First revealed in WinInfo Daily Update, Windows XP Reloaded is a planned interim marketing push for Windows XP that will more widely broadcast features that have been shipped since the initial XP release in 2001, including XP SP2, a new Windows Media Player version, and other exciting consumer-oriented features.
Q: What is Windows XP Reloaded?
A: Windows XP Reloaded is the code-name for a Windows XP marketing push that will focus on how XP has evolved since its initial release in October 2001. Filling the gap between the original XP release and Longhorn, the next major version of Windows, XP Reloaded is Microsoft's vision for a combination of XP and various software updates that, in effect, amounts to an interim Windows version.
Q: Is Windows XP Reloaded this product's real name?
A: No. XP Reloaded is a code-name for a marketing push, not a product. Microsoft is publicly calling this marketing push "Digital Entertainment Anywhere."
Q: What will Microsoft include in XP Reloaded?
A: XP Reloaded includes Windows XP plus Service Pack 2 (SP2), plus the following products and updates:
- Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
- Media Center Extenders and Media Center Extender for Xbox
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
- Windows Media Player 10
- Portable Media Center
- MSN Music
- Photo Story 3
- Plus! SuperPack for XP
- Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
- Windows Media Connect
Q: So is Microsoft releasing an interim version of XP?
A: No. XP Reloaded is more of a marketing push than an actual product, but it represents a major advance over the original release of XP, and most of the updates are free.
Q: When will XP Reloaded happen?
A: It's happening now. The first phase of XP Reloaded included the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. In the second wave, which happened September 2, 2004, the company issued Windows Media Player 10, Portable Media Centers, and the MSN Music preview. The third wave of XP Reloaded brought us Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Media Center Extenders, MSN Music, and Windows Media Connect. Now, in the fourth wave, we're seeing the release of Photo Story 3 and the Plus! SuperPack for Windows XP; in the near future, we'll see additional releases such as the Media Center Extender for Xbox and MSN Remote Control for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, which will let Media Center customers remotely configure TV recording through a free Web service.
Q: This sounds great! Where can I find out more about XP Reloaded?
Please check out my XP Reloaded activity center for links to all of my Reloaded content.
Last updated October 27, 2004.
