA Lossless? 8O

[klinux]

I was pretty sure both WMA and WMV were changed in version 9.

[Felix Torres]

What about WMA Lossless? 8O

Technically that's a different spec.
Just like the surround-sound specs introduced with Version 9 as WMAPro.
WMA definitions are very flexible but the headers and syntax are intended to remain fixed so old decoders can handle new streams and files.