TABLE OF CONTENTS If you're already working with Windows Media, the following additions/enhancements in WM9 should make a lot of sense:
High-definition, full-screen quality (now possible on a killer machine)
Editable file format (as opposed to the tertiary, hard-to-reedit format of prior versions)
Suitable for embedding in consumer electronics devices (such as CD and DVD players)
Instant-On performance (for broadband users)
Player enhancements such as variable speed playback, video smoothing, and a Smart Jukebox.
Lossless and Surround Sound (24-bit/96 kHz/5.1 channel) audio codecs.
If you are new to Windows Media, these and other new capabilities may be less meaningful. Nevertheless, most of them are unique among the current competition. True, QuickTime lets you reedit final-format media (Sorenson movies, for example) but this is not usually recommended in professional production. And, while Real offers competitive technology in certain areas, it is not across the board nor as well-integrated.
I discuss the implication of each bulleted item in more detail at the end of this chapter. For now, let's break down the feature set of each new or improved component in the WM9 application suite. I'll make comparisons mostly to WM7 (as opposed to Windows Media Player for XP, a.k.a. WM8) and will concentrate mainly on WM9's...
