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MS to support WMA 9 codecs with fall release

updated 03:50 pm EDT, Thu July 10, 2003


Kevein Unangst of Microsoft says that Microsoft is "definitely planning to support WMA 9 Voice in the upcoming release of Windows Media Player 9 Series for Mac OS X. We showed the new player running with Apple's Safari browser at their WWWDC a few weeks back. We're shooting for fall release to web right now and we'll keep the list posted, according to an ActiveNetwork : "In addition to the Windows Media 9 Series Voice codec, it appears that Windows Media Player 9 Series for Mac OS X will support all of the 9 Series codecs."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    DRM please!

    I feel a little silly saying that, but bear with me...

    The only thing (other then the newer codecs which the current WMP for Mac OS X lacks) that I can't do with WMP on my Mac is access protected content, for example the video content at sites such as ManUtd.com. If they would support this on their Mac client I would be a very happy camper.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:12pm | report spam | Reply |

    Glad to hear it

    Before zealots jump in, i'd like to say ANY company developing software for OS X is a good thing!

    No, this is not a competitor to iTunes. It is a player only that support the WM9 codecs.

    Yes, WM9 is proprietary blah blah. Well, so is .mov, .ra, .wmv, .mp3, .ac3, etc. I don't care as long as the I have the ability to watch the content I want on the platform of my choosing.

    Oh, I give kudos to MS/Artisan for being the first say to release a HD-DVD ie. Terminator 2. Yes, it is not perfect but at least they did it.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:20pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: Glad to hear it

    "Yes, WM9 is proprietary blah blah. Well, so is .mov, .ra, .wmv, .mp3, .ac3, etc. I don't care as long as the I have the ability to watch the content I want on the platform of my choosing."

    Not quite. .mov is a wrapper for any type of codec. While the wrapper may be proprietary, the codecs it uses can be proprietary or open source. For example, Apple is pushing MPEG4, an open standard that anyone can use, in their latest version of QuickTime. MS retains tight control over the WM9 codecs. We couldn't make our own tool that opens and saves WM9 without help from Microsoft - I don't think they've given that help to anyone yet.

    But, I agree - the more companies that develop MacOS X software, the better. However, any format that will be used for public consumption (i.e. posted on the Internet for anyone), should not be proprietary so that anyone can use it.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:25pm | report spam | Reply |

    Ahh

    Yes, thanks for the correction regarding .mov.

    Indeed, MOV, like, AVI, is a wrapper only and can contain content encoded with variosu codec.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:38pm | report spam | Reply |

    Actually.....

    Actually MP3 is an open standard, hence it coming from the MPEG group. Last time I checked, Microsoft was licensing their DRM in such a way that it can be ran on any OS. I've read that it is currently being made to work on linux by one of the companies that provides them with their 3rd party DVD codec.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 04:49pm | report spam | Reply |

    MP3

    Whether MP3 is an open standard is debatable (and it has been debated to death!). But go ahead, try to develop a commercial software (or shareware/freeware, does not make a difference) and see if you get a license fee letter from Fraunhofer or Thomson.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 05:23pm | report spam | Reply |

    WWWDC?

    What the h*** is a WWWDC? Some sort of super WWDC? :P

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 06:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    WMP 9, but no IE???

    Ok... someone explain to me this

    MS cancels a free browser for the Mac after they paid off AOL 750 million and protest that Apple's Safari is enough for Mac users.

    But MS will continue development of WMP 9 series for the Mac while Apple's Quicktime is or isn't enough for the Mac?

    Web Browsers, Media Players, IM are all apart of content viewing for some form of communication. As long as MS holds lock stock and barrel over the browser standard, they have no reason to discontinue their browser for the Mac.

    Or is Safari/KHTML browsers enough to populate crossplatform and movie Windows/Mac users dependance on IE?

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 06:41pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: WWWDC?

    >What the h*** is a WWWDC? Some sort of super WWDC? :P

    It's the World Wide Web Developer's Conference, didn't you know?..!

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    07/10, 07:27pm | report spam | Reply |

    MS makes money from WMP

    MS makes money from the use of WMP, sure the player is free. It is in MS interest that WMP be playable on other systems (on which they don't compete with on OSs) so they can sell more licenses and make more money.

    i.e. support apple, make money, MS knows when someone buys apple they arn't losing an OS sale.... support linux, and they will lose more money on OS sales then they will make.

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