*Click here* for the *64 bit version of Windows Media Player 11*. Find out
about *Windows Media Player 12 here*. With *Windows Media Player* (WMP) 11
Microsoft aims to counter * iTunes*' dominance. The interface has been
beefed-up, usability has been enhanced and Microsoft has worked at turning
its flagship *media application* into a full multimedia center, linked to
online stores and compatible with mobile devices. Just bear in mind that
Windows Media Player 11 is designed for use with *Windows XP* and *Vista*. If
you're running it on 7, please read the Windows Media Player 12 review. The
first thing that will strike you when you start up Windows Media Player 11,
is the *complete revamp of the interface*. No more deep blue, the whole
application is now dark and shiny and you can customize it by selecting a hue
of your choice. Windows Media Player's left side is a drop down pane for your
library, the center displays your lists and the right side is used to create
playlists which you can rip, burn or sync with a mobile device. Compared to
Windows Media Player 10, we feel that Microsoft has actually made an effort
to simplify the interface and give you more ways to browse through your media
list, whether by using the drop down menu or the quick rollout line on the
top left. The 'play' and 'previous' and 'next' buttons are now nested at the
bottom of the interface and have a jazzy glow whenever you roll over them.
Microsoft has finally succeeded in integrating a *good search function* into
its Windows Media Player interface. As you type the name of an artist or
title the application will bring up the results in the main window. Windows
Media Player 11 makes all your media more accessible. Double click the *Media
Library* button to browse from your music to pictures, movie files and
recorded TV. The thumbnail view is a great way to quickly scan through
pictures and videos and to include the album image to audio tracks. By
clicking the "Media information changes" option under the Library button
you can also scan your PC to automatically find new media files. Creating a
playlist is a case of drag and drop and oddly enough you can integrate audio,
video and pictures. Burning and ripping in Windows Media Player is also very
simple, yet disappointingly converting is limited to WMA, WAV or MP3. The
sync process is promising yet remains a bit unstable. While it's very easy
to create a list and sync media, Windows Media Player can occasionally crash
or fail to load your mobile device, even if you press the refresh button.
When we tested it with a Pocket PC, we had to restart Windows Media Player 11
so that it would recognize it and let us sync our music. As soon as the
device became accessible though, it also became visible on the left sided
menu, making it very easy to browse through it for music or pictures. Windows
Media Player 11 is a huge improvement from version 10. The whole interface is
snazzier and makes browsing through your media simpler. Microsoft has also
made creating playlists, syncing, burning or ripping just a case of
drag-and-drop. Windows Media Player lets you check out music on dozens of
online stores and is loaded with small features to customize your interface
and change how you interact with your media. *While the syncing process still
remains a bit unstable and we lament the lack of podcast feed support,
Windows Media Player 11 is a solid competitor to Apple's iTunes.*Download
*Windows Media Player 11* in Softonic
