Windows Media Player 11

A test Beta version of the revamped Windows Media Player will be out on the 17th of May, but the public has already managed a sneak peek at it. Consumers have already previewed the new software on iRiver’s Clix Digital Music Player. Website, inquirer.net has also offered three copies of WMP11 on its site. The WMP 11 will be available on both, Windows XP and Vista which will be launched next year. Microsoft says this version will catapult its popularity to be on par with its archrival, Apple.The preview has received favorable reviews from the public and has several new features to keep pace with the competition. Some new features offered by the WMP 11 Beta version include a new software to help scroll easily through the menu and a gas gauge that indicates how much space is available for download on a portable device. Another unique feature is photo identification of songs with album covers as opposed to iTunes’s text identification. The new subscription online music service, Urge by Microsoft and MTV will also be officially launched on Wednesday. Urge will be integrated into WMP 11 and will offer more than two million songs at competitive prices. The new WMP 11 and Urge will not be compatible with Apple’s iPod, though.