Windows Media Player 9

Introduction
Windows Media 9, code-named "Corona," is Microsoft's next generation of Windows Media technologies. Although we've been testing beta versions since August 2002, we just got our hands on the final version, released Jan. 7, 2003. Here's a look at the official release.

Key Features
If you're familiar with earlier versions of Windows Media Player, you'll appreciate a number of useful new capabilities in this version of Windows Media Player 9 (referred to as WMP9, hereafter).

However, some features expected to show up are missing in action -- presumably, held back for inclusion in the next major release of Windows, code-named Longhorn, One such feature, once rumored to be showing up in WMP9 (but probably not included for obvious legal reasons), is DVD copying support. Apparently inspired by the deal Microsoft made with Sonic Solutions in Jan., 2002, some WMP9 betas suggested (albeit inconclusively) that the final release might include DVD copying capabilities and possibly even DVD authoring features. This, apparently is not the case. We see no evidence of this feature in the final release. However, the software supports Secure Digital cards, CD drives, which can be written as a standard audio CD, data CD or Microsoft's own HighMAT (High-Performance Media Access Technology) format to a variety of Pocket PC portables, MP3 players and other devices. There's every indication that, if you have a DVD writer, these disc-authoring features will still be available.

As well, if you have a suitable DVD codec installed, WMP9 will play your DVDs (and VCDs and SVCDs, too) and retrieve DVD disc information, through its browser-based interface. Also missing in action from the final release is a "Send to a Friend" feature that was a handy feature of the beta version, but one that must surely have had copyright lawyers wondering whose side Microsoft was on. It's now called Media Link for Email and will not work with local files. It does, however, allow you to highlight sections of emailed files with "mark in" and "mark out" points.

MP3 playback features are included in WMP9; however, if you want to encode files in MP3 format, an optional, extra-cost codec is required. The standard player rips audio discs in Microsoft's own WMA formats, including WMA, WMA variable bitrate and WMA "lossless" only.

A few included features have obvious inspirations: Microsoft had been hyping WMP's improved encoders and plug-in management features for months prior to the final version's release, presumably in an effort to position itself as a viable alternative to the ISO-approved MPEG-4, which has since been adopted by Apple. Cross-fade and normalization plug-ins (both of which shows up last year in Apple iTunes 3) are also included in WMP9. Microsoft on Jan. 23rd launched www.wmplugins.com, a catalog of enhancements and third-party plug-ins for Windows Media 9.

Digital Rights Management
Intellectual property rights owners have little to fear. Windows Media Player is chock full of Digital Right Management (DRM) potential. As has been the case in other Windows Media Player releases, you can restrict content so that it only plays on the system on which it is licensed. Microsoft also provides software hooks allowing streamed video and/or audio content to play for only a specific period of time, or not at all until a license is purchased. Although MP3s can't be copy-protected, the Windows Media Player format cab be, and Microsoft holds a patent on it -- RealNetworks' efforts to reverse-engineer the format notwithstanding.

Subscriptions
A related addition to WMP9 is a new focus on audio and video subscription services, not unlike those offered by Apple, through its deals with PressPlay, CinemaNow, FullAudio. Microsoft is thus positioning itself to offer licensed content from online services on a "pay to play" basis.

Smart Playlists
Apple beat Microsoft to the punch by releasing its iTunes3 player on July 17 with so-called "smart playlists," but WMP9 clearly shows that this feature isn't just another Microsoft copycat move. In addition to rule-based searches, WMP9 provides the ability to view, sort and create playlists of music and video according to a variety of different parameters, including rule-based playlists.

Advanced Features
Taking advantage of these search capabilities, Microsoft allows the user (or content provider, as the case may be) to edit a large number of attributes of song files to indicate mood, beats per minute, related Web sites and more. You can add multiple comments, pictures and even synchronized "karaoke" lyrics. An unsupported PowerToy called TweakMP allows further control of full-screen animations and CD burning options; another "ratings migration" PowerToy eases the migration of Media Library ratings when moving to a new computer. These, and many other plugins, visualizations, skins and smart playlists are available at www.wmplugins.com.
... and Speed

The final version of WMP9 is not appreciably different than the last beta build 2800 we tested, but even then, the speed was impressive. One tester on BetaNews characterized it as "very fast on a Windows 9x operating system...no speed problems (not as fast as WMP v6.4, but i can live with it)." WMP 6.4, as many Windows users know, was and will probably always be Microsoft's fastest player ever.

For Further Reading

Read our Windows Media 9 Tech Report
Our feature on Net Video Trends has further details....
Betanews.com: Next-Gen Windows Media Player Leaks to the Web [July 22, 2002]
Microsoft.com: Pioneer's Windows Media 9-enabled DVD player Is the First Home Theater Device to Include Support for Windows Media Video.

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