Microsoft gives Mac OS X users Window Media Player

Windows Media Player for Mac OS X allows Mac users to easily enjoy playback of high-quality Windows Media Audio and Video content. The new release supports the latest industry-leading Windows Media Audio 8 and Windows Media Video 8, as well as Windows Media Digital Rights Management, and is available in six languages worldwide.

"We designed the new Windows Media Player to be a great player for Mac OS X users," said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "Mac OS X users can now open the door to a world of great Windows Media Audio and Video content."

Windows Media Player for Mac OS X was built on Apple Computer Inc.'s new Carbon APIs to run natively in the OS X environment. The new player features the new Aqua interface, which provides a look consistent with many other new Mac applications. The player comes with two additional "skins," including a miniplayer skin for audio playback.

Windows Media Player for Mac OS X supports playback of streamed and downloaded files using the latest Windows Media Audio and Video 8 codec technology. These codecs provide the highest-possible video quality at all bandwidths and CD-quality audio at 64 Kbps, enabling shorter download times and storage of twice as much music with Windows Media Audio than with MP3.

News source: Microsoft announces availability of Windows Media Player For Mac OS X