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Special Digital Media Treats for Windows XP-Based PCs Are Now Available for Download

``Windows XP is absolutely the best way to experience digital music and video on the PC today,'' said Jonathan Usher, group product manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. ``The Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP is our holiday thank-you to all customers of Windows XP who are enjoying the digital media features of this breakthrough operating system.''

Key features of the Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP include the following:

• Plus! MP3 Audio Converter LE. This sample of a feature of Plus! for Windows XP enables users to double the amount of music they can store on their PC by converting their MP3 files quickly and easily to Windows Media Audio (WMA).
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP Powertoys. The bonus pack includes new and updated Windows Media Player for Windows XP Powertoys, designed to give users more control over their music. Powertoys include the Windows Media Player Tray Control, which offers one-click access to Windows Media Player features from the Windows XP task bar; the Media Library Metadata Update Wizard, which organizes and updates the Media Library and My Music folders; a utility that imports playlists to Excel; and more.
• Windows Media Player for Windows XP visualizations. The bonus pack offers more than a dozen new visualization choices for Windows Media Player for Windows XP. These visualizations move to the music and include an MSN® Photos picture viewer, a colorful holiday fireplace, visuals from the forthcoming Microsoft game titled ``Dungeon Siege,'' and new ``Trilogy'' visualizations.
• Windows Media Player skins. Users of Windows XP can express themselves and customize their Windows Media Player with new skins, including the patriotic Stars and Stripes, the anime-influenced Sentinel and the TDK Digital Mixmaster skins designed by TheSkinsFactory.com.
• Windows Movie Maker Creativity Kit. This expansive collection of professional sound effects, music loops, clips and title images helps users enhance their home videos and unleash their creativity. Sounds and music are provided by the major motion picture sound studio Sounddogs.com Inc.
• Special offers. The bonus pack also contains special offers from services including Intertainer Inc., IFILM Corp. and CinemaNow.

Availability

The Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP is available free* via download starting today through WindowsMedia.com or at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .

Plus! for Windows XP

Fans of the Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP are sure to love Plus! for Windows XP, the Ultimate Companion to Windows XP. Plus! includes powerful digital media tools such as Plus! Voice Command, which lets users control Windows Media Player simply by speaking; Plus! Speaker Enhancement, which dramatically improves the sound of many common desktop speakers; and a variety of stunning 3-D visualizations, screen savers and games. Plus! for Windows XP is available in stores.

About Windows Media

Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers and software developers as well as business, education and government users. Windows Media offers the industry's only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit for software developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

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NOTE: Microsoft, Windows, Windows Media and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Microsoft Corp.