Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 (build 11.0.53558.4826)

[Parm]

Available to download here.

I've been using it for a few days but haven't had a chance to have a good look through it yet.

I can say however that the installation process is very straightforward, it saved all of my WMP preferences.

The new interface looks good, although not all that different. The library feature seems to be more streamlined and easier to use, although it does still struggle to keep up with my rather large music collection.

[alsenior]

hope it doesnt have wga activation other wise some people *cough* wont be able to use it

[Parm]

Afraid I can't comment on that, I went and bought me a copy of XP MCE just over a week ago

Although, I don't think it checked to see if my copy of Windows was genuine.

[Parm]

I've had a bit more of a play and the library features are definately an improvement.

Browsing your music, videos or pictures is a lot easier, and it all looks a lot prettier too!

[Grey M@a]

So when did this come out or is it a beta as there is no mention of it on the official MS pages!

[Parm]

The official public beta is scheduled to begin May 17th, but it has hit the net early, although not yet on the microsoft website itself.

[SilentDeath]

Can you go full screen with alt-enter, or double clicking yet?

And have they put back keyboard controls for volume adjustment, pause, and skipping single frames/keyframes that were in 6.4 and mpc?

or have they done anything usefull except make a crapper UI and add drm, aswell as buggering up firefox with a plugin i didnt want and not sure how to remove (wmp9)

[Parm]

Can you go full screen with alt-enter, or double clicking yet?

Yes m8, that works

And have they put back keyboard controls for volume adjustment, pause, and skipping single frames/keyframes that were in 6.4 and mpc?

Oooh, which keyboard controls are they mate? I'll have a look for you. I have a Logitech Media Keyboard and I use all the shortcut buttons.

or have they done anything usefull except make a crapper UI and add drm, aswell as buggering up firefox with a plugin i didnt want and not sure how to remove (wmp9)

Personally I think so, but somehow I don't think you'll like it hehe.

[Parm]

The official beta has now been released on Microsoft's website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...1/default.aspx

I've updated the link in the original post too. Enjoy!

[Lee H]

Looking good and working well on MCE2005.

Finally got the volume bar working when adjusting using the G15 volume dial - turns out my windows doesn't like 2 audio devices in the system at the same time.

[Parm]

Beta 2 is now available: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win.../download.aspx

[FatalSaviour]

Sexy...thanks Parm

[autopilot]

Does it still have the same crappy format support as always?

I realise you can install extra codecs, but until WMP can properly read Ogg Vorbis and FLAC tags, and thus be able to add such files to the library, i won't touch it.

Can anyone tell me (at version 11 ffs) if it can yet?

And can it handle gapless playback better yet? (that would really need a format that suppports it properly like ogg).

IMO, WMP is a bloated noob-ware. Can anyone tell me if 11 is any great improvement?