Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2 Available

The new player was designed with user feedback from previous versions in mind. Gone are many of the extraneous curvy user interface elements, in favor of a sleeker design. As in previous versions, various tools are arranged into tabbed sections at the top of the window, such as Now Playing, Library, Rip, Burn, Sync, and making its debut in the default configuration, the online music store URGE.

Microsoft is clearly, one might even say URGEntly, pushing this new download service as a rival to Apple's iTunes Music Store. However, the store, developed in partnership with MTV, lacks the polish of its rival. It seemed to not do anything at all until I accidentally moused over the tiny "GUIDE" icon in the top right corner. Even then, the user interface was slow and somewhat confusing. However, once I did get to the actual songs, the store seemed quite similar to the iTMS, with most songs going for the standard $0.99. Microsoft claims that WMP 11 Beta 2 supports "even more online stores" than earlier versions, but apart from URGE, they were not easy to find.

As for the rest of the player, it hasn't changed too much from WMP 10, other than making life easier by allowing the menu options to be accessed from anywhere on the toolbar, not just at a particular location. It seems as if regular menu bars are persona non grata at Microsoft these days, with many new applications (and much of Vista) seemingly banishing them like errant children. One can still opt to "Show Classic Menus," however.
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