The Windows Media ecosystem

It's a Windows Media trifecta, and never before has the Windows music environment looked so appealing. Today, Microsoft, MTV, and iRiver announced what we're calling the Windows Media ecosystem, which consists of a media jukebox application, a music service, and an MP3 player: Windows Media Player (WMP) 11, Urge, and the Clix. (Well, technically, WMP 11 was announced at CES, but since it's a critical piece to this puzzle, we're including it here.) Even with the media player and the music service still in beta, these products make a fabulous team, with the type of superb integration usually associated with Apple products. If you're looking for the Windows Media answer to iTunes and the iPod, this is it.