Looking for who said what in the sound world? Well there is no better place to find every audio related press release than 3DsoundSurge.!

Newest Version of Windows Drives Forward Evolution of the Home PC

"The PC has evolved from a tool for productivity to a device capable of entertainment, communications and so much more," said Michael Toutonghi, vice president of the Windows eHome Division at Microsoft. "Consumers desire more fun and enjoyment from their PC and want it to contribute to their lives even more creatively than it does today. The time is right for Windows XP Media Center Edition; it maps to our vision of realizing potential with technology in ways people may not have thought possible."

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 teen-agers, college students, young adults and families who want to use their PC for multimedia entertainment.

"Aside from communications, digital media enjoyment is the No. 1 focus among consumers today," said Roger Kay, director of Client Computing at IDC. "Future PCs for the home will look more like entertainment devices, and Windows XP Media Center Edition has been designed to run on new hardware types built specifically to enhance the entertainment experience."

Introducing a New Media Center Experience

Windows XP Media Center Edition introduces a new Windows experience called Media Center, a unified destination for entertainment on the PC that is accessible using a Media Center-compatible remote control. Designed to be viewed from across the room, Media Center will provide users with the freedom to enjoy television, entertainment and digital media experiences from their couch, chair, bed or kitchen table. The sleek visual design will offer a clean and familiar look with a consistent navigation and playback experience, making accessing entertainment easier and more convenient.

Enhancing the Windows Experience With More Entertainment Choices

Windows XP Media Center Edition builds on the great digital media experiences delivered by Windows Media Player and Windows Movie Maker to offer consumers more choices for enjoying the digital media they edit, organize and store on their PC, including the following:

    -- Television and PVR. With Windows XP Media Center Edition, users can
       pause and rewind live television so they never miss a moment of their
       favorite show, such as "The Osbournes," "Friends" or "West Wing." The
       personal video recorder allows consumers to record a single episode or
       an entire series without recording repeat episodes. Users also will be
       able to manage recording schedules and conflicts as well as add storage
       through PC expandability. In addition, users of Windows XP Media Center
       can browse the integrated Electronic Program Guide to find their
       favorite show or search by categories, such as "sports," or by
       subcategory, such as "baseball."
    -- Music. Windows XP Media Center Edition will give digital media
       enthusiasts the freedom to browse their digital music collection by
       album, artist or genre with the push of a remote control button.
       Keyword searches will help them quickly locate songs or tracks using
       the on-screen keyboard and the remote control. With Media Center, users
       can easily switch between artists such as Moby and Madonna, change
       tracks, or adjust volume without ever getting off the couch.
    -- Photos. Windows XP Media Center Edition will make looking through photo
       albums as simple and convenient as picking up the remote control.
       Families will be able to sort slides by name or date and play a linear
       slide show, or randomly shuffle photos within folders or across the
       entire library. Background music can be added with just a few button
       presses on the remote control to create an ever-richer experience. For
       instance, digital enthusiasts will be able to combine digital photos
       from a Caribbean vacation with the beat of a reggae album to truly
       capture the flavor of the trip.
    -- Videos. Users will be able to browse their personal video collection
       through a thumbnail view and show full-screen playback of favorite
       footage, such as that of baby's first steps, to family and friends.
    -- DVDs. With Media Center, a college student can invite friends into his
       dorm room to watch a DVD on his PC, for example, and control the
       experience with the remote control. Windows XP Media Center Edition not
       only offers full-screen video and great remote control of DVD playback
       features, it also offers information about DVDs, tracks and program
       details with the press of a button.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Availability

Consumers and industry partners alike agree the time is right for Windows XP Media Center Edition and media center PCs. As announced at CES in January, Hewlett-Packard Co., NEC and Samsung are working with Microsoft to bring Windows XP Media Center Edition to market. By the end of this year, consumers will be able to purchase Windows XP Media Center Edition preinstalled on a new PC at computer retail stores or directly from the manufacturer. All the necessary software and hardware will be included, including the remote control, enabling a great out-of-the box experience right off the shelf.

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.

NOTE: Microsoft and Windows 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 the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Microsoft Corp.