The Movie Guide is live today with a full stream and download of the cult classic "The Chinese Connection" starring Bruce Lee. On Dec. 22, three days before Christmas, the Movie Guide will feature a full stream and download of the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol," considered by many to be the definitive film version, starring Alastair Sim as Scrooge. On Dec. 29, to coincide with the theater release of "Shadow of the Vampire," a new film about the making of the classic silent horror movie "Nosferatu," WindowsMedia.com will offer a full stream and download of "Nosferatu" itself. Both "A Christmas Carol" and "Nosferatu" will be encoded using the breakthrough new Microsoft� Windows Media� Video 8 codec, which offers near-VHS quality at rates as low as 250 Kbps and near-DVD quality at rates as low as 500 Kbps.

Two downloadable versions of each of the three movies will be offered. One version will be encoded at 400 Kbps for desktop or home TV playback, comprising a download of between 250 MB and 300 MB. The other downloadable version will be encoded at 100 Kbps for playback on a Pocket PC using the new Windows Media Player 7 for Pocket PC and will fit on a 128MB CompactFlash storage device. The streamed versions also will be offered at two rates: 300 Kbps and 750 Kbps. All three movies are provided by FILMSPEED.