Microsoft released the official Windows Media Player 7.1. This version includes ripping cd's into the WMA format
 Windows Media Player 7.1 now includes CD ripping using the state-of-the-art Windows Media Audio 8 technology and provides new tools for enterprise customers that reduce deployment time and support costs. |
Key improvements in Windows Media Player 7.1 include the following:
- CD ripping using the Windows Media Audio 8 codec (WMA) for the best audio fidelity and the smallest file sizes. WMA offers the best quality at any bit rate and CD-quality audio at 64 Kbps - half the size of CD-quality MP3 files.
- New Smart Transcode for WMA, to maximize music storage on portable audio devices. Smart Transcode for W MA will improve the quality of transcoding using the new Windows Media Audio 8. In addition, it will automatically convert existing high bit rate Windows Media music collections on-the-fly to smaller file sizes when transferring to portable devices.
If offers you CD quality against half the space of mp3 files. I guess this is very nice, but mp3 files are more widely available at this moment so I think everyone is sticking with mp3 files for now. Download the new player here (only english version available). Btw: also the unofficial WMP 8.0 beta is available. Read more here.
Source: MS
