Adobe says the next version of its media player will allow users to watch video stored on their machines as well as that streamed online.

Sites such as YouTube use Adobe's Flash technology to stream video. But the Adobe Media Player will let you watch videos offline as well. It promises better quality playback and a favourites feature which will automatically download shows.

The player also includes two types of restriction on videos - either providing videos with unremovable adverts or linking videos with specific people or machines. It also promises more information for advertisers on how their content is being used.

Adobe worked with Akamai on the player - which it is previewing at a US broadcasters conference. The software will be available as a free beta later this year. More from Adobe here.

Microsoft used the same conference to announce Silverlight - its in-browser video player previously called Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere.

Silverlight will be available from 30 April 2007 and will work on various browsers including IE, Firefox, and Safari. ®

3 comments posted — Comment period finished