What is the difference between WMP and WMC?

Question

I'm just curious what the difference is between WMP and Windows Media Centre (WMC). I have both on my pc and am using the latter - it seems WMC is all inclusive, but they don't have the help option - seems more basic. Anyone have my random answer? Thanks!

Answer 1

Windows Media Player (abbreviated WMP) is a proprietary digital media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices. Editions of Windows Media Player were also released for Mac OS, Mac OS X and Solaris but development of these has since been discontinued.





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Windows Media Center (codenamed "Freestyle" during development) is an application with a 10-foot user interface designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub for the living-room TV. It is included in Windows XP Media Center Edition, which must be installed as an operating system, as the application cannot be added to an existing installation of XP. It is also included in premium editions of Windows Vista (Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate) and Windows 7 (all editions, except Starter and Home Basic). It is designed to be controlled by special remote controls which prominently feature the Green Button (similar to the logo to the right), but can also be operated with a mouse and/or keyboard. This button is used to either launch Media Center from Windows or to return to the Start Menu from within the application. Media Center plays the computer user's pictures, videos, and music from local hard drives, optical drives, and network locations. It then categorizes them by name, date, tags, and other file attributes. Media managed through Media Center can also be relayed via a home network to standard TV sets via the specially designed Windows Media Center Extender or the Xbox 360.

Answer 2

Jenn F,



You stated some of what WMP and WMC does. However, you have not stated the differences, nor why to use one over the other.

For example, if I want to play a Video file on mt PC, should I use WMP or WMC? Both of these can stream to a DNLA compatible TV or media player.



Are both WMP and WMC 64-bit on Windows 7? Does both use the same audio/video codec's? Why would Microsoft maintain a duplicates, if both products only overlap as you indicated?

Answer 3

I see them slightly different but feel it may almost be semantics. Seems in my Spiritual life the mean the same. Faith is not hope to me, hope is hope. Faith is that I know all is working toward my coming to Remembrance no matter what my Human assessments may be or what it feels like. In my Human relationships, I can have a relationship where my "trust" has been broken, & still ultimately have faith in that person knowing within they are the same as me. Trust very often is a judgment based on past experience, theirs & mine. Faith goes much deeper, it has nothing to do with the intellect but comes from the Wisdom of the Heart. A simple gift given to another, "I have complete faith in you" will very often help to release the bonds of past mistakes. I feel I may not have explained this well, the difference is subtle. But this was a great Q! You had me pondering this for 2 days. Many Blessings!