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Microsoft hurls money into media standards group

malebolgia   on 19 July 2004 - 14:36 · 3 comments & 341 views

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Microsoft announced that it has formed a media entertainment group. According to The Inquirer its job is "aimed at mopping up the digital convergence market." I wonder how much money Microsoft will dish out over the next few years for this group.

Software firm Microsoft said it has started a media entertainment group, aimed at mopping up the digital convergence market. The firm said there are risks to all intellectual property businesses because of digital piracy, and so the group will push worldwide standards for intellectual property related to media format standards and digital rights management.

The firm has hired in Blair Westlake, formerly at Universal Television & Networks to run the group. At the same time, MS also said it has expanded its relationship with Lieberfarb & Associates to support the convergence group. Microsoft believes that by 2006 broadband usage will get to over 200 million households. People have also spent $63 billion worldwide on DVD titles.

News source: The Inquirer


Updates

According to the article at MSNBC, the new iPod will also contain the following features:

  • Longer battery life (50%) through more efficient method of power conservation.
  • Increased averaged play time, now at 12 hours.
  • Multiple On-The-Go playlist support
  • Ability to delete songs off the playlist
  • Users will now be given a choice to play their tunes at 25% slower or faster.
  • Lower price: $399 for 40GB, and $299 for 20GB. The 15 GB model has been discontinued.

    Personally, I am hoping that some of these new features will be made available to existing users through firmware updates. I guess we will just have wait and see...

  • Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 3 additional comments
    (2 replies) #1 chacho on 19 Jul 2004 - 15:01
    QUOTE
    Microsoft announced that it has formed a media entertainment group. According to The Inquirer its job is "aimed at mopping up the digital convergence market." I wonder how much money Microsoft will dish out over the next few years for this group.

    Software firm Microsoft said it has started a media entertainment group, aimed at mopping up the digital convergence market


    just wondering, what is the point of writing the exact same thing twice?
    #1.1 Oserus on 19 Jul 2004 - 15:22
    Easy answer. As you can see from the message boards, anything bashing Microsoft is seen as a good thing. And you can never have to much of a good thing, now can you? =) (Also doesn't help that The Enquirer is about as non-biased as Slash.org when it coes to reporting about MS or Intel.)

    I do wonder through, they giggled when Microsoft started making games, they were skeptical when Microsoft started making consoles. Now they are afraid of Microsoft entering the media business? I guess even the hard core learn thier lesson eventually.
    #1.2 chacho on 19 Jul 2004 - 22:50
    hmm...never heard of Slash.org...perhaps you are referring to Slashdot.org

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