Update Offers New Performance Enhancers, Digital Entertainment Features and Services From Industry Partners, Including MTV. NEW YORK, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp.(Nasdaq:
MSFT) today announced at the DigitalLife conference in New York Citythe availability of a new software update for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP MediaCenter Edition 2005 that will provide new entertainment experiences for MediaCenter Edition customers around the world. Update Rollup 2 for Windows XPMedia Center Edition 2005 will enable customers to stream digital music,videos, photos, and standard and high-definition television and movies fromMedia Center PCs to any television in their home via the Xbox 360(TM) gamingsystem. Windows XP Media Center 2005 customers can obtain Update Rollup 2 freeof charge via the Windows Update download site as of today. The softwareupdate is also available on new Media Center PCs. (Logo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO ) "We introduced Windows XP Media Center Edition three years ago with avision to simplify the way people experience digital entertainment on their PCusing something as familiar as a remote control," said Will Poole, senior vicepresident of the Windows Client Business at Microsoft. "Now, Media CenterEdition and Xbox 360, together with offerings from hundreds of industrypartners, are providing fantastic interactive entertainment experiences thatcan be experienced throughout the home." Using the built-in Media Center Extender technology of Xbox 360, plannedfor availability Nov. 22 in North America, Update Rollup 2 will connect Xbox360 to a Media Center Edition PC, offering instant access to thousands ofon-demand movies, music and videos available on the Media Center PC, andenabling users for the first time ever to stream high-definition content fromMedia Center PCs. Update Rollup 2 further builds on the Windows XP MediaCenter Edition 2005 experience by delivering a set of performance improvementsand new features that enhance Media Center, including the following: -- DVD changer support. New integrated support for external DVD changers will enable consumers to watch movies and manage up to 200 DVD selections from the Media Center interface. Media Center will display information and cover art for each movie loaded in the DVD changer. Media Center-supported DVD changers will be available beginning this year. -- Away Mode. Away Mode will bring the convenience, quiet performance and instant on/off functionality of consumer electronics to Media Center PCs. Away Mode improves upon current PC power-management systems by enabling the system to silently perform unattended tasks -- such as recording TV shows and streaming content to Media Center Extenders -- in a low-power mode that makes the PC appear off. Away Mode will be available on select new Media Center PCs in upcoming months from partners Acer Co. Ltd., Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Gateway Inc., HP, Phillips Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Shuttle Inc. -- DVD-burning improvements. Updates to the Sonic Solutions DVD burning engine will improve the performance and capabilities of DVD burning in Media Center Edition. Consumers will be able to convert high-definition TV shows to standard definition and burn to a DVD all in one step, as well as burn to a DVD from other PCs on their home network. -- Additional HDTV tuner support. Update Rollup 2 adds support for one more HDTV tuner, meaning it will support up to four tuners: two analog and two ATSC high definition. U.S. customers will be able to use two NTSC (analog) capture boards and two ATSC (digital) capture boards. This will enable personal video recording of two shows at the same time, broadcast as either ATSC digital TV (480p) or high-definition TV (720p/1080i). Unprecedented Industry Support Microsoft today announced it has sold more than 4 million Media Center PClicenses and that more than 130 PC manufacturers are now offering Media CenterPCs around the world in a variety of sleek designs and prices. According toCurrent Analysis Inc., for the month of September Media Center PCs accountedfor 46 percent of the U.S. retail desktop PC market. A number of new MediaCenter services from industry partners are also now available. MTV Overdrivetoday joins the more than 75 content providers currently delivering customizedentertainment options through Media Center's Online Spotlight feature. OnlineSpotlight provides customers with convenient access to thousands ofhigh-quality songs, games, news stories and movies on demand -- all from thecomfort of their sofa. MTV Networks also revealed plans to launch similarMCE-optimized services from mtvU, VH1 and the soon-to-launch Comedy Centralbroadband service, while AOL announced plans to expand its Online Spotlightservice to include AOL Pictures and AOL Radio Featuring XM. New OnlineSpotlight services that are now live or coming soon include these: -- Akimbo Systems Inc. The Akimbo Service will offer Media Center customers more than 5,000 programs from more than 75 partners, including British Broadcasting Corp., National Geographic Society, Discovery Communications Inc. and the Hallmark Channel, as well as hard-to-find specialty offerings such as independent films from IFILM Corp. and Undergroundfilm.org -- all available through the Media Center interface. At DigitalLife, Akimbo will be showing for the first time Major League Baseball playoff games delivered the next morning to Akimbo subscribers in a 10-minute condensed version. -- AOL. Building on the availability of its AOL Music on Demand service, AOL will extend additional features to the Media Center PC, including its AOL Pictures digital photo service and AOL Radio Featuring XM. -- Digital Interactive Systems Corp. (DISCover). Designed exclusively for Media Center PCs, DISCover's My Games gives customers access to a wide range of PC games that they can digitally demo, buy and stream. Customers can view an in-depth game guide with screen shots, box art and descriptions for thousands of top games, and can purchase "boxed" games via top online retailers with the ease of a Media Center Edition remote control. -- Game xStream. Game xStream's now-live gaming-on-demand service for Online Spotlight connects users to its extensive catalog of video game titles from leading game developers, from which they can buy and stream games instantly. Within minutes of pressing the Buy button from a Media Center Edition remote control, gamers can begin playing graphic-intensive games from publishers including Merscom LLC, Global Star Software and Encore Inc. -- MTV Overdrive. Overdrive is MTV's broadband network, delivering the hottest video content to Media Center PCs. Overdrive provides access to live performances, music videos, artist interviews, never-before-seen footage of MTV shows, the latest news, movie trailers and more. It's all online and all on demand, now at the touch of a remote control button. -- mtvU. Through nonstop streaming service that can be watched continuously, or by using unique on-demand capabilities empowering visitors to customize their experience, mtvU's broadband platform showcases a powerful lineup of original programming serving as a gateway to the latest new music, as well as a source for one-of-a-kind student produced content that will drive and direct the network. -- VH1 VSpot. VSpot is VH1's new broadband entertainment network that delivers the best video programming on demand to Media Center PCs. VSpot offers thousands of music videos, exclusive performances, artist interviews, live event coverage and behind-the-scenes access. Customers may also watch VH1 shows, movie clips and trailers, and VSpot originals on demand at VSpot. -- Comedy Central. Windows XP Media Center Edition will optimize a soon-to-be-launched broadband channel by providing users with a variety of gateways to access Comedy Central content whether it's short- and long-form video, audio or text. "Our audience wants to connect with our content on every platform itinteracts with -- television, online, on-demand, radio and now throughMicrosoft Media Center," said Van Toffler, president of the Music, Films &Logo Group at MTV. "Today's announcement about our industry partnership helpsfurther fulfill our multiplatform promise to our audience, taking its entireentertainment experience to new interactive levels." New Site for Media Center Opened on Windows Marketplace In conjunction with today's announcement, Microsoft launched the newWindows XP Media Center Edition site on Windows Marketplace. Media Center onWindows Marketplace allows customers to shop for Media Center PCs, find thecomponents they need to upgrade their current Media Center PC, get coolperipherals and remote controls, or find software programs createdspecifically for Media Center Edition. The site can be found at
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/mediacenter . Availability of Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Media Center PCs preloaded with Update Rollup 2 are now available fromdozens of computer manufacturers through various retailers and direct sellers.Later this year, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, will joinoutlets such as Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Costco, Dell.com,Fry's Electronics, hpshopping.com, Sam's Club and Sony Style Stores inoffering Media Center PCs. More information about buying a Media Center PC canbe found online at Microsofts website. CurrentWindows XP Media Center Edition 2005 customers can obtain Update Rollup 2 byvisiting
http://www.windowsupdate.com/ . In addition, this holiday season Media Center is more than doubling itsglobal reach, expanding into 20 new countries and 11 new languages. By year'send, Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PCs will be available in thefollowing additional locations: -- Belgium -- Poland -- Czech Republic -- Portugal -- Denmark -- Russia -- Finland -- Singapore -- Hong Kong -- Slovakia -- India -- South Africa -- Ireland -- Spain -- Mexico -- Sweden -- New Zealand -- Taiwan -- Norway -- Turkey Windows XP Media Center Edition-based PCs are currently offered inAustralia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea,Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, servicesand solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. NOTE: To enjoy all the benefits of Windows XP Media Center Edition,Internet access is recommended; for some features, such as the MicrosoftElectronic Programming Guide, Movie Finder, MSN Remote Record and OnlineSpotlight, it is required. Subscription service fees may apply. DVD burning,TV features and remote control support may vary by manufacturer and/or requireadditional purchases. Supports up to two (2) analog, two (2) DTV/HDTV tunersfor local channels via over-the-air signal, U.S. only. All other supportedregions can support up to two (2) tuners per computer. Support for the MediaCenter Extender or Xbox 360 will require a wired or wireless home network andadditional compatible networking equipment. Microsoft, Windows and Xbox 360 are either registered trademarks ortrademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be thetrademarks of their respective owners.
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