#WINDOWS XP DIGITAL DESKTOP CLOCK SOFTWARE#
#WINDOWS XP DIGITAL DESKTOP CLOCK WINDOWS#

'That has been the Microsoft legacy,' said Jupiter Media Metrix ( news/quote ) analyst Mark Mooradian. Microsoft is attacking on two fronts simultaneously: bundling and partnerships.

#WINDOWS XP DIGITAL DESKTOP CLOCK WINDOWS#

This leverage, along with XP's favoring Windows Media Audio (WMA) format over MP3, could once again make successful a strategy that helped beat Netscape, now owned by AOL Time Warner. The practice, known as ' bundling ,' served as the second beachhead in the browser wars, after Microsoft integrated Internet Explorer into Windows 98.

#WINDOWS XP DIGITAL DESKTOP CLOCK SOFTWARE#

Although the software giant has offered a rudimentary media player with Windows since version 3.1, the player is fully integrated into XP and has strong ties to the company's MSN Web properties. Like the earlier skirmish, Microsoft is again leveraging the monopoly power of its Windows operating system. Those arrangements-with Internet service providers, Web sites and newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal -helped catapult IE 3 ahead of Netscape in the war for browser market share and later led to two federal antitrust trials against Microsoft. But the content providers and deals backing IE 3 overshadowed the significant enhancements to the Web browser. Having fallen behind Netscape Communications in Web browser development and market share, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 3 on Aug. Microsoft has been down this path before. 'As you know, our Windows Media effort is broader than just XP.' 'These are companies that are doing things specifically around XP,' he said. Wednesday's Windows Media announcements are specific to XP, said David Fester, general manager of Microsoft's Windows Digital Media division. This announcement means that (Microsoft) will be getting in the faces of consumers more and they will be muscling their way into the market.' 'Microsoft has been doing a good job of getting its player out into the market, but consumers haven't been using Windows Media Player. 'If you turn back the clock two or three years, you're looking at a market that only included MP3,' said IDC analyst Bryan Ma. Partners planning to build products or deliver services specifically around digital media technologies found in Windows XP include AMG, Aiwa, CinemaNow, Compaq Computer ( news/quote ), Kenwood, Pressplay and Sonicblue ( news/quote ).

Microsoft's roster of supporters lacks marquee names such as AOL Time Warner ( news/quote ) and Walt Disney, but nevertheless cuts a wide swath across the computer, Internet and entertainment industries. The deals, announced on the eve of the operating system's launch, could help Microsoft's ongoing battle with streaming-media rival RealNetworks ( news/quote ) and the MP3 digital music format. In an announcement with eerie similarities to Microsoft ( news/quote )'s first major salvo in the browser wars, the software giant revealed Wednesday that 150 companies will support Windows XP's media technology and formats.

Can lightning strike the same place twice? Maybe it will for Microsoft.

Windows xp digital desktop clock