San Jose (CA) -  There is another media player coming your way. Adobe is trying to squeeze itself between existing applications such as Microsoft’s Windows Media Player and Apple’s iTunes and offer a new desktop software that will allow consumers to stream, download, manage and play videos.

Adobe is showing a preview of the new player at the currently running NAB 2007 tradeshow in Las Vegas and said that it plans to release a free, public version of the software later this year.

What makes the software unique is that it promotes and supports the use of Flash playback, apparently in a higher quality than the regular Flash player can. In contrast to the standalone Flash player client, the Media Player is positioned as an extended application that will try to create a marketplace for video content: Users manage and view videos; content publishers are promised a “wider selection of monetization and branding options” as well as “new abilities to distribute, track and build businesses around their media assets.”

 

According to Adobe, the Media Player will be supporting digital rights management, based on the currently offered protected streaming to Flash Player from Flash Media Server (FMS). The firm said that it will also provide protection for download-able content. Adobe apparently pursues two different models of content protection where ad-supported content will be generally protected, while purchased content will integrate protection that is unique to a specific user.  

In times where everyone talks about high-definition, Adobe confirmed that the client will support “high bitrate, high quality downloaded video,” but stopped short of calling this content actually “high-definition.”

When available later this year, Adobe will offer its Media Player as a “cross-platform” software that the company claims is developed on open Internet standards such as HTML, RSS and SMIL. The firm said that the application will run on Windows XP and Vista, and Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5 on launch, with support for Linux to follow later.

I wish large companies (microsoft/adobe/apple etc) ...

Apr 16, 2007 10:41     

I wish large companies (microsoft/adobe/apple etc) would stop trying to be all things to all people. Focus on a few core strengths and perfect them. Don't spread yourself too thin or pretend you can control it all. The last thing we need is another media player and format to deal with. I don't care how cool it is... And what is that screen shot above? A horrible, busy UI like windows media player? That looks like a web page (a cluttered one)! A video player should only play video, load quickly, take up little system resource and be nimble and smooth running.

John Doe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I agree!

Apr 16, 2007 10:55     

Well spoken John Doe! Mixing webbrowsers with media players IMHO is the lamest move in software design!
Richard report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Another one???

Apr 16, 2007 11:08     

Do we really need another media player?? It better be stinkin awesome or nobody will want to switch...
Charlie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Slight corrections

Apr 16, 2007 11:33     

When it comes to Apple, Quicktime is the standard media player as iTunes is intended more for the DRM, aka-protected-purchases. Adobe is just repackaging Flash/Shockwave and trying to reglorify it. Unfortunately it chokes and needs decent bandwith or expect that phlegm at midnight. (No longer at 9, 10 or 11) ;-)
Hoosier Jack report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Butter scraped over too much bread

Apr 16, 2007 11:34     

Why can't software designers innovate, in stead of trying to find new ways to channel advertisements through bloatware. I already have all the functionality I need within MediaPlayerClassic. It doesn't cost me a dime, or eat up resources. And if I want to be bombarded with advertisements, I have TV. Adobe should either bring something NEW to the table, or leave well enough alone.
Indrid report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Stop the madness

Apr 16, 2007 11:45     

The user community does not need another application that supports yet another format. If this player does not eliminate my need to have Windows media player, Quicktime, RealPlayer, i-Tunes and DivX running on my system then I'm not interested. I believe that software companies need to get past proprietary formats and work on their user interface and let the public choose their media player. Let's focus on content and not the tools!

David Waggoner report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

more adobe systray stuff?

Apr 16, 2007 14:18     

please, no more adobe integartion into my OS. just do what you're supposed to - don;t bury yourself in the OS.
dudley report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

gr8 unification....

Apr 16, 2007 15:57     

I think its a good move. I remember the days I installed winamp-mp3, WMP-WMV, Realtime-rm so on. Its too much of a trouble to install multiple softwares to run all. However, WMP evolved a bit but still it couldn't become the universal player. I hope the universal player introduce by Adobe gonna make life easy. Just imagine.. one software handles all music and video files.. regardless their file type. That's gonna be awesome. I am not expecting the first version to be perfect. But I hope for a better product in future, which please us all.

Nuwan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

simple is better

Apr 16, 2007 16:42     

The best media player is Foobar 2000. It is simply incredible. Fast and simple and it provides one of the best sound qualities out there. iTunes was my favorite but it takes up too many resources. This new Adobe media player seems to combine iTunes and Windows Media Player. I highly doubt it will be successful.
tin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Lamer

Apr 17, 2007 16:09     

They do not want to solve the problems of a computer user by making a universal media player. They just want to create another marketplace like quicktime, youtube and windows media by making you think you have been given a free "universal" media player. By the way adobe really knows how to promote the sales of larger monitors.
kahve report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Not the best thing to press forward

Apr 18, 2007 00:38     

WMP and Apple iTunes as well as Windows Media Center for Vista are not to strive for. This will be just another useless MP. Too bad.
Dweller report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

You guys are joking, right?

Apr 18, 2007 07:32     

Oh come on, people! Integrated multi-purpose, multi-function, multi-tasking multi-multi media players are the way forward! I want one that'll play EVERYTHING I throw at it, and catalog it all, download all my cover art for me, edit my ID3 tags automatically, sort and arrange my file storage, delete all the files I'm not using much, repair my registry, scan for spyware and, well, why not... make me my morning coffee! Now THAT'S what I'd call a media player!

The Plankmeister report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Adobe = Bloat

Apr 19, 2007 17:15     

In my opinion Adobe is another one of these companies that think the only reason you have a computer is for their software to run on it. They have sloppy code that makes your computer run like crap. NO THANK YOU. I will stick with winamp.
Ugh report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

They shouldnt be joking and dont sound to be

Apr 19, 2007 18:08     

I am with them. I hate all these formats, codecs, and new ways to watch the same old thing. Just fix what is here and now. There is no reason to have 10 different Media players and 100 different codecs to watch something or listen to a song.
Ripley report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

winamp

May 10, 2007 07:42     

4 lyfe :D
joe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0