Neowin.net

Microsoft angered its customers and now it wants to make good. That's the message the company is seeking to convey with an overhaul to its controversial Software Assurance purchasing program. Microsoft said Tuesday that it will throw in several services, including training and support, with the cost of software licenses in an effort to encourage customers to buy into the program.

Starting in September, the services will be available for free to Software Assurance customers only, covering both desktop and server software. The services include online training through Microsoft or accredited training companies; extended customer phone and Web support for problem resolution; and access to Microsoft's bug-tracking information service called TechNet. Customers will also have tools to better track their licenses and have the right to use Microsoft Office on home computers, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft introduced its Software Assurance program in May 2001 but delayed implementation for more than a year after a customer backlash. Customers participate in the regularized payment plan through Select License 6.0, Microsoft's volume licensing contracts for corporate, government and academic organizations.

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News source: news.com

Release Notes:

Digital Theater Pro:

• Full interactive plug-in support
  

DVD Player:

• VMR9 support
  
• Support for 32KHz audio and mono MPEG audio
  
• Added decode support for 1080p 24fps digital cinema content
  
• Added support for Matrox Parhelia graphics cards
  
• Added scripting support to control NVDVD from web pages
  
• Added support for Title menus from DVD menu button when no root menu exists
  
• Added reset of timescale to 1X on Stop or Quit
  
• Added support to fallback to default mode if user selected VMR deinterlace mode not available
  
• Performance improvements for video, audio and skins
  
• More robust FF/RW support
  
• More robust time scaling support
  
• Improved default saturation and contrast values
  
• Improved S/PDIF support
  
• Improved Dolby Headphone performance
  
• Improved Dolby Pro Logic II features
  
• Improved MP3 ID3V2 tag support
  
• Fixed subpicture wrong color after navigating between menus and movie using DXVA
  
• Fixed crash when frame/audio capture to invalid directory
  
• Fixed NVIDIA audio/video decoders not found issue
  
• Fixed disc still appears as inserted after ejecting it while in file player mode
  
• Fixed 24bit/48KHz audio support
  

Media Center:

• Added support for 32KHz audio and mono MPEG audio
  
• Added compliant capability bits
  
• Added support for Microsoft Media Center File Converter
  
• Improved FF/RW support
  
• Fixed suspend/resume problem
  
• Fixed misaligned subpicture during resume to DVD menu
  

File Player:

• Added save/restore of CD audio volume
  
• Added support for Elecard MPEG2 demux
  
• Added hot keys for volume, quit and full screen
  
• Added display of correct number of audio channels
  
• Fixed wave out getting muted during file playback with EWS88MT audio
  
• Fixed crash when Alt-Enter with no video playing
  
• Fixed hang after suspend with shuffle enabled