February 2005                             Purchase a copy of this 36 page report

C O N T E N T S:

• Executive Summary [Free]
• Introduction [Free sample chapter]
• Understanding the Pieces
• Overview: To establish the PC as home entertainment hub, Microsoft is improving Windows' digital media capabilities, working with partners to develop compatible devices and content, and promoting the Windows Media Platform
• Improving the Hub: Windows Media Player 10
• Overview: The latest version of Microsoft's digital media player approaches the ease-of-use offered by Apple's digital media products, while presenting a greater choice of content sources and devices
• Improving the Hub: Windows Media Center
• Overview: To broaden the audience for Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft has improved its video support and began making it available to OEMs for use on less-expensive hardware
• Building Spokes: Devices Link to Home Hub
• Overview: Microsoft is relying on partners to create a wide range of portable and networked entertainment devices that connect to a Windows PC
• Content: MSN Enters Music Store Race
• Overview: Microsoft's online music store provides a high-profile distribution channel for Windows Media content; it may also be necessary to stop Apple's lead from becoming insurmountable
• Beyond the PC
• Overview: Xbox and the Microsoft TV platform are hedges against market changes that could reduce the PC's relevance in the home, but Microsoft sees long-term opportunities in both businesses as well
• Conclusion: Betting on Convergence
• Overview: The biggest challenge to Microsoft's home entertainment strategy is convincing consumers to use a computer as their primary home entertainment device instead of dedicated consumer electronics device
• Resources
• Overview: Links to more information about the products and technologies discussed in this ‘Microsoft's Home Entertainment Strategy’ report
• Appendix: The Windows Media Platform
• Overview: The Windows Media platform supplies a standard set of software components for encoding and protecting digital audio and video