This week, Media Player 11 and URGE debuted

The next episode in the story of Microsoft's competition with the iPod and iTunes will continue this week with the software giant launching the URGE music service and Windows Media Player 11.

Windows Media Player 11 is the latest version of Microsoft's free multi-media application. URGE is a collaborative music service between Microsoft and MTV.

URGE - Microsoft's music service provided primarily through the Windows Media Player application - will give users the latest songs, top songs on the charts .

Initially, Microsoft's service will provide about 2 million songs. Users can choose one of the following two types of payment: If users want to listen to those songs on their PC, they will have to pay $ 9.95 a month or pay $ 14.95 a month to be allowed to download songs to listen on other multimedia applications compatible with standard formats provided by Microsoft.

Besides, URGE also gives users another option to pay directly for each song downloaded at a fee of USD 0.99 per lesson. Unlike the monthly subscription service, with the payment for each song downloaded, the user can still listen to the song until the end of paying for downloading the song.

It is expected that URGE service will be officially launched tomorrow (May 17).

Windows Media Player 11 interface

Meanwhile, Windows Media Player 11 - a feature in Microsoft's new version of Windows Vista operating system - will also launch a trial version this week with completely new upgrades to compete with the iTunes service.

The core of Windows Media Player 11 is URGE music service. This service is fully integrated into Microsoft's new multi-media application version.

The initial reaction of customers involved in testing Windows Media Player 11 and URGE service will surely make Apple frown. Test participants said they could access a music collection more comprehensively than having to browse a list of songs similar to those in Windows Media Player versions or even iTunes as before. .

Another new weapon from Microsoft in this competition is the Clix portable music player - the result of a partnership with iRiver and Microsoft multimedia device developer.

Clix is ​​quite similar to the iRiver U10 that was introduced late last year but has been added a lot of new upgrade features.

iRiver is a portable music player that is selling well, just behind the iPod. Maybe after this Apple will not be able to sit still anymore.

Hoang Dung