Not long after we reported it leaked, Microsoft officially released Windows Media Player 10, which sports many new features and a new user interface.

This release hosts a new User Interface that is cleaner and lesser cluttered, but the basic layout appears to be mostly the same. The player comes with a default skin not based on any previous versions of Media Player. The skin, which is mostly of a glassy-blue gradient has received many negative reactions as Microsoft seems to be 'going blue' on most of their recently released applications.

As we reported earlier, Microsoft has shipped the player which integrates to online music stores. Not only is MSN's Music store available, but also a variety of their stores include Napster, Wal-Mart and Music-Match. This is Microsoft's first step in going online for music, after Apple's footsteps with iTunes.

Microsoft also promises easy Syncing procedures with many portable devices, and they have announced future compatibility with soon to come Windows Mobile–based Portable Media Centers, which includes Creative's next generation of audio/video player, the Nomad 'Zen'.

Folder Synchronization is featured in this release, which basically monitors your choice of folders which contain your media for changes in files, which will automatically reflect to the built-in playlist. Also, as we mentioned, possibly one of the most spectacular feature of this new version is the ability to encode music into high bitrate mp3 format.

Download: Windows Media Player 10 (Approx. 12MB)
View: Forum Thread
News source: Microsoft Windows Media Player 10


The 11 console titles--all sequels--that the research predicts will sell more than 1 million units each and will dominate holiday sales are as follows:

•Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Take-Two, PS2)
•Halo 2 (Microsoft, Xbox)
•Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts, PS2)
•Need for Speed Underground 2 (Electronic Arts, PS2)
•Gran Turismo 4 (SCEA, PS2)
•Spider-Man 2 (Activision, PS2)
•Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (Activision, PS2)
•Pokémon LeafGreen (Nintendo, GBA)
•Pokémon FireRed (Nintendo, GBA)
•Metal Gear Solid 3 (Konami, PS2)
•Mortal Kombat: Deception (Midway, PS2)


Wedbush Morgan predicts that during 2004, 218 million pieces of software will be sold in total, skewed such that an astonishing 114 million of them will be moved during the final three months of the year. In addition, the report closes with in-depth looks at six of the major third-party publishers and recommendations for investors (giving a "Buy" rating to Take-Two, Activision, Atari, and Electronic Arts and a "Hold" rating to Midway and THQ).

While today's report focused on the console and handheld sectors, the document briefly alluded to three PC games thought capable of driving sales of a million or more before the end of the calendar year. Those would be Doom 3 (Activision), the upcoming The Sims 2.0 (Electronic Arts), and "November’s" release of Half-Life 2 (VU Games). "We expect the total unit sales for the 11 console/handheld million unit SKUs plus the three PC million unit SKUs to exceed 30 million units in calendar 2004," said Wedbush analysts Michael Pachter and Edward Woo in today's report.

Dice says: I feel this analyst is correct, do you?



There are 180 additional comments
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(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by Jasco on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:13
Quote this comment #1.1 Posted by lare2 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:42
Looks good to me
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by EuroBoyPN on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:16
too bad its only in english
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by HoochieMamma on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:18
Still doesnt resize properly (in compact mode) when playing vids like MPC does :/
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by rbet on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:18
cool!
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by qdave on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:20
lol euroboy!


great news!!!
(5 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by shift on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:20
It's lovely! Check out the cool vis you can get for it too!
Download Visual

Don't you think it's a shame the Icon is so ugly? It doesn't show up very well on the default Windows XP Theme.
Quote this comment #6.1 Posted by Mystical112 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:25
coo thx... i was lookin for that

yea the icon is kinda ugly... i was wondering what that thing was....
Quote this comment #6.2 Posted by vetToxicfume on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:34
Nice Visualization, but it's a bit laggy :/ It's not as responsive to the song.
Quote this comment #6.3 Posted by kainashi on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:07
it works great here.
Quote this comment #6.4 Posted by PsykX on 03 Sep 2004 - 00:50
Hell yeah! I've never seen such an ugly icon in days!! Even mdade by Microsoft! Recent Micrisoft's icons looked very nice, but these are really ugly...
Is there any way to go back to WMP9?
Quote this comment #6.5 Posted by Skyfrog on 03 Sep 2004 - 02:15
You want to go back to WMP9 because you don't like the new icon? Jesus...

Right click, properties, change icon. But if you still want to go back you have to use system restore.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by LeCastor on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:21
Is it already available in other languages ?
Quote this comment #7.1 Posted by skyter on 03 Sep 2004 - 12:01
The French one: http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/2/6/7268fac5-e084-48c6-ae26-7cc03cefb602//mp10setup.exe
(7 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by mattisking on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:22
Anyone else notice that it's ONLY for Windows XP. Not smart Microsoft. Not smart at all. I use Windows XP Professional at home but am not ALLOWED to use XP at the office where we run all Windows 2000. I purchase most of my music through iTunes (90%) while at the office with my headphones on. Excluding 2000 and even 9x users is going to hurt you in the long run.
Quote this comment #8.1 Posted by NimrodUK on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:47
Give them a bloody chance before moaning at them!

I bet your see a version for other Windows versions in the next couple of days...
Quote this comment #8.2 Posted by shift on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:51
You don't need Media Player 10 to download from MSN Music!

Just use Internet Explorer.

As long as you can play the WMA with DRM then you've got no problem.
Quote this comment #8.3 Posted by AnalogKid82 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:07
Thurrott said there would be versions for 98, 98SE, 2K and XP, but he's been wrong before...
Quote this comment #8.4 Posted by Jason on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:21
Paul Thurrott has a full indepth review of WMP 10 now and it states XP only.
Quote this comment #8.5 Posted by shift on 02 Sep 2004 - 17:35
What does it matter? mattisking said he wanted to /buy/ music on Windows 2000. No one is stopping him using MSN Music for that.

I get the feeling people are really confused about what is the STORE and what is the PLAYER.
Quote this comment #8.6 Posted by beardly on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:30
It is actually good that it only works with XP. By supporting old versions of operating systems, that is where bugs can pop up. Apple does a good with this by forcing its users to advance their technology.
Quote this comment #8.7 Posted by tele-fragd on 03 Sep 2004 - 02:19
Versions for the older MS Windows (ie. 98/2000) usually come out a little later
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #9 Posted by Rolando on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:25
still no match for iTunes... it has some nice new stuff though
Quote this comment #9.1 Posted by Hurmoth on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:26
Amen brother! Go iTunes!
Quote this comment #9.2 Posted by Jsu on 03 Sep 2004 - 13:44
iTunes is crap. As is Windows Media Player. WinAMP 5.04 for Audio and BS Player 1.0 for Video all the way.

WinAMP does have a hole in it, that can be exploited through running unofficial skins. But thats not a problem for the majority of users.
Quote this comment #9.3 Posted by cm3k3 on 03 Sep 2004 - 20:24
WinAMP 5.05 fixes the skin exploit.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #10 Posted by welshkid on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:26
installin now
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #11 Posted by ksalter on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:27
QUOTE
still no match for iTunes... it has some nice new stuff though


Why?
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #12 Posted by kainashi on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:27
awesome. this is great news.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #13 Posted by imtoomuch on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:28
I think it looks good no matter what other people say. I'll still use Winamp as my music player and Media Player Classic as my video player, but it seems Microsoft did a good job even if they were just playing catchup. Being able to rip to MP3 is nice. I still use that more than any other format.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #14 Posted by IGx89 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:29
Does anyone know if there are any new/improved features since the public Technical Preview?
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #15 Posted by mohennessey on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:34
great. wasted 10-15 min trying to find a host that had the english, non beta release of wmp10 and its finally released . i love it!
(5 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #16 Posted by Mith on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:35
doesn't work on server 2003
Quote this comment #16.1 Posted by bigtoneuk on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:25
I had thought it was fairly easy, and tried to just copy everything over once it had finished uncompressing everything on a Windows XP system, however, they've done some crazy stuff to make sure it won't install on Server 2003.

Don't know why - it's a stupid decision to make.

Last edited by 30045 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:44
Quote this comment #16.2 Posted by Jugalator on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:33
What are you using media players on a server for?



Maybe Microsoft think you should just let it run its services and host your files or whatever in peace.

It's not like Windows Server 2003 was ever designed to be a cool entertainment system.
Quote this comment #16.3 Posted by elliot on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:34
Don't know why? I can think of one reason, the clue is in the name.
Quote this comment #16.4 Posted by bogd on 02 Sep 2004 - 19:36
haha
i love post that are like "why wont teh *insert program or game here* werk on teh windoz 2003?!?!!11!?"

you're running Windows 2003? Do I smell warez?
Quote this comment #16.5 Posted by nookadum on 03 Sep 2004 - 16:50
Heh, I can buy Windows Server 2003 (Web Edition) for around 2800.00php (50.00USD) at my local uni. Student discount, of course.

Don't assume just because people run Win2K3 as a workstation means that they warez'd their copy.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #17 Posted by A10 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:36
Ummm... Windows 2000? Give us a gosh darn break I can understand leaving 9x out, but I'm still scratching my head over this one.
Quote this comment #17.1 Posted by cheesegoduk on 02 Sep 2004 - 17:05
They did the same with Media player 8, Then allowed Media player 9 to install on Windows 2000 :/ Personally I think they are withholding it for Windows 2000 so that they can market Media player 10 has a "Great" Windows XP only upgrade
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #18 Posted by anog on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:40
How the hell do you choose a skin in WMP10??
I guess I'm reallyyyyyyyyy dumb if I can't figure this out
Quote this comment #18.1 Posted by anog on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:41
Just saw it... View -> Skin chooser..
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #19 Posted by tekwar2000 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:40
Is it already available in other languages ?
Quote this comment #19.1 Posted by skyter on 03 Sep 2004 - 12:02
The French one: http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/2/6/7268fac5-e084-48c6-ae26-7cc03cefb602//mp10setup.exe
(6 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #20 Posted by RosUFO on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:41
I've got a white box with a red X in the upper lefthand corner next to movies & TV. It's like there is a graphic pic missing. When I click on it I get a dropdown with a list of other music download services. I tried reinstalling but no good. Anybody else have this issue?
Quote this comment #20.1 Posted by soopes on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:50
i have the exact same problem, just upgraded on a xp pro machine. it's working alright otherwise but this damn X is really bugging me...
Quote this comment #20.2 Posted by Krankerz on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:22
Same here.
Quote this comment #20.3 Posted by demonx on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:41
Choose one of the music stores with an Icon
Quote this comment #20.4 Posted by soopes on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:04
this is obviously related to the msn music store...it seems the beta status of the msn store is causing the X, i wonder if there's any way to set a default for which stores' icon comes up as the standard...probably no workaround available...
Quote this comment #20.5 Posted by tomaras on 02 Sep 2004 - 17:01
I believe it comes up with the last store you were using when you shut down.
Quote this comment #20.6 Posted by ev0| on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:10
don't get it anymore - get the butterfly now
(4 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #21 Posted by iron2000 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:41
Is there still the half colour half black and white video problem?
Quote this comment #21.1 Posted by demonx on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:40
NM
Quote this comment #21.2 Posted by iron2000 on 02 Sep 2004 - 17:50
Whats 'NM'?
Quote this comment #21.3 Posted by vetToxicfume on 03 Sep 2004 - 03:00
No More?
Quote this comment #21.4 Posted by [[LuCkY]] on 06 Sep 2004 - 23:00
NM = Nevermind.
(12 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #22 Posted by Galley on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:47
I'll stick with RealPlayer 10.5 and iTunes, thank you very much.
Quote this comment #22.1 Posted by TGD on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:57
Thanks for sharing.
Quote this comment #22.2 Posted by Spyder on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:58
lol
Quote this comment #22.3 Posted by Porp on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:22
lol
Quote this comment #22.4 Posted by Jugalator on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:37
lol
Quote this comment #22.5 Posted by divertom15 on 02 Sep 2004 - 17:38
lol what a gross combo
Quote this comment #22.6 Posted by theyarecomingforyou on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:01
lol
Quote this comment #22.7 Posted by Avi on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:26
lol
Quote this comment #22.8 Posted by bogd on 02 Sep 2004 - 19:38
laugh out loud
Quote this comment #22.9 Posted by eXpired on 03 Sep 2004 - 01:56
lol
Quote this comment #22.10 Posted by frankchn on 03 Sep 2004 - 07:19
lol
Quote this comment #22.11 Posted by Mystical112 on 03 Sep 2004 - 08:32
realplayer?... u gotta b kidding me....
Quote this comment #22.12 Posted by nookadum on 03 Sep 2004 - 16:52
Yes, even if you think his combination sucks, it STILL ACTUALLY WORKS WELL, and probably better for him.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #23 Posted by sjgore on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:50
The built-in MP3 encoder is excellent news!
...and an unexpected move from Microsoft.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #24 Posted by kronik on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:53
ahhh its always good to see Microsoft come out with a new product, no matter how overated it may be
(4 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #25 Posted by tekwar2000 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:54
Windows Media Player 10 (US English Only)

Windows Media Player 10 Korean Version

Windows Media Player 10 French Version
Quote this comment #25.1 Posted by jameseuk on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:56
was it ever available in other English languages?
Quote this comment #25.2 Posted by tekwar2000 on 02 Sep 2004 - 14:58
at Moment no


Look here for more LanguageLink
Quote this comment #25.3 Posted by Hurmoth on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:18
Other English languages? What do you want, English with an English accent

So the English version would say:
"Play the bloody music!"

The American version would say:
"Play the ****in music!"
Quote this comment #25.4 Posted by jameseuk on 02 Sep 2004 - 19:11
lol
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #26 Posted by jameseuk on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:00
If you are currently using the tech beta please read:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsme...dme.aspx#147383
Quote this comment #26.1 Posted by aristotle-dude on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:10
Oh nice. You have to reformat your music player.
Quote this comment #26.2 Posted by guppydrop on 02 Sep 2004 - 21:05
QUOTE
You can remove the partnership information either by formatting the device (which removes all data from the device) OR by deleting the file on the device that the Technical Beta version of Windows Media Player 10 used to track the partnership.


Glad your reading comprehension skills are mediocre as ever, aristotle.
Quote this comment #26.3 Posted by NetRyder on 03 Sep 2004 - 00:21
QUOTE
Glad your reading comprehension skills are mediocre as ever, aristotle.

LOL
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #27 Posted by TGD on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:01
I'm in the UK and apparently there's "No Available Online Store", do I need to do anything or is it just not in the UK yet?
Quote this comment #27.1 Posted by shift on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:02
US Only at the moment, I don't think it will be that long a wait though.
Quote this comment #27.2 Posted by groingo2 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:10
Just like 9, when viewing videos it still stalls or hangs when it runs video for the first time.
Too much junk, they need to get one thing right before they move to another.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #28 Posted by Winnerboy on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:08
simply, fine, fine, fine without bugs at least so far i love it.
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #29 Posted by kev_gordon on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:09
NO radio!?

I dont seem to have a radio tab or be able to access the radio anywhere?

Is this 'cos I'm at work and behind a firewall and filters and all that? Dunno, but I used to be able to do it?
Quote this comment #29.1 Posted by NimrodUK on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:19
I just noticed that, and had a look around.

The radio thing is still there, just hidden a bit.

You need to go to the Guide tab, then click Radio on the top of the guide page.

Although I prefered the old Radio button in WMP9
Quote this comment #29.2 Posted by DrIndianaJones on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:49
Or you can click the radio button in the upper right hand corner...if you have an MSN or MSN Music account.
Quote this comment #29.3 Posted by elliot on 02 Sep 2004 - 20:07
well i guess he doesn't have an MSN music account then sherlock.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #30 Posted by lare2 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:09
Does any one guys have a red X at top right, or it's only me !
Quote this comment #30.1 Posted by offroadaaron on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:12
yeeh i have that too
Quote this comment #30.2 Posted by Avi on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:45
Look down this page to see a comment with a screenshot and a solution...
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #31 Posted by tekwar2000 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:09
WTF is this???? Look here

Windows MP10 Download


QUOTE
Before you can obtain this content, you need to upgrade the security of your media player.
If you choose to upgrade, your computer will connect to a Microsoft-operated Internet site and send information about your media player, including a unique hardware identifier. No information will be sent that can be used to personally identify you or track your activities. Microsoft will then update the security component of your media player to ensure that it runs with optimal security.

To deny the security upgrade, click Cancel.
Quote this comment #31.1 Posted by aristotle-dude on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:12
It has to do with the DRM. They want to ensure you are not stealing music. LOL
Quote this comment #31.2 Posted by Jugalator on 02 Sep 2004 - 16:39
Correction -- stealing their music from MSN.

I doubt it will help much against all other forms of music piracy.
Quote this comment #31.3 Posted by Jstphish on 03 Sep 2004 - 18:22
Thanks for the link as Microsoft wouldn't kept giving me an error.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #32 Posted by Krankerz on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:15
QUOTE
Folder Synchronization is featured in this release, which basically monitors your choice of folders which contain your media for changes in files, which will automatically reflect to the built-in playlist.


That feature was available in version 9.
Quote this comment #32.1 Posted by vetToxicfume on 03 Sep 2004 - 03:03
I never mentioned it's new.
(4 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #33 Posted by eSouL on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:17
Found a bug.

In taskbar mode, the volume control isn't skinned (colored) with the rest of the player.
Quote this comment #33.1 Posted by Hafnium on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:35
Yep, reproduced here! Not a major bug, though...

Anyone noticed that they have removed the track position slider from the Taskbar Player Mode? In previous builds it showed up just below the Title, Artist, Album items... Too bad!
Quote this comment #33.2 Posted by Hafnium on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:36
Sorry, it is still there -- but only once you enable Mini Visualization...
Quote this comment #33.3 Posted by theyarecomingforyou on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:03
I've got a bug too, was in the beta also... when I leave a song on repeat after about the 3rd or 4th time it will start and then restart immediately after 5 seconds.

Other than that it seems fine... it looks very nice.
Quote this comment #33.4 Posted by deadmonkey on 02 Sep 2004 - 19:58
hmm is perfect on my system. resizes perfectly and the taskbar stuff is all skinned fine
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #34 Posted by jameseuk on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:23
looks i'm gonna have to wait for the English International Version then as I'm from the UK
Quote this comment #34.1 Posted by James_McNab on 02 Sep 2004 - 18:22
Do they ever release a 'English International Version', it's just English US, that works fine in the UK..
Quote this comment #34.2 Posted by jameseuk on 02 Sep 2004 - 19:13
well I'm going by whats on the site & the US English version is only really for the US because of the music store is for US ppl.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #35 Posted by GwaRGuITaR on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:24
they never fixed the right click menu not working on the miniplayer when listening to music. works for videos though as always... doh!
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #36 Posted by dellard14 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:27
microsoft are spoiling us, first sp2 then this. all the updates are coming at once
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #37 Posted by dzvert on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:37
The red x problem is lame, but if it's something you just can't live with then you might try a quick fix like I found. Drop down the little arrow next to the red x and choose Napster or one of the other services. When I did that, the accompanying icon took the place of the red x. On my system, the red x only appears when MSN Music Preview is selected. Worth a try.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #38 Posted by thornz0 on 02 Sep 2004 - 15:51
very nice update, and the high bitrate mp3 encoder is a welcome upgrade.
Quote this comment