Gates, Microsoft launch digital media jihad

Microsoft CEO Bill Gates unveiled a new "Digital Media Revolution" during his keynote address at Streaming Media West '99, where digital audio and video will enter mainstream use over broadband Internet connections. The address was topped with a slew of announcements of new technologies, corporate relationships, and other initiatives in the digital media realm.

"Digital audio and video are radically changing computing and the Internet for consumers and businesses alike," said Gates. "The digital media revolution offers tremendous opportunities for industry innovation, creates new business models, and dramatically improves the computing and entertainment experience."

Microsoft is building on its Windows Media technology platform to deliver digital media to mainstream consumers. For broadband Internet users (cable modems or DSL), Microsoft has made available its Windows Media Broadband Guide, a Web site that presents streaming video and audio from a variety of sources such as VH1, Fox Sports, ZDTV, and MSNBC, among many others.

Gates demonstrated a number of digital media initiatives, including a cable-based set-top box running Windows CE, Internet radio on a PC, Windows Movie Maker (which will be included in Windows Millennium, the next version of Windows 98), and a group of portable music players that will support Windows Media as well as the popular MP3 format.

Microsoft also made many digital media-related announcements today, including:

For more information, please visit the Microsoft Windows Media Web site