Microsoft tests media player for Macs

Software giant Microsoft unveiled new software for playing video and audio on Apple Computer’s computers, stepping up its drive to dominate the Internet media technology market.
The software is based on Microsoft’s Windows Media format that competes against Apple’s QuickTime technology to handle video and graphics on personal computers. Media-rich Web sites such as entertainment or news sites use a variety of digital formats, including Windows Media, QuickTime and one by Seattle’s RealNetworks to encode video or sound so it can be played on a computer.
The media player was announced on the same day that Microsoft started selling the latest Apple version of its Office software, a product that the once-bitter rivals said marked a new era of cooperation. Windows Media Player 7 for Mac will be available in a "beta," or test, version from Oct. 20 and will let Mac users play content such as video clips and music encoded using the Windows Media technology.
Microsoft has made previous versions of the player for Apple’s Macintosh operating system that runs computers such as the colorful iMac, but the new version supports improvements that deliver higher quality video and sound than before. "The Windows Media Player 7 for Mac beta is a milestone in our efforts to provide the best possible digital media experience across platforms," Dave Fester, general manager of marketing for Microsoft’s digital media division, said in a statement.
Microsoft launched the latest media player for computers running its Windows operating system earlier this year, and the software was one of the biggest new features included in its latest operating system, Windows Me, that launched last month. It marked the Washington-based software giant’s most serious attempt yet to dominate the budding computer media market, which has been led by crosstown rival RealNetworks and its encoding and playback software. One difference between the Macintosh and Windows players is that the Mac player does not include a "jukebox" function that lets people record music from a CD, download it from the Internet, and organize songs into playlists or for transfer to a portable music device.
RealNetworks’ RealPlayer 8 has been available for Mac machines for months, but the company has not released a Mac version of its popular jukebox product. Another jukebox maker, privately held MusicMatch, released its software for the Mac in May to try to get a jump on tapping Apple’s multimedia fans.
Microsoft said that the Macintosh platform is an important arena for its media technology. "Windows Media should be a ubiquitous format accessible across platforms and on different devices. The Mac platform is significant, and there are a lot of users out there," said Geordie Wilson, a product manager in the digital media group. "It is absolutely critical for content providers who need to be able to encode once to reach everybody."
Wilson said Microsoft was not seeking to beat QuickTime. "They can live side by side. They are compatible products in that there are a variety of players and jukeboxes being developed. This is pretty purely focused on getting the Windows Media format out there," he said.

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