Microsoft said Monday that four consumer electronics companies will integrate Windows Media technologies into DVD players, a deal that could boost the use of the software titan's multimedia products in consumer devices.
The Panasonic DVD player will be able to play back DVD-R and CD-R discs with Windows Media and MP3 formats burned into them. The component, the DVD-RV32, is expected to ship in February.
Other companies that have signed on include Apex Digital, which will feature Windows Media Audio in six new DVD player models; China's Shinco; and Toshiba.
Last month, Microsoft announced that its audio and video formats would be supported by several DVD chipmakers in 2002. The software company said Cirrus Logic, ESS Technology, LSI Logic, STMicroelectronics and Zoran, which represent 90 percent of the DVD processors manufactured and shipped in 2000, would incorporate Windows Media formats.
Source: ZDNet
