Windows Media Player 11 Released

The final version of Windows Media Player 11 was released today!  The latest version in the long line of Microsoft Media Player technologies sports an exciting new look that has to be seen to be appreciated.  The new organization features available in this version are comparable to iTunes, and in some cases better. Album art downloading has also been massively improved!

Windows Media Player 11 was designed to be used with MTV's URGE, an online digital music service.  It is also compatible with portable players that use Microsoft's PlayForSure Digital Rights Management security.

A feature I really enjoy is the ability to use audio fingerprinting technology to figure out what song your are actually loading.  I personally have a lot of CD's I have burned over the years.  Every time I want to import an old CD, I used to have to rename the song, add description's, title information, album, artist, etc.  With this new technology, all this is entered for me even if the track does not carry that information.

One downside to the new Media Player comes from Microsoft's competing device and service, the Microsoft ZUNE device and the Microsoft ZUNE Marketplace.  It just seems odd that I will have to use Media Player 11, and then use Microsoft ZUNE Marketplace for my ZUNE Player.  However, I guess this truly does bring "options" to the consumer.

Overall I like the new Media Player as it makes it much easier to navigate my music, audio books, and videos.  The look is very fresh and exciting, and I love the new ripping options as well as exporting options I have.

Get Windows Media Player 11 today!

Comments

[Davin]

You forgot to mention the Creative Zen Vision:M, which kills the iPod, is designed to work directly with WMP11 & the URGE store whereas the iPod doesn't work.