Today Microsoft is making available the technical beta of our next generation media player -- Windows Media Player 10 for Windows XP users.  This technical beta is being released to provide enthusiasts and early adopters of digital media technology the opportunity to test the release and give us critical feedback to help us ensure a high-quality release of the media player, which will ship later this year.  It is important to note that the player is still under development and at this stage is not intended for mass consumer adoption.

This test release of our popular all-in-one player builds on the design accomplishments and feature set of the Windows Media Player 9 Series, with the goal of providing the best experience for discovering, playing and taking digital media anywhere.  To this end, the technical beta of Windows Media Player 10 includes the following new and improved features:

• Sleek new design. Windows Media Player 10 technical beta sports a simple, clean user interface that has a fresh new “look and feel” and enables fast access to top Player tasks. The most important Player features are now also available directly in the media library, enabling users to accomplish key digital media tasks all in one convenient place, while browsing the library.
• Choice of online stores. Available from directly within the Player, we are testing a new concept currently called the “Digital Media Mall” that offers a selection of online music stores and video services that work seamlessly in the Player.
• Enhanced device support.  Our goal with the Windows Media Player 10 will ultimately be to continue to provide support for the broadest range of digital music devices.  This test release introduces a number of new capabilities:
• Support for a new feature called Auto Sync that enables the seamless and automatic synchronization of music, video, photos --and even recorded television-- to supported portable devices.
• Support for subscription-based content via next-generation Windows Media Digital Rights Management (code named “Janus”).  New devices will be coming that support this new DRM that enable a “fill-it-up” model for subscription-based content.
• Full support for the soon-to-be-released, Portable Media Center (PMC).  With Windows Media Player 10, all the digital media data types that are supported on the PMC can be automatically synched to that device via Auto Sync, including entire music libraries, photos, music videos, Photo Stories & home videos, recorded television, Movie Maker files. And any content purchased from online stores and services in the Digital Media Mall.
•  All-in-one Smart Jukebox features.  Windows Media Player 10 technical beta builds on the all of the powerful features in Windows Media Player 9 Series delivering fast and flexible playback, unmatched audio and video quality, and many other “smart jukebox” features.
• The Player is a key component of the new foundation Microsoft is building to enable the best end-to-end consumer experience to discover, play, and transport digital media easily around the home or on the go.  The Windows Media Player 10 technical beta does not yet include all features to be available at final release. The final, fully featured version of Windows Media Player 10 will be available later this year.