Investigating the Windows Media Bonus Pack

The Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP is a free collection of extra utilities and files designed to enhance your Windows XP digital media duties. You can learn more about the Bonus Pack and download it from the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/bonuspack.asp

The Bonus Pack contains the following features:

• Plus! MP3 Audio Converter LE This utility enables you to convert MP3 files to the WMA format.

  Caution

  By default, the MP3 Audio Converter offers to add the converted files to the Media Player Media Library. This may not work, however, because applications are generally given just read-only access to the Media Library. To overcome this problem, open Media Player, select Tools, Options, and display the Media Library tab. In the Access Rights Of Other Applications section of the dialog box, select the Full Access option.

• Windows Media Player Visualizations This feature installs a number of new visualizations into Media Player.

• Windows Media Player Skins This feature installs a number of new skins into Media Player.

• Windows Media Player For Windows XP Tray Control This feature enables you to hide Media Player entirely and operate it from the taskbar’s system tray by right-clicking the tray control. Note, too, that the shortcut menu that appears has an Options menu. On this menu, select Clear MRU to clear Media Player’s recent file list, and select Turn Off Media Player MRU to prevent Media Player from adding files to its recent file list.

• Movie Maker Creativity Kit This component adds sound effects, title slides, and background music to Windows Movie Maker.

• Windows Media Player For Windows XP PowerToys This component provides its own set of enhancements and utilities:

  • Windows Media Player For Windows XP Tray Control This feature enables you to hide Media Player entirely and operate it from the taskbar’s system tray by right-clicking the tray control. Note, too, that the shortcut menu that appears has an Options menu. On this menu, select Clear MRU to clear Media Player’s recent file list, and select Turn Off Media Player MRU to prevent Media Player from adding files to its recent file list.

  • Media Library Management Wizard This utility helps you organize your music files.

  • Playlist Import To Excel Wizard This utility enables you to export a Media Player playlist to Microsoft Excel 2002.

  • Windows Media Player Skin Importer This feature enables you to import WinAMP skins to use with Media Player.

  • PowerToys Skin This feature adds a special PowerToys skin to Media Player. When you open this skin, Media Player displays a list of seven PowerToys that you can use to perform various playlist tasks (such as converting all your albums to playlists and creating playlists for copying files to a CD).

    Caution

    Again, the PowerToys skin won’t work unless applications are given full access to the Media Library.