Media Player may be cut from windows

[Jimmy Little]

Microsoft Prepared To Remove Media Player

In an effort to settle its anti-trust dispute with the European Union, Microsoft is reportedly ready to remove Windows Media Player as a standard component of their Windows operating system.

In reports out of Europe over the weekend, Microsoft would use the removal of WMP from Windows as a means to reduce or eliminate the $613 million fine imposed by the EU earlier this year.

Meanwhile RealNetworks, creators of WMP rival RealPlayer, is prepared to fight any reductions to Microsoft' imposed penalty. A spokesperson for RealNetworks commented that the penalties imposed on Microsoft by the EU "are appropriate" and that there is no reason why the EU's initial ruling on the subject "should be further delayed."

[Agent]

Source ?

[Jimmy Little]

Tomato is my personal favourite

http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news...le.php/3413201

[Twigman]

Cant they fine realplayer as well? Just for making such annoying and poor software?

[Jimmy Little]

Cant they fine realplayer as well? Just for making such annoying and poor software?

realplayer sucks! and it just loves to get in the windows startup!! all the damn time

[këö¬t]

i hope they actually remove it and not hide it like they did with internet explorer.

realplayer has improved itself in recent versions, but it's still a bit sneaky in places, give it a some time. the linux realplayer 10 is very clean, which is a good sign of things to come.

[myth]

I must have missed some thing! Why remove it?

[loki]

This is were things get stupid. Windows media player is a good piece of software for people used to windows, maybe not the best but its still good. However for those who are only looking for a do it all programme its great. Why is there any need to remove it.

Their excuse is that it is impedes competition but with crap like real player there is no competition.

[myth]

Their excuse is that it is impedes competition but with crap like real player there is no competition.

Wow... Next thing you know they'll be saying the same thing about note pad!

[Twigman]

I cant believe that anyone would actually choose real player over media player though if they were given the choice.

[directhex]

windows media player offends me on many levels, and its use in windows IS completely wrong.

for example:

on a system, you have an admin user, and a regular user. all media is set to use winamp, mpc, etc - good tools for the task.

admin installs xpsp2, which has media player 9 in it. no problem, right?

wmp9 sets itself as the default player for all filetypes, and tells the regular user that he's not allowed to change his settings, only an admin is allowed to., making it only possible to not use wmp9 if the user is temporarily promoted to admin

****ing stupid.

and to echo an earlier point, realplayer 10 for linux is lovely.

[Zathras]

Their excuse is that it is impedes competition but with crap like real player there is no competition.

Got Media Player Classic?

[SilentDeath]

I dont see why software cant just let the user chose. Why does realplayer need to be on startup?? WHYY!!!
If a user wants to use it, then they can start it themselves!!!

I hate realplayer, currently have an issue of my mum and dad using it, bleh. MPC half installed, ready to replace it.


I have no problem with WMP6.4, MPC. However WMP7+ is just balloated crap.
I wonder if this will mean they will remove the codecs from windows?

Also quicktime, now that is ANOOYING!!! (almsot as much as realplayer)
Its fkn stupid to design a video player and not give it any option for full screen playback!!

[Twigman]

I have to say quicktime doesnt bother me...i quite like it even though it is made by apple!
Winamp anyday though

[Jimmy Little]

i hate the fact that i need to use so many players! i always like to keep my computer clean & tidy, with few programs installed and running!

[Stoo]

Media Player Classic is great

Failing that, bsplayer does a pretty good job

I don't think MP will be completely unbundled, M$ will just make a version of windows where it isn't installed by default (but you can bet your life it'll be on the cd somewhere, or at last made a recommended download on windows update)