CNET Editors' Take - Windows Media Player 11

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://reviews.cnet.com/Windows_Media_Player_11/4505-3669_7-31672645-2.html?tag=nav' target='_blank'>http://reviews.cnet.com/Windows_Media_Player_11/4505-3669_7-31672645-2.html?tag=nav</a><br /><br /></div><i>"At CES 2006, Microsoft announced version 11 of Windows Media Player (WMP) and garnered a Best of CES nomination for its efforts. Most of the buzz at the trade show surrounded Microsoft's partnership with MTV and its Urge music service, but we're most excited about WMP's new, very visually appealing look and feel. Besides, Microsoft's reps had to defer to MTV for most Urge-related queries, so we didn't learn much about the service. What we did learn in our meeting is that anyone running Windows XP or Vista will definitely want the latest version of WMP when it becomes available (we're putting our bets on Q3 of this year)."</i> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/31672645-2-300-DT1.gif" /> <br /><br />The team at Microsoft has been paying attention to iTunes and made some big changes for the latest version of Windows Media Player. Based on their first look, it appears to be more than eye candy as performance has been greatly improved as well.

[Mr. MacinTiger]

Ok...I freely admit that perhaps I have been on my Mac Mini a little too long, BUT does WiMP 11 resemble iTunes or what?

The CNET guys even mention give it a passing mention.

[Jason Dunn]

BUT does WiMP 11 resemble iTunes or what?

If you think that, you've never used it - the CNET comment was about Microsoft simplifying WMP, not the user interface. The UI of WMP11 is nothing like iTunes. In fact, I'd love for you to point out how it looks anything like iTunes...

On the PC at least (I have no idea about the Mac version), iTunes is UGLY and SLOW. Grey steel? Please. So I really hope Microsoft doesn't emulate that. And what's bizarre about this CNET article is that WMP11 doesn't have less features than WMP10 - in fact it has more - but they're re-worked the UI to be easier to find things, and the overall performance is 100x better with large libraries.

PS - I always know what you're going to post before you even post it...time to come up with some new lines!

[Mr. MacinTiger]

Fair enough :twisted:

[Kent Pribbernow]

I really like the revised interface, especially the new graphical album view and function controls toolbar at the bottom. Very sleek, yet simple. Microsoft may have just one-upped Apple.

Wasn't this software supposed to be released to XP users in March? My hard drive awaits your arrival, WMP 11. :icecream: