Windows Media Player (abbreviated WMP) is a proprietary digital media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices. Editions of Windows Media Player were also released for Mac OS, Mac OS X and Solaris but development of these has since been discontinued.
In addition to being a media player, Windows Media Player includes the ability to rip music from and copy music to compact discs, burn recordable discs in Audio CD format or as data discs with playlists such as an MP3 CD, synchronize content with a digital audio player (MP3 player) or other mobile devices, and enable users to purchase or rent music from a number of online music stores. And it supports quite a lot of video natively including MPEG-1, WMV, ASF etc. It can also play AVI files but AVI is a container, which means in order to play these files with WMP, you may need to install additional codecs, such as FFDShow. You can also play MPEG-2 if you have a codec installed, which is done when you install a software DVD player like WinX DVD Player.
Windows Media Player supports not only PC platform, but also support for Windows Mobile platform. Windows Media Player for Pocket PC was first announced on January 6, 2000, and has been revised on a schedule roughly similar to that of the Windows version. Currently known as "Media Player 10 Mobile", this edition (released in October 2004) closely resembles the capabilities of the Windows version of WMP 10, including playlist capabilities, a media library, album art, WMA Lossless playback, support for DRM-protected media, video playback at 640x480 with stereo sound, and the same Energy Blue interface aesthetics also seen in recent versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition. It also supports synchronization with the desktop version of WMP 10, and additionally supports synchronizing and transcoding of recorded television shows from Media Center.
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is an application with a 10-foot user interface design to serve as a home-entertainment hub for the living-room TV. It is designed to be controlled by special remote controls which prominently feature the Green Button, but can also be operated with a mouse and/or keyboard. This button is used to either launch Media Center from Windows or to return to the Start Menu from within the application.
Media Center plays the computer user's pictures, videos, and music from local hard drives, optical drives, and network locations. It then categorizes them by name, date, tags, and other file attributes. Media managed through Media Center can also be relayed via a home network to standard TV sets via the specially designed Windows Media Center Extender or the Xbox 360.Data throughput rate for a typical Windows Media Center session to an Xbox 360 can be up to 20 Megabits per second for High Definition content.
Related Software
WinX DVD Ripper: Free DVD converter which is made for help users convert DVD to FLV, MOV, MP3, AVC, AVI, MPEG format with no fees involved.
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum: Advanced version of WinX DVD Ripper, apart from convert DVD at fastest speed and excellent quality, also capable of converting DVD to FLV, MOV, iPhone, iPod, iPad, etc. Makes perfect 1:1 copy with 5 minutes. Constantly update to defeat upcoming DVD copy protections.
WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe: easily convert video to general video, HD video, iPhone, iPad, iPod, PSP, ZUNE, etc. Moreover, it builds 210 video and audio codec, a perfect multi-functional combination of HD Video Converter, DVD Burner & Website Video Downloader.
WinX DVD Ripper for Mac: Mac version WinX DVD Ripper Platinum, runs perfectly on Mac OS X Tiger/Leopard/Snow Leopard, convert DVD to FLV, MOV,MP3, AVC, MP4, iPhone, iPad, iPod, etc.
WinX HD Video Converter for Mac: Excellent HD Video Converter for Mac, compatible with Mac OS X Tiger/Leopard/Snow Leopard. Fully support convert Blu-ray video, HD camcorder video, HDTV video. Support convert SD, HD video onto iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.
Related Source
AVCHD, Blu-ray Disc, The KMPlayer, MPlayer, VLC, MOD
Related External Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Player
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Center
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.mspx
