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By Ina Fried
Posted on ZDNet News: Mar 28, 2005 5:37:00 PM

Microsoft will rename a product it was ordered by the European Commission to offer--a version of Windows with its media player removed.

The product, which Microsoft had wanted to be called Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, will now be known as either Windows XP Home Edition N or Windows XP Professional Edition N.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said it was working with the commission on naming options after antitrust regulators balked at the "reduced media" name. Microsoft said the name was selected by European regulators over nine other alternatives proposed by the software maker.

"We have some misgivings about the chosen name as we fear it may cause confusion," Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said on Monday. "We will adopt the commission's name in order to move forward and accelerate the pace of the implementation process."

Among other options Microsoft suggested were Windows XP Not Incorporating Windows Media Player, Windows XP/N and Windows XP/B.

In addition to challenging the name of the new Windows version, the commission has expressed concern about the degree to which Microsoft has complied with its order requiring the company to license Windows communications protocols to rivals.

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  • Most Recent of 76 Talkback(s)
Media Player has been part of Windows from the start
"Also note: Internet Explorer from early versions could play mpeg video in the window.
Assuming Microsoft didn't refactor that, technically the OS is still multimedia without Windows Media Player."... (Read the rest)
Posted by: GregSalts Posted on: 06/15/05 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Count on politicians to object...  gordon@... | 03/28/05
Agreed  FilledOut | 03/28/05
A better name  OhMyGosh | 03/28/05
Or could have been worse,  FilledOut | 03/28/05
XP Bloatware Edition...  David Hamilton | 03/28/05
MS WIN XP/N  Techscan | 03/28/05
I believe you meant....  Xunil_Sierutuf | 03/28/05
not crippled at all....  Joe Blow_z | 03/28/05
I meant in the sense of security.. (NT)  Xunil_Sierutuf | 03/28/05
What if?  FredsBank_z | 03/28/05
Can you imagine the loss of sales over that?  rdwhitti | 03/28/05
But...  rapson | 03/28/05
Remember, this is MS we are talking about here (NT)  rdwhitti | 03/28/05
more important than the money?  alterego_z | 03/28/05
Re: Butt...  PottHead | 03/28/05
Principle?  dave95 | 03/28/05
And everyone knows that  michael-t | 03/28/05
Windows sales 1/3 Microsoft revenues...  Anton Philidor | 03/28/05
What if?  FredsBank_z | 03/28/05
One can only hope ....  michael-t | 03/28/05
Where do you kive, lala land?  NemesisNL | 03/28/05
Windows XP EU  Joe Blow_z | 03/28/05
How would that be pronounced:  Judas I. | 03/28/05
Like anything from Europe Eeuuuwww  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Good now lets move on  dave95 | 03/28/05
Wrong  seosamh_z | 03/28/05
Seems like MS is complying....  dave95 | 03/28/05
Complying with the powers that be  seosamh_z | 03/28/05
Then in that we agree  dave95 | 03/28/05
Right or wrong?  seosamh_z | 03/29/05
Agreed but if Gov. did not stick their....  dave95 | 03/29/05
Wow...  KOS-MOS | 03/28/05
The name issue seems to be important:  michael-t | 03/28/05
Microsoft marketing is their only strength, that's why..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 03/28/05
SELECTIVE REPORTING on ZDNet????  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Old news.. thanks for pointing out Microsoft's incompetence..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 03/28/05
You mean the idot competitors incompetence.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
I agree with that  Michael Kelly | 03/28/05
True it's beeen said before, but now the whining starts.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Tough choice.  Anton Philidor | 03/28/05
Why not?  douglen@... | 03/29/05
Probubly because you are wrong about it.  B.O.F.H. | 03/28/05
Your ignorance is showing again.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Theora is gaining ground  hipparchus2000 | 03/28/05
Fine, now build a complete interface to make it work.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
but media players already play Theora files  hipparchus2000 | 03/29/05
Get the full story...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
A little hint  Michael Kelly | 03/28/05
Actully, I was hoping they would whine.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
So Microsft will get spanked!  B.O.F.H. | 03/28/05
Nlot a bit of it.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Remove a piece of Windows...  Anton Philidor | 03/28/05
Window Edition Open Media is more accurate  hipparchus2000 | 03/28/05
No media is more like it.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
wrong, it can still play media, you just install ANOther media player first  hipparchus2000 | 03/28/05
And you are obviously CLUELESS on the subject.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Sounds ideal for the office market.  Zogg | 03/29/05
so tell me  hipparchus2000 | 03/29/05
Media Player has been part of Windows from the start  GregSalts | 06/15/05
N = Not Neutered eNough...  ReFoRMaT | 03/28/05
sounds like...  JoeMama_z | 03/28/05
A much better name might be  Squawkbox | 03/28/05
The EU remedy just bit them in the donkey.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/28/05
Players aren't the only software...  Anton Philidor | 03/28/05
add this to your story line  Iain_Peters | 03/29/05
Why should that be surprising?  Anton Philidor | 03/29/05
The Spirit vs the Letter of the Law  Zogg | 03/29/05
Actually...  douglen@... | 03/29/05
Where does this end?  Scrat | 03/29/05
But can a user also uninstall IE or WMP?  Zogg | 03/29/05
Integrating Media Player is not abusing the market!  stonedumpr@... | 03/29/05
Don't like RealPlayer? Remove it then.  Zogg | 03/29/05
please eec use windows lite  amj2006 | 03/29/05
Politicians Don't write software  jfreedle2@... | 03/29/05
You don't have a clue what Communism is, do you?  Zogg | 03/30/05
Come on, politicians are great  FilledOut | 03/30/05

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