Microsoft Positions Windows CE .NET for DSL Connected Set-tops

Microsoft is adding the latest Windows Media 9 Series encoding technology to its Windows CE .NET version 4.2 to position the operating system for IP-based set-top boxes aimed at DSL networks. Microsoft said Windows Media offers the same video quality in one-third the bit rate of MPEG-2 and one-half the bit rate of MPEG-4 over IP. MPEG-1, MPEG-4 and MP3 are also supported in the operating system. Microsoft will also include Internet Explorer 6.0 and enhancements for set-top boxes to enable navigation with remote controls and support for Windows Messenger, Microsoft Passport and Digital Rights Management. The company also announced that ATI Technologies, National Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, VIA Technologies and set-top box software vendors iMagicTV and Stellar One Corp will support its OS. In addition, CosTron Co. Ltd., HUMAX Co. Ltd., NEC and Tcom&DTVro are currently building set-top boxes powered by Windows CE NET.
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