Microsoft Releases Windows XP Media Center Edition to Manufacturing
By: Arie Slob
This week Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition, the newest member of the Windows XP family, to computer manufacturers in the United States and Canada. With development of the software now complete, computer manufacturers working with Microsoft, including Hewlett-Packard Co. (offering distribution in North America) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea), will have the ability to ship the first wave of new media center PCs in time for the holiday shopping season.
"Every digital media enthusiast, every college student, every teenager, every apartment dweller, will love this technology," said Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Products Group at Microsoft. "Windows XP Media Center Edition takes the great photo, music and video experiences introduced last fall with Windows XP to the next level and adds a new TV experience that only the power of the PC can deliver. It's an example of how innovation continues to make the PC even more central to people's lives. We're thrilled that industry leaders and partners share Microsoft's vision and enthusiasm for media center PCs."
Windows XP Media Center Edition, which builds on the rich media capabilities of Windows Media Player, turns a PC into a media center that integrates digital entertainment experiences -- including live television, PVR, digital music, digital video, DVDs and pictures -- with the freedom of remote control access. A new experience called Media Center will serve as a unified destination for entertainment on the media center PC and is designed to be viewed from anywhere in the room. Windows XP Media Center Edition's dual-purpose functionality makes it ideal for digital media enthusiasts and consumers in small, space-constrained environments, such as teenagers, college students, young adults and families who want to use their PC for entertainment and digital media.
Also see: Microsoft Announces Windows XP Media Center Edition, Previously Code-Named "Freestyle"
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