Windows Media Player Editor's Review

Windows Media Player is the de factor multimedia library and player for Windows computers, but just how good is it? Windows Media Player 11, the final version available for Windows XP and Vista computers, is one of Microsoft’s best offerings yet. Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11) provides capabilities for audio, video, network sharing and photo integration, all rolled into one giant multimedia library. 

WMP11 offers a much simpler interface than its previous versions, whilst still offering the well-known navigation buttons from the previous versions. The new and massively improved media library gives more prominence to album artwork and looks a lot better throughout. These cosmetic changes make using WMP 11 a far more enjoyable experience than before, and one fitting for an era dominated by other competitors. Yet, it isn’t just cosmetic changes that make this much better than prior versions. The instant search now features smart search capabilities, which means it only searches within the artist, album, playlist or genre you’ve currently got open.

Pros: No download necessary, easy integration into Windows, much better than previous versions.

Cons: No simple integration with iPods, preferred usage of WMA over MP3, no natural podcast support.

Conclusion: The improvement seen in WMP11 over previous versions is obvious, and while aesthetic and technical progressions have been made, its lack of support for the world’s most popular audio format (mp3) and device (iPod), will always hold it back. If you don’t have a portable player, and don’t need more advanced features, then this will be a great media library for you.