Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.0
Microsoft Windows Media Player has evolved over the years to become a relatively full-featured jukebox program. Its best feature is its immediate support for the latest Windows Media compression algorithms. Plus, various free bonus packs add a bunch of useful audio tools. Unfortunately, its limited support for non-Microsoft file formats is a major drawback.
Whether you know it or not, you probably already have Microsoft Windows Media Player on your PC. It's included with Microsoft Windows Millennium, and you're encouraged to download it just about any time you encounter a Windows Media file. And while the program has evolved over the years into a relatively full-featured jukebox program, its limited support for non-Microsoft file formats limits its overall usefulness.
The best reason for using the free Windows Media Player, however, is its immediate support for improved Windows Media compression algorithms. The Windows Media (WMA and WMV), file format is about twice as efficient as the MP3 format, which means you can store about twice as much music on a portable player without sacrificing any sound quality. And while Windows Media Player 7 can read Windows Media, MP3, WAV, AVI, and MPEG-1 files, it can only write to Windows Media files. Although, if you only use MP3 and Windows Media files that shouldn't be problem.
The program has many of the features that you would expect from a contemporary MP3 jukebox program. You can view all the compatible media files on your hard drive, for instance. Plus audio files, video files, radio tuner presets, and playlists are displayed as separate folders on the same file-management screen -- making it easy to switch among them. And various free bonus packs for Windows Media Player 7 let you convert MP3 files to Windows Media files, import Deluxe CD Player track data into Windows Media Player, add additional visualisations, and import Nullsoft Winamp skins.
In what is undoubtedly a reflection of the bitter rivalry between Microsoft and RealNetworks, Windows Media Player 7 streams Windows Media formats, but doesn't stream RealAudio. As you might guess, the Internet radio tuner only pulls in stations that are delivered in Windows Media formats, although there's a fairly broad selection of radio stations to choose from. Microsoft also supports its own version of digital-rights management associated with Windows Media, so the program isn't compatible with the InterTrust digital rights system that RealPlayer supports. And like RealJukebox 2, Windows Media Player includes a 3D audio effect. In Microsoft's case, the 3D effect is the same SRS WOW technology that's included in many Sony televisions.
While Windows Media Player 7 isn't the most full-featured player available, it does offer the convenience of having all your Windows Media needs served from a single program. Audio fans, however, should use it along with other jukebox programs to get the best of both worlds.
Company:Microsft
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