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MS To Offer Windows Sans WMP, If EU So Orders

Posted by timothy on from the bullying-begets-bullying dept.

PSwim writes "Microsoft has said it will remove Media Player from Window, if ordered by the EU this week. The 'Windows-Lite' version will only be available in Europe. Best quote from the article involves its refusal to release networking documentation: '"The Commission says Linux would disappear" if Microsoft did not grant access to its documentation, Smith claimed. "But Linux is alive and well and I don't know any person at Linux or any Linux programmers who share the Commission's view."'"

3 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. Re:ha-ha-ha by rduke15 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I have the general notion that (A) Samba has been implemented without any documentation from MS

    Wrong! See other comment in this story

  2. Re:Shitty submission - Rebuttal by PSwim · · Score: 4, Informative
    William,

    As the original writer of the submission you so eloquently call "shitty," I felt the need to respond a bit.
    • "media player" is a generic term, "Media Player" (note the capital letters) refers to Microsoft's player. No one would care if Microsoft said they would remove _a_ media player from Windows. Thus, there's no point in wasting space to refer to Windows Media Player in full.
    • "What, Microsoft will refuse to remove WMP if ordered next week?" Considering they've said, on many occasions that removal of WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER (see? redundant) is impossible, it's interesting to note that they will remove it.
    • "Windows-lite" was what the article used.
      Europe would be the only place where "Windows-lite" -- i.e. Windows without WMP -- would be sold, Microsoft said in a briefing note for reporters.
      You did read the article, didn't you?
    • Fine. I should've used Microsoft's instead of it's. But again, would it really make sense for the article to refuse to release networking documentation?
    • The "at Linux" quote was included because it is relevant the state of mind of the spokesperson, Smith. It shows that he is not properly educated on what exactly this Linux thing is and a lack of understanding on his part, unfortunately, leads to a lot more people being misinformed.

    I wish people would read the article and think about it before posting (flaming). Then again, I'm starting to be kind of old around here. ;)
  3. Re:The version will contain a poison pill by shotfeel · · Score: 4, Informative

    Quick tip to get rid of that nagging "Upgrade to Quicktime Pro" message (works on Macs, not sure about Windows):

    Set the computer's date to some time in the distant future (say 5 years ahead), start Quicktime player, get the message and respond as usual. Go back and reset the date correctly.

    The "Upgrade to Quicktime Pro" prompt will disappear until that future date you used.