Microsoft Windows Media(tm) Player 7 Handbook [Paperback]

Seth McEvoy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2000

With Windows Media Player 7, consumers get one-click access to the richest multimedia experience on line. And with this comprehensive handbook, they get one-stop information on how to use new Media Player capabilities and quickly create their own digital music, video, and art. Written by members of the Microsoft Windows Media Player team, this concise guide delivers inside insights on the technology -- including interactive "skins" that allow users to change the look and feel of the Player; customizable animations; and CD-quality audio that's half the size of MP3 files. Users get easy-to-follow tips for everything from ripping tracks from favorite CDs onto their PCs to animating the user interface and porting digital media to a Pocket PC player.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

So, maybe it is engaged in a kind of holy war with Real Networks RealPlayer, but Microsoft Windows Media Player is nevertheless a very cool audio and video player that belongs in every Windows user's quiver of applications. Microsoft Windows Media Player Handbook documents the latest version of this rad toy, and explains every detail of its operation and customization. If you're new to Windows Media Player, you'll find the introductory instructions in this book helpful. If you've got some experience with the streaming media utility, you'll appreciate author Seth McEvoy's treatment of advanced topics, such as designing custom skins and using Extensible Markup Language (XML) to associate your controls with Windows Media Player functions.

Even when it explains potentially difficult subjects, the text is clear and to the point. Once in a while, the illustrative examples seem a bit academic--for example, instructions on how to add features to a custom skin that really don't expand on the Microsoft documentation--but, by and large, you'll be happy with what you learn. Turn to this volume if you're not content with only playing tunes with Windows Media Player, and want to expand your knowledge of the product by developing skins and content. --David Wall

Topics covered:

• Microsoft Windows Media Player 7 from the client side (as opposed to the server side)
• Using Windows Media Player
• Windows Media Player's technology, including file format and streaming technique
• Creating custom skins (with playlists, progress bars, visualizations, and other snazzy features)
• Writing custom visualizations in C++

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (November 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735611785
• ISBN-13: 978-0735611788
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,281,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Break down the media player with ease., November 3, 2000

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Windows Media(tm) Player 7 Handbook (Paperback)

In the age of the information highway it is simply amazing how audio and video had taken forever to come to the desktop of computers. Microsoft Windows includes a Media player to allow you to hear and see these clips and this book will show you what you can do to make the experience better.

One of the things you can do with media player is build you own library of sound and clips and in this book, divided into 3 parts you learn the ins and outs of Microsoft latest creation. In part 1 this is where you'll install and configure the player, find out how it all works and begin to choose skins.

Also in part 1 you'll learn what files you can use with the player, how to downloading audio and video and how to use the player with portable devices. In part 2 you'll have a whole section on the creation, design, uses and customizing skins to work with the media player.

As if that wasn't enough part3 delves into the more advanced topics of using media player with web pages and customizing the media content. The cd includes the media player as well as the SDK, with a tutorial. Also a skins construction kit complete with ready to use skins.

For those into the multimedia side of Windows 98 and Windows ME, this is certainly a must have.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really the only useful book on Media Player, September 3, 2001

By 

Eric J. White "Ships don't come in, they're b... (Windsor, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Windows Media(tm) Player 7 Handbook (Paperback)

I am constantly amazed at the Glacial pace people put out books. Media Player has been out for a while (6 years), and yet, this is the only useful book there is. We found it useful in some regards, but nothing really delves into the development of applications and custom apps for the media player. If anyone else has found something that can help, PLEASE let me know!
If you are working with custom Media Player apps, you must have this book. It's not overly useful, but it IS the only thing there is.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Windows Media Player 7 Help or SDK may be better., October 3, 2001

By 

"rjet50" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Windows Media(tm) Player 7 Handbook (Paperback)

I purchased a copy of windows Media player 7 Handbook thinking that I could figure out how to play a video on a web page. The book had several examples showing you different ways to play video in a web page, but gave no explanation on how to do that. I thought examples might be on the CD/ROM that was included and I guessed wrong. In fact after review I found that the examples in the book were cut and pasted out of the Windows Media Player 7 SDK which can be downloaded for free from microsoft.com. I purchased this to supplement the SDK documentation and found that the SDK documentation is actually better. If you have a fast modem, download the SDK and save the money on this book.

The only thing that looks good is making a skin for the media player and if you are only interested in that then this book may be a good choice.