Microsoft to Launch 'Symphony' Oct. 12
Microsoft is set to officially roll out Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, code-named Symphony, on October 12 at an event in Los Angeles. InfoWorld reports the introduction will be heralded by Chairman Bill Gates, with Microsoft partners Hewlett-Packard and Gateway expected to be in attendance.
The Symphony edition of Media Center entered testing this year, and reached the Beta 2 milestone in June. The update is slated to include support for more portable media players, wireless support with Media Center Extender, as well as DVD burning.
High definition television will be at the forefront of Symphony's feature set, with sources claiming Microsoft has set its sights on TiVo through advanced digital video recording.
Additionally, the first devices to utilize Media Center Extender from partners Gateway, HP and Samsung will likely make their debut at the Los Angeles festivities.