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Microsoft, Disney partner on digital media

Posted by malebolgia on 09 February 2004 - 07:48 · 6 comments & 391 views

Microsoft and the Walt Disney Co. have struck an alliance that will see the two companies working closely together to develop digital media content and delivery systems, the companies are expected to announce Monday.

While containing little in the way of specifics, the deal solidifies one of the software giant's key Hollywood relationships, which it views as critical to the future of its audio and video software platform. A Microsoft executive said the two companies would be working increasingly close together on topics ranging from high-definition film to digital rights management. "This is really designed so that we will cooperate on digital media initiatives and accelerate the flow of digital content to consumers," said Dave Fester, general manager of Microsoft's Digital Media division. "It builds a great bridge between the technology companies and Hollywood."

Microsoft has put increasing emphasis on its entertainment technology and Hollywood relationships over the past few years, as it envisions a role for the personal computer as the hub of the average home's living room entertainment center. At January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Bill Gates showed off the latest versions of the company's Media Center, a version of the Windows operating system built particularly for this kind of home theater hub, aimed at letting people store music and movies, and operate with a remote control through their televisions.

News source: C|Net News.com

Multimedia Usage

Do you incorporate audio and/or video (A/V) into your applications?
Which of the following technologies have you used for incorporating A/V in
What A/V formats does your application need to support?
What type of A/V functionality does your existing or planned application support?
Do you build or directly use any A/V processing components?
What are your end-to-end latency requirements if any? (for example, from capture to remote render)
Does your application currently access any premium (protected) A/V content?
Do you see your application accessing premium (protected) A/V content in the Longhorn timeframe?
Which of the following is most important when developing against A/V libraries?
Which of the following is least important when developing against A/V libraries?
Do you have any general feedback on the Windows A/V APIs?

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#1 Posted by Midnight Mick on 09 Feb 2004 - 07:49: I always knew Microsoft was gonna end up a "Mickey Mouse" outfit!

#2 Posted by MaceX on 09 Feb 2004 - 11:01: I thought Walt Disney died, how is he able to make deals after his death?

(1 reply) #3 Posted by DirtyLarry on 09 Feb 2004 - 16:41: hmmm. I think this is somewhat interesting just for the fact that I don't know if this is going to help Disney's cause with re-signing Pixar (Steve Job's) when the time comes, which from my understanding is some time this year when Pixar's contract is up.

#4 Posted by WishX on 09 Feb 2004 - 18:53: Michael Eisner and Bill Gates shook hands on it... and the Devil was there to witness the whole thing.

#5 Posted by R2x on 10 Feb 2004 - 01:34: Probably just Eisner's way of getting back at Jobs.
If Pixar does finally leave, I'm sure they'll have no problem making tons of money somewhere else, considering how well their movies have done.

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