REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 25, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of Microsoft® Plus! for the Windows® XP operating system. The ultimate companion for Windows XP, Microsoft Plus! is new software that enhances the Windows XP experience with powerful digital media tools, new games and stunning desktop themes, including 3-D screen savers. Microsoft Plus! is available nationwide now in stores where Windows XP is sold and from online retailers. Microsoft Plus! also is available internationally in six languages. Even before it reached stores, Microsoft Plus! proved it was a hit with consumers. After Microsoft announced a preorder program for it last month, Microsoft Plus! vaulted onto the list of the top-five best-selling software titles at Amazon.com and other preorder outlets. Microsoft Plus! builds on advanced technologies in Windows XP such as
Windows Media™ Technologies and the DirectX® 8 application programming interface to show off the capabilities of Windows XP, and to add fun and excitement to PC use. Key features in Microsoft Plus! include the following: Powerful Digital Media Tools | • | Plus! Voice Command uses voice-recognition technology to give users hands-free control over Windows Media Player for Windows XP. Users can start audio or video playback by saying,
"Media Player, play"
; skip ahead with,
"Media Player, next"
; or entertain themselves with,
"Media Player, show visualization."
Plus! Voice Command supports more than 35 additional commands. |
| • | Plus! Speaker Enhancement uses digital-signal-processing technology to boost the clarity and richness of many common desktop PC speakers, making music and videos sound more vibrant. |
| • | Plus! CD Label Maker works with Windows Media Player for Windows XP to create and print colorful, customized CD covers and labels, and automatically inserts artist, track and album information from playlists. | | • | Stunning new 3-D visualizations include the stars from the Xbox™
video game system,
"Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee," "Maxx's Kingdom"
and
"Undersea Wonders."
These animated characters
"dance"
to the music in Windows Media Player. | | • | Plus! Personal DJ lets users automatically create custom playlists from their media library based on their favorite artists, albums, genres and other criteria. | | • | Plus! MP3 Audio Converter converts MP3 files quickly and easily to Windows Media Audio, which delivers the equivalent fidelity in 50 percent less space. |
New Desktop Visuals for Personalizing PCs | • | Plus! for Windows XP provides astounding 3-D screen savers, including a realistic aquarium complete with the sound of bubbling water. Other screen savers include a space walk and a selection of creative 3-D displays for digital photos. | | • | New desktop themes in Plus! for Windows XP include Plus! Aquarium, Plus! Space, Plus! Nature and Plus! da Vinci, each of which transforms the PC with unified screen savers, wallpapers, icons, sounds, pointers, Windows Media Player skins and more. |
New Games With Electrifying Graphics | • | Appearing for the first time on a PC, Hyperbowl Plus! Edition brings the arcade experience home in full 3-D. Players can bowl the streets of ancient Rome or enjoy classic alley play. | | • | The Labyrinth Plus! Edition allows players to experience the classic tabletop labyrinth game, transformed by lifelike 3-D, and test their skills at 40 challenging levels. | | • | Russian Square Plus! Edition offers an intense new puzzle-game experience. |
Availability Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP is available in stores nationwide where Windows XP is sold and online for an estimated retail price of $39.95 (U.S.). Microsoft Plus! also is available in six languages (German, French, Spanish, Japanese, English and international English) at outlets worldwide. Microsoft Plus! will be available in Japan next month. About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
"MSFT"
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Media, DirectX and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate information pages.
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