XP Add-ons to Become Available Monday

On Monday, Microsoft along side Cyberlink and InterVideo will announce the availability of the Windows XP MP3 Creation Pack and DVD Decoder Pack. As previously reported by BetaNews, Microsoft unveiled the packs to demonstrate the plug-in capabilities of its media player and the opportunities that they presented to third party developers. Redmond was under scrutiny for allegedly favoring its own proprietary format over competing technologies.

According to an early press release obtained by BetaNews, CyberLink's MP3 Creation Pack for Windows XP has been dubbed MP3 PowerEncoder for Windows XP. It will be immediately available for download Monday in the form of a plug-in for Windows Media Player, and will cost $9.95 USD when purchased separately.

Customers will be able to generate ID3 tags to pair album information with each files generated by WMP. The maximum encoding rate allowed by Cyberlink is 256 Kbps in contrast to InterVideo's plug-in which allows a range of up to 320 Kbps.

InterVideo's MP3 XPack is priced identically to Cyberlink's offering. Although initially only complete in an English language version, there are plans to extend support for up to 10 additional languages later this year. The plug-in will be available for download from InterVideo's Web site.

"CyberLink and InterVideo are helping to make Windows XP the best and most complete digital media experience on the PC," said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "Customers of Windows XP now have an expanded choice for both the leading digital music formats and technology vendors, all for a price under $10."

Throughout development it was speculated that Microsoft included only rudimentary support for MP3 ripping in favor of its own WMA format. Initially, the quality of MP3 encoded audio in XP would be the equivalent to that of an AM radio broadcast. In contrast, Microsoft's own audio format provided high quality playback. The MP3 creation packs will allow audio to be recorded at bit rates as high as 320 Kbps, which is thought to be full CD quality.

In July, Microsoft maintained that it will continue support for Fraunhofer's MP3 codec, pointing out that it has licensed the technology in Windows Media Player versions 6.4, 7.0, and 7.1. Monday's announcement will re-emphasize the company's support for MP3.

The second pack offered by each company allows for software-based DVD playback on systems that do not have actual DVD decoders. Other benefits include Dolby Digital Audio, full screen playback controls, easy-to-navigate DVD chapter listings, and integrated support for All Media Guide's DVD metadata information. AMG's listings provide customers with ancillary content to supplement their DVD collection such as cover art, chapter listings, and actor and director credits.

Cyberlink's DVD Decoder Pack is called SE for Windows XP, and InterVideo's DVD Decoder Pack will go by the moniker DVD XPack. The former is based upon PowerDVD and the latter is built upon the same core technology as WinDVD. Pricing does not vary between the two packs.

CyberLink's PowerPacks for Windows XP:

  • $9.95 USD for the MP3 PowerEncoder
  • $14.95 USD for PowerDVD SE
  • $19.95 USD for both PowerPacks

    InterVideo's XPacks for Windows XP:

  • $9.95 USD for the MP3 XPack
  • $14.95 USD for DVD XPack
  • $19.95 USD for both XPacks
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