Software surgeons as-yet-unknown have made a nonsense of Microsoft's requirement that Windows' Media Player 8 will only work with its forthcoming Windows XP operating system. A standalone version, which can be installed on Windows 2000, was popping up all over the web today.

As reported on the wires, but not confirmed by Microsoft, this news sent lobby group ProComp into a mighty rage last week, as we reported here. Of all the recent bundling initiatives Redmond's made in recent months, this is the one tipped them over the edge, and ProComp claims that it represents a clear violation of the 1995 Consent Decree which still has 18 months to run.

The hacked, standalone WMP8 is purported to work with Windows ME and 2000.

It's available from mirror sites listed here at Savage News. Do so at your own peril, as it's of dubious legality... but we look forward to feedback. ®

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