Microsoft Windows Media Player

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player logo (version 12)
Basic data

developer Microsoft
Publishing year 1998
Current  version 12.0.19041.421 Windows 10 , as of May 2020
operating system Windows
category Media player
License Proprietary
German speaking Yes
windows.microsoft.com

Windows Media Player is a computer program used to play audio and video files. Windows Media Player, like Internet Explorer , is an integral part of Windows. The current version is version 12 from Windows 10, Windows Media Player 12 first appeared with the release of Windows 7 . Windows Media Player was also available for macOS and Mac OS Classic up to version 9.0 . Microsoft has now replaced the Media Player with Groove Music as the standard audio player under Windows 10, but Windows Media Player is still installed and can be set as the standard player.

Functions

In addition to the playback function, there is also the option of burning audio CDs and copying unprotected CDs in general (see also Digital Rights Management ). Furthermore, a management function of the media archives, a synchronization function for portable devices, such as. B. MP3 players or PDAs , an Internet radio receiver (only up to version 10) and an interface for legally buying music and videos from various providers, such as. B. T-Home Vision available.

Audio file formats

Windows Media Player uses Microsoft's in-house WMA format in various quality levels (constant bit rate 48–192 kBit / s, variable bit rate 40–75 kBit / s to 240–355 kBit / s, WMA Lossless, available with version 11: WMA 10 Pro), since version 10 it is also possible to copy into the platform-independent MP3 format using a built-in Fraunhofer encoder , but only in four quality levels (128, 192, 256, 320 kBit / s) and without support for variable bit rates.

When copying CDs, it is possible to add the tag information to the title automatically using an Internet database. Title and artist information is available without input by the user.

Reloadable codecs

By downloading additional codecs , it is possible to play formats that were not previously supported; There is also the option of upgrading the playback option for DVDs by purchasing a DVD codec. With the operating system versions "Windows Vista Home Premium" and "Windows Vista Ultimate" a DVD codec for Windows Media Player is included as standard and does not have to be purchased separately. With "Windows Vista Home Basic" and "Windows Vista Business" an external codec must be installed or an upgrade to a DVD-playable version must be made.

More functions

Since version 9, the "mini player mode" function has been integrated, the player is completely minimized in the Windows taskbar and the controls are available above it. In addition, since version 7, a burning function for music CDs has been integrated. These CDs can be played on a normal CD player. The player can also display so-called visualizations with the music - graphic screen outputs that change with the rhythm of the audio signal.

The playlists of Windows Media Player in the format WPL ( Windows Media Playlists stored), which on XML based and XML or text editors can be edited.

Since version 9, audios are automatically rated on a scale from one to five stars, for which the number of plays is decisive.

Playback speed

As of version 12.0 integrated in Windows 7 , audio and video files can be played at three different speeds (slow, normal, fast) without changing the pitch.

Competition law problems

The media player is shipped with Microsoft Windows . This type of distribution was condemned by the competition protectors of the European Union as exploitation of Microsoft's quasi-monopoly on the operating system market. In response to the demand for decoupling of the Media Player from the operating system, Microsoft offers Windows versions without Media Player, such as Windows XP Home Edition N , Windows Vista Home Basic N , Windows Vista Business N or Windows 7 Home Premium N .

A complete deinstallation of the media player is not possible because the program is deeply integrated into the system.

history

Media playback

Media playback - The predecessor of Windows Media Player - on Windows XP

The development of the program media playback has begun ( english Media Player ) that was included in previous versions of Windows. It was also in the C: \ Windows \ System32 \ mplay32.exe location until Windows XP . It can hardly be compared with today's versions of Windows Media Player and has significantly fewer functions.

Windows Media Player 6

Windows Media Player 6.01 on Windows 95a

Version 6.01 was the first version of Windows Media Player and was released on June 25, 1998. It is the successor to the media player and offers few innovations. Version 6.4 followed on November 22, 1999.

Windows Media Player 7

The one on May 16, 2000 and for Windows ME and XP (XP: only one file) on September 14, 2000/25. Windows Media Player 7, released in October 2001, supports burning audio CDs for the first time. However, this is only possible with the help of the integrated plug-in from Adaptec . Internet radio was also integrated for the first time with Windows Media Player 7. The surface has been revised. Since this version it can also save playlists. Version 7.1 was a small update that was released on May 16, 2001, offers a new encoding of Windows Media Audio 8 and has been slightly improved.

Windows Media Player 8

Windows Media Player 8 was released on October 25, 2001 and has hardly been revised optically. But it offers some new functions. For example, he can burn CDs without additional plug-ins. The full screen mode now also has some new features. It contains a toolbar that fades out after a few seconds. The MP3 format is also better supported now.

Windows Media Player 9

Version 9 of Windows Media Player, also called 9 Series by Microsoft, released on January 27, 2003 , offers few innovations compared to version 8. The user interface has been slightly revised. It also improved the audio compression rate by 20 percent and the video compression rate by 50 percent. The new Video Smoothing function improves the playback quality of streamed videos with a low bit rate. The sound quality of Internet radio has been improved with the new Windows Media Voice technology . The biggest disadvantage of the 9 series seems to be that it is not possible to convert files to mp3 in the basic version (e.g. copying CDs).

Windows Media Player 10

Windows Media Player 10 was released on October 12, 2004. It was only available as an update for Windows XP, older versions only supported version 9. The biggest innovations are the revised user interface. Above all, shapes and sizes can now be changed more easily. Windows Media Player 10 is now also more compatible with portable audio players. The new Auto Sync function enables synchronization with supported devices. They will be recognized automatically. Now, for the first time, you can also copy music CDs into MP3 format.

Windows Media Player 11

Logo of Windows Media Player 10 and 11 (only the Windows XP version of version 11)

The final German-language version of Windows Media Player 11 was released on October 30, 2006. It has been available for download free of charge from the Microsoft website since then. Before that, the only German beta version appeared on May 12, 2006 and a second beta version on September 1, 2006, but only in English.

Windows Media Player 11 is the first media player that came out as a 64-bit version right from the start ; with the predecessor WMP 10, the x64 version was only implemented with the appearance of Windows XP Professional x64 .

The installation routines of Windows Media Player versions 10 and 11 check the existing Windows license for legality using a WGA check .

Windows Media Player 12

The WMP12 was shipped with Windows 7. It contains a slightly different design compared to the WMP11 . The WMP12 was not released for Windows Vista or XP. The WMP12 is used until Windows 10, which indicates that it is no longer being developed. Microsoft already offered apps in Windows 8 to play media files.

history

Legend: Older version; no longer supported Older version; still supported Current version Current preliminary version Future version

For windows

version publication system
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 6.01 June 25, 1998
  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 6.4 November 22, 1999
  • Windows 95
  • Windows NT 4.0
  • Windows 98
  • Windows 2000 (integrated)
  • Windows XP
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 7.0
  • July 17, 2000
  • September 14, 2000 (For Windows ME)
  • October 25, 2001 (For Windows XP)
  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows ME
  • Windows XP
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 7.1 May 16, 2001
  • Windows 98
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows ME
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 8 October 25, 2001
  • Windows XP (integrated)
  • Windows 98 SE
  • Windows ME
  • Windows 2000
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 9 Series January 27, 2003
  • Windows 98 SE
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows ME
  • Windows XP
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 10 October 12, 2004
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Server 2003
Older version; still supported: Windows Media Player 11 October 30, 2006
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista (integrated)
  • Windows Server 2008
Current version: Windows Media Player 12
  • February 22, 2011
  • October 26, 2012
  • Windows 7 (integrated)
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows 10

For Windows Mobile

version publication system
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player April 19, 2000 Pocket PC 2000
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 1.1 Palm PC CE 2.11
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 1.2 September 7, 2000 Handheld PC 2000
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 7 December 12, 2000 Pocket PC 2000
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 7.1 May 21, 2001 Pocket PC 2000
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 8
  • October 4, 2001 (Pocket)
  • December 5, 2001 (smartphone)
  • Pocket PC 2002
  • Smartphone 2002
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 8.01 July 2002 Pocket PC 2002
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 8.5 October 11, 2002 Pocket PC 2002
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 9 Series June 23, 2003 Windows Mobile 2003
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 9.0.1 March 24, 2004 Windows Mobile 2003 SE
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 10 Mobile October 12, 2004 Windows Mobile 2003 SE
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 10.1 Mobile May 10, 2005 Windows Mobile 5.0
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 10.2 Mobile Windows Mobile 5.0
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 10.3 Mobile February 12, 2007
  • Windows Mobile 5.0
  • Windows Mobile 6
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 11 Mobile April 1, 2008 Windows Mobile 6.1

For Mac OS

version publication system
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 6.3 July 17, 2000
  • Mac OS 7
  • Mac OS 8
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 7 July 24, 2001
  • Mac OS 8
  • Mac OS 9
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 9 Series November 7, 2003 Mac OS X

For Unix

version publication system
Older version; no longer supported: Windows Media Player 6.3 July 17, 2000 Solaris

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Windows Vista Product Guide: 2.02 Windows Vista Editions Feature Table Download from microsoft.com (English)
  2. Windows Media Developer Center: Windows Media Playlists
  3. Nickles.de: Windows XP Home Edition N is coming
  4. Windows Vista Home Basic N: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/homebasic/n/default.mspx
  5. Windows Vista Business N: http://www.microsoft.com/germany/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/business/n/default.mspx
  6. Windows Media Player 6.01.05.0217 e.g. B. together with IE 5.0 on PC-WELT-CD (August 1999)
  7. heise.de: Windows Media Player 7 with CD burner and security problems
  8. chip.de: Media Player 8: Changes under the surface
  9. chip.de: Microsoft Windows Media Player
  10. chip.de: Media Player revamped
  11. chip.de: Refurbished look: Better overview
  12. WinFuture: Message about the appearance of the final version
  13. ComputerBase: Announcement about the start of sales of the official, German-language version
  14. ComputerBase: Message about the appearance of the second beta version in English
  15. Microsoft Windows Media Player 7 Brings Click and Play Digital Media To Millions Around the Globe ( Memento from November 27, 2005 in the Internet Archive )