REDMOND, Wash., May 22, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of Microsoft® Windows Media™
7.1 Player for Pocket PC and announced a preview of a new wireless digital media guide for mobile users, WindowsMedia.com Mobile. Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC is the first all-in-one media player to support wireless access to digital audio and video for Pocket PC users,* as well as playback of downloaded audio and video content. The player also includes breakthrough Windows Media Audio and Video 8 codec technology providing the best-quality audio and video in the smallest file size. The new preview of WindowsMedia.com Mobile provides mobile users with access to top-quality Windows Media audio and video content, which can be streamed to a Pocket PC over high-speed wireless Internet access such as Metricom’s Ricochet Network or 802.11 Wireless LANs.
“The future of wireless streaming is here today with information and entertainment just a click away for Pocket PC users,”
said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“The launch today of these two key innovations for mobile users is a critical milestone in the goal of delivering digital media any time, any place on any device.”
WindowsMedia.com Mobile — Content on the Go for Wireless Users
Consumers and professionals on the go can now stay wirelessly connected to the latest news, Internet radio, movie trailers, music and more directly on their Pocket PC with WindowsMedia.com Mobile. Using a wireless modem or network card together with the Ricochet Wireless Network, available in 18 cities and 25 airports across the United States, or via 802.11 wireless LAN, wireless Pocket PC users can now enjoy the following news and entertainment:
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Up-to-the-minute streamed audio or video news delivered right to the Pocket PC from CNET, MSNBC, Audible (offering streamed audio versions of Slate® online magazine ‘ s
“Today’s Papers”
and The Industry Standard), and business news from Feedroom -
Streamed radio from The Village Voice, Rolling StoneRadio, Radio Free Virgin, House of Blues, KFOG Radio, Cox Radio Interactive, Clear Channel Communications and cablemusic.com Inc.
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Music and music videos from Interscope Geffen A & M, The Island DefJam Music Group and J-Records
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Short streamed videos and the latest movie trailers from VastVideo Inc., FirstLook Inc. and FILMSPEED
Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC — The First All-In-One Mobile Media Player
Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC brings the most common digital media activities together in one player for Pocket PC users. This new player sets a new standard by offering state of the art audio and video technology with Windows Media Audio and Video 8, full support for streaming (including wireless) and downloaded audio and video playback and MP3 music playback. Key video improvements include full screen video playback (and a new landscape mode) for home movies or streamed video, and updated support for Windows Media Digital Rights Management technology. Integration with a PC using Windows Media Player 7.x also enables easy transfers of digital music to a Pocket PC. Other key improvements offered with Windows Media Player for Pocket PC include the following:
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Easy, automatic playlist creation lets users easily manage their favorite Windows Media or MP3 files, or watch a movie or video, all in a single playlist.
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New automatic media discovery locates digital media files, both on the Pocket PC and on compact flash or other extra storage media, and adds them to the user’s media library. It also can discover digital media located in e-mail attachments.
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New skins and an integrated skins chooser allow users to easily and quickly customize their player with new built-in skins management combined with new skins designs. Users can also download additional skins or create custom skins.
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New background playback lets users work and play the way they want to and maximizes battery time and productivity. Users can listen to music on the Pocket PC device while reading e-mail or reading an electronic book. Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC can minimize the Player and still continue to play music in the background, allowing users to work on other tasks or activities while preserving precious memory resources and battery life. Also, users can easily program a button on the Pocket PC to switch off the screen while listening to audio to save battery resources.
New Windows Media Play Pack for Pocket PC Now Available
Microsoft is offering a specially designed Windows Media Play Pack CD containing full-length movies, including
“To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Young Master”
with Jackie Chan, and the
“Inspector General,”
as well as music and music videos from Sparrow and Forefront Records, two Pocket PC games, five new and exciting Windows Media Player 7.1 skins and cool links to more information to help Pocket PC users get the most out of the new Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC. This new CD is available today for order in the United States and Canada at no charge for the first 10,000 people to order (only one CD per person), and just $4.95 for shipping and handling thereafter. Orders can be placed on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ .
Availability
Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC is available for download today for owners of Compaq iPAQ Pocket PCs, the HP Jornada and the Casio Cassiopeia Pocket PC models. Pocket PC owners can download and find more information about Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ .
The preview of WindowsMedia.com Mobile is available today. Pocket PC users can view the site with Pocket Internet Explorer at http://WindowsMedia.com/ . PC users can preview the site at http://Windowsmedia.com/Mobile/ (this site is formatted for mobile users, so page sizes will be smaller). Windows Media Player 7.1 for Pocket PC and a high-speed wireless Internet connection such as Metricom’s Ricochet Network or 802.11 wireless LAN technology is required to enjoy wireless streamed audio and video content.
About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations. Windows Media offers the industry’s only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit for software and hardware developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* For streaming and wireless capability, users must have a network card or wireless network card capable of running on the Pocket PC (acquired separately). Connect-time fees may apply.
Microsoft, Windows Media and Slate are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
