"Microsoft's Windows Media Player strategy has been leading up to today, where the company formally unveils the new Windows Media Player. As its partners begin to ship their Personal Video Players (PVPs), Microsoft is betting big on subscription-based content models, though company officials did acknowledge that they expect content illicitly downloaded from P2P networks to help drive early adoption.
The toughest part about building a digital media delivery device is striking the balance between making a secure platform content producers can trust, while at the same time offering consumers more freedom with their media than they've previously had. Swing too far in one direction, and no one will buy into it; go too far the other way and out come the lawyers. Has Microsoft gotten the balance right, and are the new PVPs based around Windows Media technology something to put on your holiday wish list? Turn the page to find out."
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Review
