Free Bonus Pack Boosts Windows XP Media Player Microsoft Download Adds More Music and Visual Options Eric Grevstad
Thu 12/13/01 -- Windows XP's edition of Windows Media Player is the fanciest and flashiest yet, but Microsoft is adding even more features for free: A new Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP is now available as an 18MB download (or interactive Web installer) from the Windows Media site.
The "holiday gift," as Redmond calls it, includes Windows Media Player XP PowerToys such as a Tray Control that gives one-click access to the player from the Windows XP Taskbar; a wizard that organizes and updates your Media Library and My Music folders; and a utility that imports playlists to Excel. A dozen new visualizations range from a holiday fireplace to an MSN Photos picture viewer and preview of Microsoft's forthcoming Dungeon Siege game, while new Media Player XP skins include a patriotic stars-and-stripes theme and Digital Mixmaster skins from TheSkinsFactory.com.
The Bonus Pack also provides Microsoft's Plus MP3 Audio Converter LE, which lets users convert their MP3 music files to Windows Media Audio (WMA) files that take half as much hard disk space, and a collection of professional sound effects, music loops, clips, and title images for Windows Movie Maker. Special offers from third parties like iFilm and CinemaNow round out the package.
