Yesterday we reported on Microsoft offering
Flip4Mac, a Windows Media component for QuickTime. According to BetaNews, that was the first step in
Microsoft withdrawing Windows
Media Player support for the Mac entirely and that the Redmond giant has recently been reassigning its Mac Business
Unit staff elsewhere in the company. BetaNews speculates that soon the only Microsoft products available for the Mac
will be Office and Messenger due to their business appeal. It seems like an odd move considering Microsoft's
newly-minted five-year pact with
Apple. Currently, though,
Windows Media Player 9 for
Mac is still available.
Tags: apple, betanews, flip4mac, mac, microsoft, windows media player
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Comments
2
Subscribe to commentsMr NiceJan 12th 2006 2:59PM
I would be willing to bet that the 5 year pact that Microsoft made with Apple is a tactic to keep customers satisfied in the near term so they can keep advancing their own agenda for the long term.
I see it like MS has their hands in so many 'future technology' cookie jars that they need to keep the current public happy by getting them access to hardware like the MacBook because they dont have time to think about current technology appeal.
For example, the Motorola DVR Cable Boxes with MS Software, the SA IPTV boxes with MS Software, the Xbox360 integrating with other components to bring video conferencing to any home who owns one, HD-DVD/Bluray, etc. Mobile Phone software bringing your office to your pocket, and on and on...
Then in 5 years they can drop all alliances with Apple and say "Hey, guess what Apple...We own the living room, the most used OS with the most popular Office Suite, worldwide video phone systems, cell phones / the new generation of movies/TV/Games...and all you have is an ipod and an OS without a desired Office suite...Good luck with that!".
All of these features were showed to me live at this years CES and prior. MS is way ahead of the game if all Apple has to show is the Intel based version of thier OS on hardware that's at a high price.
My $.02
chrisJan 12th 2006 10:32PM
Actually this is not a big deal.
"With Windows Media® Components for QuickTime, by Flip4Mac™, you can play Windows Media files (.wma and .wmv) directly in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content on the Internet using a Web browser."
Excerpt from Microsoft site
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/flip4mac.mspx