Chris Lanier : Windows Vista, Media Player

Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista Product Lineup

chrisl — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 05:06:00 GMT

Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista Product Lineup | Microsoft Corp. today announced the product lineup of its upcoming Windows Vista operating system. Scheduled for release later this year, the Microsoft Windows Vista product lineup will bring clarity to customers’ digital world by helping them easily accomplish everyday tasks, instantly find what they want, enjoy the latest in entertainment, improve the safety of their personal information, stay connected at home or on the go, and help ensure PCs are up-to-date, more secure and running smoothly.

The Windows Vista product lineup consists of six versions, two for businesses, three for consumers, and one for emerging markets: Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Starter. The number of offerings is the same as the number of offerings currently available for Windows XP. More important, the lineup is designed to deliver clear value to a broad range of customers, each product tailored to meet specific needs of various segments of customers — home PC users, small and medium-sized businesses and the largest enterprises — and is aimed at bringing 64-bit, Media Center and Tablet PC functionality into the mainstream.

“We live in a digital world that is filled with more information, more things to do and more ways to communicate with others than ever,” said Mike Sievert, corporate vice president of Windows Product Management and Marketing at Microsoft. “The PC needs to give people the clarity and confidence to handle this ‘world of more’ so they can focus on what’s most important to them. With our Windows Vista product line, we’ve streamlined and tailored our product lineup to provide what our customers want for today’s computing needs.”

Windows Vista: Designed for Businesses of All Sizes

Business customers can choose from two versions that are designed to meet their needs, based on the size and scale of their organizations:

Windows Vista Business. Windows Vista Business is the operating system designed for organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so they are less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business will provide dramatic new infrastructure improvements that will enable IT staff to spend less time focused on day-to-day maintenance of PCs and more time on adding strategic value to the organization. These are some of the specific features of Windows Vista Business:

A new user interface, named Windows Aero™, is designed to deliver the most productive, highest-performing desktop experience possible. Windows Aero will provide a professional-looking, transparent glass design, with subtle effects such as dynamic reflections and smooth animations, along with Windows Flip and Flip 3D desktop navigation features.

In addition to these navigation improvements, Windows Vista Business makes it easier than ever to manage huge volumes of business documents. By integrating search throughout the operating system and providing new ways to organize files, Windows Vista Business helps business users quickly find exactly what they are looking for.

Windows Tablet PC technology provides built-in handwriting recognition and enables interaction with the PC with a digital pen or fingertip instead of a keyboard.

Windows Vista Enterprise. To better address the needs of large global organizations and those with highly complex IT infrastructures, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to significantly lower IT costs and risk. In addition to all the features available in Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to provide higher levels of data protection using hardware-based encryption technology. It will also include tools to improve application compatibility and will enable organizations to standardize on a single worldwide deployment image with the inclusion of all Windows user-interface languages. Windows Vista Enterprise will be available only to customers who have PCs covered by Microsoft Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. These are some of the specific Windows Vista Enterprise features.

Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption helps prevent sensitive data and intellectual property from falling into the wrong hands if a computer is lost or stolen.

Virtual PC Express is one of several built-in tools that improve application compatibility with previous versions of Microsoft operating systems. Virtual PC Express enables a legacy application to run unchanged on a legacy Windows operating system in a virtual environment on top of Windows Vista Enterprise.

Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications enables users to run UNIX applications unchanged on a Windows Vista Enterprise-based PC.

The new user interface Windows Aero is also available in this edition of Windows Vista.

Windows Vista: Incredible New Experiences and Choices for the Home PC User

Consumers can choose from three versions that deliver exciting new experiences for the home PC user:

Windows Vista Home Basic. Windows Vista Home Basic is a great choice for homes with basic computing needs. For consumers who want to simply use the PC to browse the Internet, correspond with friends and family through e-mail or perform basic document creation and editing tasks, Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable and more productive computing environment. It will provide new tools and technologies for making the PC more secure and enjoyable, including features such as a new Search Explorer, Sidebar and Parental Controls.
Windows Vista Home Premium. Windows Vista Home Premium will help consumers use mobile or desktop PC functionality more effectively while enabling the enjoyment of new, exciting digital entertainment experiences. Windows Vista Home Premium improves every aspect of digital entertainment experiences, including photos, video, TV, movies, music and games. Windows Vista Home Premium includes everything in Windows Vista Home Basic, along with additional features and enhancements such as the following:

The new user interface Windows Aero is also available in this edition of Windows Vista.

Windows Vista Home Premium integrates search throughout the operating system, helping customers easily organize and quickly find large collections of documents, pictures, movies, videos and music.

Windows Media Center capabilities turn the PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. Consumers can use Media Center to record and watch TV shows (even high-definition TV) and access new kinds of online entertainment content. It also provides the ability to connect Windows Vista Home Premium to Xbox 360™, extending the Media Center experience to multiple rooms in the home.

Windows Tablet PC technology, which enables interaction with the PC with a digital pen or fingertip instead of a keyboard, is also available in this edition of Windows Vista.

Integrated DVD burning and authoring allows users to seamlessly burn personal videos photos and files to video or data DVDs, and easily create professional-looking DVDs from home movies that can be shared with family and friends.

Windows Vista Ultimate. Windows Vista Ultimate is the edition of Windows Vista that has it all. It is the first operating system that brings together all the entertainment features, mobility features and business-oriented features available in Windows Vista.

All new versions are available for either 32-bit or 64-bit systems, depending on the needs of the customer. Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate and Business will be available as a full-packaged product at retail and on new PCs. Windows Vista Enterprise will be offered only to business customers participating in Microsoft’s Software Assurance program.

Microsoft also will offer Windows Vista Starter in emerging markets. Windows Vista Starter is designed to empower families and entry-level PC users in these markets to experience the world of social and educational benefits that personal computer technology and the Internet makes possible. A 32-bit operating system designed specifically for lower-cost computers, Windows Vista Starter enables popular beginner PC activities and provides an easy-to-use and more affordable entry point to the Windows Vista family of products.

“Windows Vista is going to be a significant release for all Windows customers — including enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses as well as consumers,” said Al Gillen, research director for System Software at IDC. “Microsoft’s strategy to address different customer segments with versions of Windows Vista optimized for their needs should be well received by these diverse user segments.”

All versions of Windows Vista are scheduled to be broadly available in the second half of 2006.

Microsoft CES Press Releases

chrisl — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 02:40:00 GMT

Microsoft Showcases Windows Innovations to Help Customers Navigate Through the Digital “World of More”

Microsoft and MTV Networks Unveil New Windows Media Player 11 and Preview URGE, a New Digital Music Service

New Windows Mobile-Based Portable Media Centers Show Off Latest Features, Popular Movies and Sleek New Devices

Gates Outlines Vision for the Digital Lifestyle and Showcases New Products and Technologies From Microsoft

Gates Outlines Vision for the Digital Lifestyle and Showcases New Products

chrisl — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 02:32:00 GMT

Gates Outlines Vision for the Digital Lifestyle and Showcases New Products and Technologies From Microsoft | Highlighting key consumer products such as Xbox 360 and offering the first broad demonstration of the consumer features of Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates showed how the company is delivering on its vision for a digital lifestyle where devices, services and applications work together seamlessly. In his 10th annual keynote address at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Gates demonstrated how Microsoft Windows Vista, Xbox 360, new mobile devices and the emerging wave of software-based services will deliver more connected and richly personalized experiences for consumers.

In his keynote, Gates said that the consumer electronics industry is poised to deliver a quantum leap forward in rich, interactive, high-definition experiences. “Technology has revolutionized how we listen to music, watch TV, play games, communicate, and manage and share personal information,” he said. “In the years ahead, further exciting innovations will unify the software, hardware and services in people’s lives, offering them even richer, more engaging and deeply connected experiences.”

Windows Vista Unveiled

In the first broad demonstration of Windows Vista for consumers, Gates showed how Microsoft’s next-generation operating system, due later this year, will offer customers powerful new advances in security, search capability and digital entertainment. He highlighted how Windows Vista will bring clarity to customers’ digital world and help them easily accomplish everyday tasks, instantly find what they want, enjoy the latest in entertainment, keep their personal information safe, and stay connected at home or on the go.

He highlighted some of the most compelling consumer-oriented features of Windows Vista, including a sleek user interface, richer multitasking experiences and deep integration of search throughout the operating system. He also showed the new Windows Photo Gallery, which will make managing and working with digital photos easier.

He showcased the most advanced Windows games platform for everyone from casual players to hard-core gamers, including stunning graphics capabilities, by premiering Microsoft Games Studios’ forthcoming “Flight Simulator X,” the most realistic flight simulator in the franchise’s 25-year history.

Gates was joined onstage by MTV Networks’ Music Group President Van Toffler to showcase the forthcoming URGE digital music service, which is designed to bring people’s emotional connections with music to the forefront of the digital entertainment experience. URGE will give users of Windows Media Player 11 instant access to more than 2 million songs from major and independent labels as well as exclusive MTV Networks programming and content.

Demonstrating the Windows Media Center capabilities of Windows Vista, Gates cited growing momentum around the platform by announcing that more than 6.5 million Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PCs have been sold from more than 130 computer manufacturers worldwide.

In another sign of momentum for Windows XP Media Center 2005, Microsoft announced that Comedy Central has joined a group of 110 Online Spotlight content partners and that forthcoming Media Center PCs will include CableCARD support for high-definition programming without a set-top box. This will allow users to plug their digital cable signal directly into their PC to watch and record premium cable content, including high-definition programming, without a set-top box.

Xbox 360 Leads the Way in High-Definition Entertainment

Just a month after the global launch of the new Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, Gates discussed the product’s strong momentum in delivering high-definition hardware, games and digital entertainment experiences. Xbox 360 is on track to be the fastest-selling video game console ever, forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million units worldwide by the end of June 2006.

Gates noted that Xbox 360 has also become a powerful application for high-definition television, adding that nine out of 10 Xbox 360 owners currently own or intend to purchase a high-definition television set.* He announced that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360 games will be available by June 2006.

Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form.

Using Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live service today, consumers are already able to access high-definition entertainment such as Xbox Live Arcade titles, game demos and high-definition movie trailers. Consumers can also use their Xbox 360 system to access high-definition television and movies from their Windows XP-based Media Center PC.

Gates’ keynote also showcased the momentum behind Xbox Live, announcing that more than half of all Xbox 360 owners are already connected to the online games and entertainment service, which boasts a worldwide community of more than 2 million members. He demonstrated Electronic Arts Inc.’s forthcoming EA SPORTS “Fight Night Round 3,” scheduled to be available in February 2006, and announced that a free, playable high-definition demo of the game is now available at the Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop digital download center where consumers can access high-definition games, music and movie content from leading industry partners.

Staying Connected With Powerful Windows Mobile-Based Devices

Gates highlighted the Treo 700w, an innovative new device that brings Palm Inc.’s celebrated ease of use to the Windows Mobile® platform. The Treo 700w, available exclusively on the Verizon Wireless network, combines a great mobile phone with easy access to wireless e-mail and business applications, giving professionals more ways to stay connected while on the go. The Treo 700w is available at retail Jan. 5.

The keynote also included a demonstration of how future technologies will transform the way people manage information in the office or on the go, communicate with co-workers in richer and more immersive ways, and be more productive wherever they are.

Continuing his keynote, Gates showcased Microsoft’s advancements in mobile entertainment by unveiling next-generation Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Centers from Toshiba Corp., Tatung Co. and LG Electronics. The new devices, scheduled to be available this year, will feature extensive battery life, support for new high-resolution and widescreen (16:9) displays, direct audio/video recording, gaming, FM tuners and direct connections to digital cameras.

New Content to Energize the Digital Lifestyle

Gates’ keynote address highlighted a number of new alliances that use Microsoft software to provide broader and richer content to consumers. He showed Starz Entertainment Group’s new Vongo video download service, which offers more choices and great experiences for people using Windows Mobile-based devices. Vongo subscribers will enjoy unlimited access to more than 1,000 first-run movies and video selections as well as the streaming Starz TV channel.

Microsoft announced a broad agreement with DIRECTV Inc. that will open up new ways for consumers to enjoy their digital media in the networked home and on portable devices. Microsoft and DIRECTV will work together to enable digital content to flow between Windows-based PCs, DIRECTV devices, PlaysForSure™-based portable media devices and Xbox 360.

It was also announced that Microsoft and British Sky Broadcasting (Sky), the leading pay-TV provider in the U.K. and Ireland, plans to create a Windows Media Center version of Sky’s forthcoming broadband content service, Sky by broadband. The service will enable millions of Sky TV customers to access video content from their PC, including hundreds of movies and sports clips.

Windows Live Services Deliver Rich, Seamless Experiences

In the area of software services, Gates previewed new Windows Live™ offerings, designed to bring together relationships, information and interests that are important to people on PCs and a wide range of devices. He unveiled two new telephones from Royal Philips Electronics and Uniden America Corp., designed to work with the voice communications capabilities in the upcoming Windows Live Messenger, the soon-to-be-released successor to MSN® Messenger, which has more than 200 million active accounts around the world. The new phones will allow consumers to make calls from a cordless handset connected to both the Windows Live Messenger service and public telephone networks. The Philips VOIP433 Dual Phone will debut in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America in 2006. The Uniden WIN 1200 Digital Cordless Phone will offer people another option for making calls over the Internet and will be available in North America in spring 2006.

Gates also previewed forthcoming services for Windows Live and Windows Vista that will help people find and manage their entertainment on the Windows-based Media Center PC or Microsoft TV IPTV Edition-powered set-top box from almost anywhere in the world. TV gadgets on Live.com will enable people to find, manage and share personalized TV recommendations as well as remotely schedule recordings on their Media Center PCs.

Gates concluded his keynote address by looking back on the great momentum of 2005 in consumer technologies and outlining key trends that will shape future innovation in the consumer electronics industry.

“The incredible momentum around all these new products and services shows that the digital lifestyle has truly gone mainstream this year,” Gates said. “Now it’s time to bring together the devices, software and services in people’s lives and take all these experiences to the next level.”

Microsoft and RealNetworks Resolve Antitrust Case

chrisl — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 16:36:00 GMT

Microsoft and RealNetworks, Inc. today announced three agreements valued at $761 million to RealNetworks to settle their antitrust case and create a new partnership to innovate and promote consumer choices in digital music and games.

The three agreements include an agreement to resolve all the companies’ antitrust disputes worldwide; an agreement for a wide-ranging digital music collaboration between the parties, including promotional and marketing support of Real’s leading digital music subscription service, Rhapsody, on MSN properties; and an agreement to offer RealNetworks’ digital games through MSN Games and Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360.

Under the music and games agreements, Microsoft is scheduled to pay Real $301 million in cash and provide services over 18 months in support of Real’s product development, distribution, and promotional activities. Microsoft will earn credits at predetermined market rates to be applied to the $301 million for subscribers delivered to Real through MSN. Additionally, Real will take steps to support MSN Search, and Real and Microsoft will jointly promote use of Windows Media technologies with Rhapsody to Go.

The antitrust and technology assurance agreement resolves all antitrust disputes worldwide, based on a $460 million up-front cash payment to resolve all damages claims and a series of technology licenses and commitments under which Real will obtain long-term access to important Windows Media technologies that will enhance Real’s media software solutions.

“Today we’re closing one chapter and opening a new one in our relationship with Microsoft,” said Rob Glaser, Founder and CEO of RealNetworks. “The legal chapter is being closed with an appropriate and fair outcome that sets the stage for a very productive and collaborative relationship between our companies. By integrating Real’s premier music and games services into Microsoft’s very popular MSN service, we will reach more consumers today and deliver even better products and services tomorrow.”

“This agreement will provide MSN’s millions of customers with easier access to subscription services for the music and games they love,” said Bill Gates, Microsoft’s chairman and chief software architect. “Digital music is one of the fastest growing segments of the online entertainment industry, and by promoting Rhapsody’s subscription music services from within MSN, we will provide a better experience for our users."

Read Full Press Release

My Views on Microsoft, DRM, and Content Protection (PVP-OPM)

chrisl — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:51:00 GMT

Today, most digital content has some sort of copy/content protection on it. This really isn’t anything that is new, for example…

DVDs have CSS
HBO and other premium analog content are protected with CGMS-A
VHS and DVDs have Macrovision
Most Cable Providers enable 5C on everything but “must carry” channels (generally just your local channels, FCC mandated)
DirecTV and Dish Network use Smart Cards to decrypt their protection
CableCARD is basically an access control system for HDTV distribution
HDTV (HD-DVD, Blu-Ray) have HDMI/HDCP for secure output
SACD has PSP-PDM
DVD-A has CPPM
And so on and so fourth

We purchase and enjoy protected content all the time, why should throwing in “Microsoft” and “DRM” have any effect on this?

As I have shown you above, our current content is protected. You can’t really argue with that, you purchase content and it’s very likely you have purchased protected content.

For any company to enable you to play this content, they must partner with and/or license the technology from the creators. This goes with both standard set-top boxes that you purchase, and with computer software.

Now on to Microsoft, there isn’t much difference from what I just said above. The only difference that most of the time Microsoft provides the framework in their Operating Systems to enable third parties to enable the playback. With new methods of copy protection, this is going to start showing even more. If Microsoft doesn’t provide this framework, the third parties can’t produce software (or hardware in some cases) to enable the playback of this media.

Now to DRM, or Digital Rights Management. This has become a huge blanket term to describe copy/content protection or anything that might limit our fair-use and/or protect against piracy. No one uses the term correctly. The largest problem with this is that “DRM” scares peoples, it makes them very uneasy. With how people use the term, it can easily to applied to any one of the protection methods above.

Microsoft’s problem and why they look like the bad guys is the PC not being a traditional media playback or capture device. Since it’s not a traditional device, and it’s very open they have much more to do to enable the content stays protected. Sony doesn’t exactly have to worry about a sloppy programming job showing a CSS Key. They also don’t have to worry about a debugger being run in the background, which leads to reverse engineering whatever protection method was being decrypted in the background. Microsoft does have to worry about these, and it is a concern in order for them to bring us (the consumer) the ability to play the media we purchase!

In the end, it comes down to a tradeoff between wanting Microsoft to die for all this, or thanking them for enabling you the ability to play the media on your PC.

View One (DRM/Protection):

The Good: Microsoft can give and provide the framework to playback on a PC. With this Microsoft wins, the consumer wins, and the content owners are happier since the content is still protected.
The Bad: Microsoft is giving in to Copy/Content Protection (DRM) and this means a future of the same.

View Two (non-DRM/Protection):

The Bad: The Microsoft doesn’t build this framework, which means we can’t play the content on our PCs. Microsoft loses and so does the consumer.
The Good: No “DRM” in your Operating System. And the content owners are happy because they know a break on PCs that can’t play the content isn’t as likely to happen.

What happens if the consumer fights Microsoft and the content owners? This is a broken argument, and it doesn’t stand up in my mind. Microsoft can’t just play the “Screw You!” card to the content owners and expect it to work. Remember that this is all about business on both sides. Content owners want to feel that their content is protected in hopes that they will make more money since it’s not being pirated. Microsoft wants to sell you an Operating System for your PC, along with other programs and hardware in some cases. Both sides feel they have too much to lose. Content owners have sales of their digital content, and Microsoft has PC market share hanging in the balance. Everyone has a business to run! If Microsoft just says “Screw You” and enables playback of the content somehow bypassing the protection, the content owners are going to go after Microsoft? They are a $40 billion corporation, smart businesses know this and will exploit it. I would sure as hell be looking for a piece of that $40 billion pie for an exaggerated amount of lost revenue for Microsoft not respecting their views.

Microsoft would have a hard time fighting any company if they deliberately did that too, it’s too much of a gamble that doesn’t have to be there if they just build the framework!

Microsoft has the consumer in mind, trust me. They want to enable you to playback and capture media on your PC, hell they have a whole division that would basically be out of work if they didn’t want to make playback possible on your PC. Not much reason for the Digital Media Division if they didn’t want to make playback possible.

To backup this point, look at HD-DVD and AACS. AACS basically picks up where CSS left off for DVDs. One of the big differences is how Microsoft has you in mind, how about the ability to legally rip an HD-DVD onto a media server or PC? That’s a feature of AACS and it wouldn’t be there without Microsoft. Anyone think that this is something that Disney really wanted? Probably not! If it wasn’t for a mix of IBM, Intel, and Microsoft playing an HD-DVD in a PC wouldn’t be a feature either. After DeCSS why would the AACS LA want to enable playback of PCs? Toshiba, Panasonic, and Sony really want to sell you their HD-DVD Players, they would much rather do that then you have you play the title in your PC.

Again, Microsoft is doing what they must to make the consumer happy, it doesn’t seem like it but they are. All of this is needed in the current market and as much as we hate it, it’s going to be there. Don’t want it there? Don’t upgrade to Longhorn and don’t expect to be playing future media on your PC!

Oh, and lastly everyone’s favorite response to Microsoft and DRM is “…use Linux” or “…buy a Mac”. Anyone think the AACS LA is going to approve a software player for Linux right away or ever? It’s got to be secure, and an Open Source OS isn’t the best at security of this form. Apple is going to Blu-Ray route and the only reason I have not brought up Blu-Ray is because they have yet to announce what protection system they will use. I don’t know any other group besides the AACS LA, so the guess is that Blu-ray will adopt it. This would mean a Mac is not going to be immune to copy protection systems if Apple plans to enable playback.

Note: Microsoft hasn’t picked sides on Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD. They will work with Toshiba providing a Windows CE based OS for their HD-DVD Players, there video codec will be used in both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, and they are a founding member of the AACS which has currently been adopted by the DVD Forum for use with HD-DVD.

Update: Microsoft on DRM, Content Protection, and PVP-OPM

CNET Recommends My Blog?

chrisl — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 20:38:00 GMT

CNET Newsburst | I’ve noticed some clicks from CNET Newsburst in the past, but the other day I visited the site to see what it was all about. Newsburst is basically a web-based RSS Aggregator. Nothing new or extremely exciting there, RSS is all over the place.

What got my attention was when I clicked on their Recommended Sources link to find non-other then my blog listed! The most interesting part about that is where I’m listed and who else is associated with those categories.

I’m listed as a Recommended Source for news on Microsoft! In the same group are none other then Mary Jo Foley (Microsoft Watch), Joe Wilcox (Microsoft Monitor), and Robert Scoble (Scobleizer).

I’m also listed as a Recommended Source under the Tech Blogs category. In the same group as Doc Searls, Tim O'Reilly, Mark Cuban (Blog Maverick), and Dan Gillmor!

Just and interesting tidbit there! And I'm sure if you use Newsburst to read my blog your thinking I'm crazy for just now realizing this, but that's okay. ;-)

Action Required: Broadcast Flag Still an Issue!

chrisl — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 01:01:00 GMT

URGENT: Call your Senator RIGHT NOW or live with the goddamned Broadcast Flag forever!

How Longhorn Will Handle Protected Media

chrisl — Tue, 10 May 2005 04:26:00 GMT

Longhorn Output Content Protection | This is not for the non-techincal person, but if you are interested in how Rights Management and Longhorn will work with you and/or against you for digital media then you need to take a look at this PowerPoint Presentation. Be ready for a host of new acronyms like PVP-OPM, PVP-UAB, PUMA, and others!