Adobe and Microsoft invading Each Other's Core Territory

Adobe announced the Adobe Media Player at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show this week. This desktop application expands Adobe's Internet video solutions, adding to an emerging ecosystem that enables new ways to distribute and monetize media, while helping viewers discover and view high-quality content both online and offline. Leveraging Adobe's Emmy Award winning Flash architecture, the Adobe Media Player delivers more engaging video experiences to viewers while offering content publishers new abilities to distribute, track and build businesses around their media assets. Adobe Media Player is planned to be available as a free beta download from the Adobe Web site later in 2007 with full availability expected by the end of the year, from Adobe and a wide range of media and technology partners.

Adobe Media Player will compete with Microsoft's Windows Media Player as well as Apple's QuickTime Player and RealNetworks' Real Player. (more)

Microsoft announced Silverlight, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web. Silverlight will compete with Adobe Flash. A Silverlight Community Technology Preview (aka Beta) is already available for download from this Microsoft Web page. It is available for Mac OS X and supports the Firefox 1.5.0.8, Firefox 2.0.x, and Apple Safari 2.0.4 Web browsers. [Bill Fox]