<nettime> windows vs real

[adam hyde <adam@xs4all.nl>]

Hi,

Has anyone seen the press release from Microsoft announcing that Real has
licensed the Windows Media Codec? I think this spells the death of the
RealServer, and the beginning of a new era where the Player now becomes
more important than the codec. 


Adam


Its at: 


http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2000/03-14rn.asp


copied here: 


>>>>

<excerpt>

REDMOND, Wash., Mar. 14, 2000 -- Recent industry announcements --
including today's announcement that RealNetworks, Inc. has licensed
Windows Media technology -- show that Windows Media is taking major steps
toward becoming the industry's universal format for digital media. In
addition to RealNetworks, Liquid Audio, Yahoo!, AOL, and dozens of other
key companies now support Windows Media, opening the door to the first
common, open and secure digital media format for major portable digital
music devices, digital media players, jukeboxes and content providers.


This industry momentum is underscored by Media Metrix' SoftUsage Report,
which shows that the Windows Media Player was used more than any other
multimedia player among U.S. PC households in December 1999. Adoption of
Windows Media Format has grown dramatically in recent months, winning
support from top record labels, makers of leading portable music devices
and digital media players, and large corporations such as Hewlett-Packard
Co., Aetna and SAS. 


"Windows Media is simplifying the delivery of digital media for content
providers and driving competition in the industry to deliver more and
better products," said Will Poole, general manager of the Digital Media
Division, Microsoft. "As a result, Windows Media is making it easy for
consumers to enjoy their favorite digital music and video in any
application and on any device." 


Microsoft openly licenses the Windows Media Format, which has been
incorporated into the major digital media players including Sonic Foundry
Siren, AOL Winamp, Lycos Sonique, MusicMatch Jukebox, Midisoft’s Internet
Media Player, iCast iCaster, and Microsoft’s own Windows Media Player. 
Licensing the Windows Media SDK allows companies like RealNetworks to add
Windows Media playback and encoding abilities to their applications. By
eliminating the constraints of multiple formats and incompatible players,
Windows Media will give consumers the ability to listen to their music
regardless of the device or player on which it is played. 


Until now, music labels and artists have had to deploy multiple formats
across multiple servers to offer consumers a broad range of content. The
adoption of a single format that works with a variety of digital media
players and portable music devices greatly reduces infrastructure and
production costs associated with offering multiple formats. Content owners
get the benefit of Windows Media’s built-in digital rights management
technology, making it a perfect choice for content owners who want to
protect their music from illegal distribution on the Internet.


"By supporting the high-quality Windows Media Format and DRM technology,
Liquid Audio is providing customers with increased flexibility and choice
for digital music distribution," said Gerry Kearby, CEO of Liquid Audio.


Microsoft’s Digital Media Division provides Windows Media digital audio
and video technology for personal computers and consumer electronics
devices. The Digital Media Division focuses on four areas: Broadband
Internet, Digital Music, Consumer Electronics and Business and Solutions.



</excerpt><<<<<<<<




Adam


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