Microsoft today announced the immediate availability of Windows Media 9, for the development, distribution, and playback of digital audio and video files. Additionally, Microsoft target=”new”>announced its first-ever licensing fees for use of its media delivery software on non-Windows platforms, enabling its use on OSes such as embedded Linux.

In a story entitled “Microsoft takes media beyond Windows”, CNET's Stefanie Olsen offers a perspective on the Microsoft announcements . . .

” . . . By adding a license for the audio and video compression software, or codecs, of Windows Media 9, Microsoft is extending the technology beyond its Windows operating system, where the software is available for free. Microsoft hopes that cell phone makers or Web publishers running Linux operating systems, for example, will be more willing to license Microsoft's proprietary media technology, since they will no longer be required to also adopt the Windows operating system . . .”

Read full CNET story

Read full Microsoft announcement

 
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