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To find a term in the glossary, click the letter of the alphabet that is the first letter in the term you want to look up.
You can also read glossary terms within the text of Help by clicking the underlined glossary term links. After you click a glossary link, the glossary term and definition appear in a pop-up window. To close the window, click anywhere on the screen.
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The traditional format in which audio and video are transmitted by using a wave or analog signal. An analog signal may not work with digital speakers; computers use digital signals.
A small window that appears in the lower-right corner of the screen when Windows Media Player is in skin mode, which enables you to return to full mode.
The transmission method used by a radio station (AM, FM, or Internet).
A network's capacity for transferring an amount of data in a given time.
The number of bits transferred per second.
A transmission medium designed for high-speed data transfers over long distances. Cable modem services and DSL are examples of broadband networks.
An area of computer memory reserved for temporarily holding data before that data is used on the receiving computer. Buffering protects against the interruption of data flow.
The identifying code letters or numbers of a radio or television transmitting station, assigned by a regulatory body.
Text that accompanies images or videos, either as a supplemental description or a transcript of spoken words.
See definition for: compact disc (CD)
See definition for: CD recorder
A device used to copy files to recordable CDs.
See definition for: compact disc-recordable (CD-R)
See definition for: compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW)
In a DVD, a portion of a title, such as a scene or sequence. A title can contain one or more chapters.
See also: title
An abbreviation for compressor/decompressor. Software or hardware used to compress and decompress digital media.
An optical storage medium for digital data.
A type of CD on which files can be copied, but not erased or replaced.
A type of CD on which files can be copied, erased, and replaced.
A process for removing redundant data from a digital media file or stream to reduce its size or the bandwidth used.
The maximum rate, in bits per second, at which data can be transferred between a network and a computer or device.
The person or organization that distributes Windows Media files (for example, a record, movie, or streaming media company). The content provider may also be the content owner.
To convert encrypted content back into its original form.
See also: encrypt
Data represented as binary digits (zeros and ones).
To transfer a file over a network in response to a request from the device that receives the data. Downloaded content is kept on the receiving device for playback on demand. In contrast, streamed content is played as it is delivered.
To convert audio and video content to a specified digital format.
To programmatically disguise content to hide its substance.
See also: decrypt
In Windows Media Player, a process to ensure that digital audio data is read from the CD-ROM drive accurately during playback or copying. Using error correction can prevent undesirable noises that are not part of the original material.
The structure or organization of data in a file. File format is usually indicated by the file name extension.
See also: file name extension, file type
A set of characters added to the end of a file name that identifies the file type or format.
See also: file format, file type
A description of the content or format of a file. File type is usually indicated by the file name extension.
See also: file format, file name extension
A combination of hardware and software that enforces a boundary between two or more networks and prevents unauthorized access to a private network.
One of many sequential images that make up video.
The number of video frames displayed per second. Higher frame rates generally produce smoother movement in the picture.
In Windows Media Player, the number, such as 88.5 or 101.7, used to locate a radio station.
The default operational state of Windows Media Player in which all of its features are displayed. The Player can also appear in skin mode.
See also: skin mode
In Windows Media Technologies, the type of music, such as rock or classical, played by a radio station.
See definition for: Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
The Internet protocol used to deliver information over the World Wide Web.
A Windows Media file that has an associated license that defines how the file can be played. The restrictions stated in the license vary depending on the license creator. When a CD track is copied by using Windows Media Player, a license can be assigned to the newly created file. Under that license, the file can only be played on the computer where the file was created.
See definition for: multiple bit rate (MBR)
See definition for: Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
The committee that creates international standards for coding audio-visual information to a digital, compressed format. The acronym MPEG is appended to the beginning of individual specifications developed by the committee. For example, MPEG-2 refers to the standard, ISO/IEC - 11172.
See definition for: Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
A content delivery method in which a single stream is transmitted from a media server to multiple clients. The clients have no connection with the server. Instead, the server sends a single copy of the stream across the network to multicast-enabled routers, which replicate the data. Clients can then receive the stream by monitoring a specific multicast IP address and port.
A characteristic of a data stream in which the same content is encoded at several different bit rates in order to optimize content delivery.
A specification of the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA). The specification defines a protocol for describing music data, such as note on and note off messages; a file format for storing music data, called Standard MIDI; and a standard hardware interface.
A list of digital media content.
A connection point in a computer through which a peripheral device or another computer can communicate.
A mobile electronic device that can exchange files or other data with a computer or device. Examples of portable devices include Pocket PCs, portable digital music players, and Smartphones.
A set of formats and procedures that enable computers to exchange information.
See also: Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
A server located on a network between client software, such as a Web browser, and another server. It intercepts all requests to the server to determine whether it can fulfill them itself. If not, it forwards the request to another server.
See definition for: top menu
A user interface that provides an alternative appearance and customized functionality for software such as Windows Media Player.
An operational state of Windows Media Player in which its user interface is displayed as a skin.
See also: full mode, skin
A method of delivering digital media across a network in a continuous flow. The digital media is played by client software as it is received. Typically, streaming makes it unnecessary for users to download a file before playing it.
See definition for: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
On a DVD, typically, the largest unit of content, such as a movie or TV program, is called a title. There is not a consistent standard across all DVDs and because of this, a DVD can contain one or more titles.
See also: chapter
Typically, the main on-screen menu of a DVD. It is frequently used to view specific titles, chapters, or supplemental material on a DVD, or to control subtitle, language, or other settings.
See also: top menu
Typically, the on-screen menu for a specific title on a DVD. It is frequently used to select specific chapters to be played within a title. Also known as the root menu.
See also: title menu
An individual song or other discrete piece of content on a CD.
The protocol within TCP/IP that governs the breakup of data messages into packets to be sent via IP, and the reassembly and verification of the complete messages from packets received by IP.
See definition for: User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
A connectionless transport protocol in the TCP/IP protocol stack that is used in cases where some packet loss is acceptable, for example, with digital media streams.
In Windows Media Player, a graphical display that changes in response to the audio signal.
A file containing audio, video, or script data that is stored in Windows Media Format. Depending on their content and purpose, Windows Media files use a variety of file name extensions, such as: .wma, .wme, .wms, .wmv, .wmx, .wmz, or .wvx.
The format used by Microsoft Windows Media Technologies (or a third-party product that incorporates a licensed Windows Media technology) to author, store, edit, distribute, stream, or play timeline-based content.