Windows 8 offers Dolby Digital Plus support out-of-the-box

by Alistair Lowe on 9 May 2012, 10:53

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Dolby (NYSE:DLB)

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Given expectations that Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system will wind up in embedded products and tablets, x86 and ARM alike, it's good news that the firm has announced it will be supporting playback of Dolby Digital Plus encoded content on both hardware architectures.

Dolby Digital Plus brings with it support for the standard Dolby Digital spec, though also enables bit rates of up to 6Mbps and 7.1 channel audio, as opposed to the 640kbps and 5.1 channels found in the original standard, along with a greater choice of output mediums.

On ARM tablets especially, it could be a while before we see third-party codec packs with strong performance and error-free playback offered as an alternative. "Widespread availability of Dolby Digital Plus on Windows 8 will enable more people to enjoy cinematic sound anytime, anywhere, and on any device," announced Dolby executive vice president of sales, Ramzi Haidamus.

Having the Dolby Digital Plus brand attached to any shipping Windows 8 device would no doubt be a valuable selling point against Apple and Google alternatives.

HEXUS Forums :: 12 Comments

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Posted by shaithis - Wed 09 May 2012 11:00
Hmmm, so they removed WMP and WMC from Windows 8 but then add DDP support……

Might as well have saved another few quid of the price instead….
Posted by cheesemp - Wed 09 May 2012 11:02
Now we can see where the money they're saving from dropping DVD codecs in windows 8 are going!

Edit : link
Posted by vishal7 - Wed 09 May 2012 11:31
Interesting development..I and many others have never been fans of WMP…so these new offerings would help. Let's see!
Posted by Ross1 - Wed 09 May 2012 12:46
shaithis
Hmmm, so they removed WMP and WMC from Windows 8 but then add DDP support……

Might as well have saved another few quid of the price instead….

Dropping WMC and DVD support seemed to like microsoft are almost pleading with us to pirate movies. Why after removing dvd support they suddenly include DD+ (which afaik has been pretty much pointless since hd dvd died) seems inexplicable to me.

windows 8 is looking like a bigger failure than windows Me.
Posted by kingpotnoodle - Wed 09 May 2012 13:49
shaithis
Hmmm, so they removed WMP and WMC from Windows 8 but then add DDP support……

Might as well have saved another few quid of the price instead….

Windows 8 still includes a media player I think, just not media centre with the 10ft UI.

The DVD codecs are going because they are easy to replace if needed, many people will get one with the blu-ray codec/player they need to buy for that disk format. A large number of machines lack an optical drive anyway. OEMs can install a codec on machines that need them, most machines are sold pre-built like that anyway. The focus has shifted towards download and digital content, which can support Dolby sound streams as well - Netflix do IIRC.

All the negative attitude Microsoft haters will use this as more ammunition when really MS are just being pragmatic about features in trying to turn out a good product. Windows 8 will be fine, people will just have to adjust their work flows a bit and get used to the new interface - it's not that hard really. The future is touch control, the hardware makers have decided that and people in general are going along with it, Microsoft *must* make the UI changes to stay relevant in a touchy-feely world. People need to stop being so damn moany and negative all the time. Go use Linux (and complain about Gnome3) or Mac (and complain about simpletons and spinny carnival wheels) if you hate it that much and stop going on and on and on about how everything is going to be a fail before it even gets a chance. It's so tiresome.

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