Whistler Preview - part 2

Key Features

One of the key features of Windows XP (Whistler builds 2410 and later) is the inclusion of Internet Explorer 6.0. However, some features seen in the beta 2 release shipped in early 2001 did not make it into subsequent Preview Releases. One such attribute of the beta 2 browser was simailar to a feature present in the Macintosh version of IE: a personal sidebar, containing various content search options and reference sources. The Media category, for example, popped out from the side of the screen when clicked, revealing tools such as an MP3 and radio station player -- based, of course, on Microsoft's Media Player technologies. Apparently, however, negative feedback from testers has led the company to rethink this feature and RC1, released in July 2001 and subsequent builds dropped the Personal Bar in favour of a simplified Media Bar, solely focused on multimedia content and playback options. (See our links section for a look at the latest features in RC1 and beyond. - Ed.)

Media Player 8

Also present in builds 2410 and later is Windows Media Player 8.0. Continuing with the look and feel of Media Player 7.0, the new version adds a few nice features, such as a "Fit to window" control and the ability to jump directly to various controls such as the graphics equalizer, visualizations, video settings, SRS WOW effects, etc., rather than having to awkwardly page through the lot one at a time, as is the case in version 7.0. One much ballyhood improvement to Media Player arrived in build 2416, where MP3 encoding support was added. (Paul Thurrot has posted a screenshot at www.winsupersite.com.)

However, at least in the beta version, the MP3 encoder is limited to a measly 56Kbps quality -- vastly inferior to the maximum encoding quality of 192Kbps provided by Microsoft's proprietary Windows Media Audio option. Interestingly, the 56K limitation on MP3 encoding persists even if the Fraunhofer Professional codec (supporting bit rates up to 320K) is installed. As we've noted on this site in the past, Microsoft has been pushing its partners (RCA, PocketPC makers, etc.) toward using its proprietary WMA format over the more widely accepted MP3 format. Thus, the lacklustre support of MP3 is disappointing. It's a feature that looks good in a checklist, but ultimately doesn't deliver.

We hope that, in light of the reports that Windows Media Player 8 will be made available only as part of Windows XP, Microsoft comes to its senses and removes this serious limitation by the time the final product ships.

Media Player has learned a few other new tricks in version 8, as well. If your system is equipped with a CD burner, you can select an audio file in Windows XP's "My Music" folder -- for example, one you've previously downloaded or ripped from an audio CD -- and, with a right-click, Burn to Audio Disc. This launches Media Player, which then commits the file to a standard audio disc, playable on any standard audio disc player.

Media Player 8 also has the ability to play your DVD movies. This feature, like the MP3 feature, isn't quite as marvelous as it probably should be in the beta release of Windows XP. At least currently, you have to install a third-party DVD decoder (usually installed by a third-party DVD player) in order to get it to work. Thus, if you've already got a third-party player installed, the benefit of having Media Player handle your DVD movies is dubious. We tested this feature with WinDVD and ATI's DVD Player 4.1. Both worked well, with the WinDVD title (bundled with many DVD-ROM drives) delivering slightly better quality than ATI's offering.

The Explorer shell has also been enhanced, with a "Task-oriented" interface, new icons and wizard-like controls for common tasks displayed right in the window. No more need to open the control panel to add or remove a program or view the system properties! Another small change: the Media Player icon now shows up in the main section of the Start menu, as opposed to the way it is hidden away in the Programs section in older Windows versions.

Copy Protection

Whistler Build 2410 also introduces a feature suggesting that Microsoft is finally planning to take action against those who violate its license agreements: Whistler is copy-protected, with an anti-piracy system dubbed "Microsoft Product Activation for Windows" (WPA), that keys the installation of the software to a particular system. According to testers, the technology is similar to the Office Activation Wizard that's part of Office 2000 in SR-1 and newer releases, in that you must send an activation code to Microsoft that won't work on PCs other than the one on which it was originally activated. Presumably, hackers will find a way around this (they always do), but it is definitely going to make it more convenient for people to Do The Right Thing. Fortunately, some sleuthing by a German company called Fully Licensed in July 2001 revealed that this Windows XP copy protection will build a unique processor ID (PID) based on several unique pieces of hardware found in your computer and then send this unique number (not the list of hardware or software itself), along with the unique serial number of the Microsoft product being registered to the company's clearinghouse. Among the components that make up the hardware ID, says the company, are a hard drive's volume serial number, the network card's MAC address and the identification string for the CD-ROM drive, the graphics card, and the microprocessor. (Read more...)

This PID number is then checked to ensure that the number is not in mass distribution, as it would be if it were in the hands of pirates. The obvious question is whether the company will tighten the screws in the future to eliminate any duplication of its products. Initially, it seems, the company appears to be aware of the risk of inconveniencing its customers and the system appears to be forgiving of changes that occur when you want to upgrade your computer or change its motherboard and CPU, however, the company has suggested that this WPA feature will not be required for coprporate installations, where a corporation typically needs to be able to mass-deploy the products without undue inconvenience. To address this issue, the company has provided an unattended install option, and indeed, Windows XP betas already include a sample file (containing the required "product key" serial number!) that shows how to deploy such an installation. Microsoft apparently realizes that, while the WPA feature might be great for Microsoft and its shareholders, it could be bad news for corporations needing to efficiently deploy thousands of computers at a time.

According to ZDNet, WPA will be present in all 32-bit versions of Whistler except those sold to volume-licensing customers and those using so-called "Royalty OEM initial install images." It looks as though it might be prudent to look for an OEM version of Whistler when it comes out, instead of a retail package. Of course, Microsoft has been known to back off from its plans, if enough of its customers object....

For Further Reading

See part one of this feature for more details.
Winformant.com has additional links and further information.
Microsoft: Whistler Developer pages
ZDNet: New 'Whistler' build adds anti-piracy lock
The Register: How Whistler's copy protection works (and further details from HardOCP)
Windows Whistler Resource Site
Baboo: a look at Pre RC1 build 2475

IT Library

The Techno Zone

User Account

Whistler Preview - part 2

Post new comment

More like this . . .

How many search commands do you have in your PC?

Linux News

A Mac OS X Overview

Editorial: MS World Domination Scorecard

Windows Server 2003

Alternative GUIs for Windows XP

Codename: Whistler