"Telestream is in the business of removing roadblocks from digital media workflows. We've done that in other markets, and now we're bringing our solutions to Macintosh content creators and to the media viewing consumer," said Dan Castles, president and CEO of Telestream. "With our Flip4Mac products we recognize the unique strengths of two industry leaders. Apple maintains a strong-hold in video editing, while Microsoft Windows Media has become a popular distribution and Web video format. Our new Flip4Mac components now enable Mac users to play and import Windows Media in a Mac-friendly way."

The Flip4Mac WMV Player, a QuickTime component, enables Mac users to play Windows Media files directly in the QuickTime Player, providing a seamless playback experience for Windows Media. It also provides improved high definition Windows Media playback. "Users are no longer limited in their viewing choices and no longer need to download a separate player to view Windows Media. Telestream's Flip4Mac WMV Player simplifies and improves the playback experience and expands viewing choices for Mac users."

"Telestream has brought a complete solution for making and using the Windows Media format to the Mac," said Ben Waggoner, compression expert and principal of Interframe Media. "With Flip4Mac, we finally have a feature-complete way to play back WMV files in QuickTime Player, and use them as source content for QuickTime apps like Final Cut Pro and After Effects. With Flip4Mac, we can export a high quality 2-pass encoded WMV file, with all the quality of encoding it on Windows, without having to leave our Mac."

Using Flip4Mac WMV Player Pro, Windows Media files can also be converted to other formats using compression tools like Sorenson Squeeze and other QuickTime-based applications. WMV Player and Player Pro support Windows Media 7, 8, and 9.

The new Flip4Mac WMV Studio ($100) and WMV Studio Pro ($180) replace the current Flip4Mac WMV Export and Export Pro/HD offerings released in December 2004. The Flip4Mac WMV Studio solutions combine the WMV Player Pro and either standard or high definition export functions. Telestream also announced a free upgrade for all WMV Export customers to the new WMV Studio offerings, saying that with "the WMV Studio, Mac users can now make, edit, and play Windows Media on their Macs - it's fast and easy."

Flip4Mac demo its products at two events taking place in Las Vegas this month: during NAB 2005 (April 18-21) in Telestream booth No. SU11404, and at the Final Cut Pro Users Group Network at NAB, April 20, at the Stardust Hotel convention center.