Compression for Great Video and Audio, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 27 Media on Windows

Introduction

This chapter is about media playback on Windows, inclusive of but not limited to Windows Media.

I’m sure renaming it “Windows Media” from NetShow made sense back in the day, but it does make for some challenging textual gymnastics. For example, I can’t say “Windows Media APIs”—I have to say “Windows APIs for Media.” I offer my sincere apologies for any unpoetic cadences deriving thereof.

A History of Media Features in Windows

DOS

It all started with Microsoft DOS for the IBM PC in 1981. Command-line, character-based display, and no audio that deserves the name (more of a muffled beep at best).

But man, did it run business apps, and a lot of them, and rapidly found a place on desks around the world.

Windows ...