Adobe on Tuesday said it had begun to roll out the first update to its desktop media player, complete with a new interface and content deal with Sony. Signing Sony onto the service means Adobe Media Player users will soon be able to watch full-length feature films from Sony Pictures. Among the first titles to debut will be Men in Black and The Fifth Element among others, according to reports.
In all cases, the programming is provided for free. Adobe monetizes the application through advertising, both in the frame around the content and in the videos itself. The revenues are split between Adobe and the content creator. The update is the first since Adobe Media Player officially launched in April after a year of beta testing. Adobe uses its AIR runtime, which allows developers to create applications that will run across multiple platforms. For now, Media Player works only on either Windows or Mac OS X.
The new interface provides a revamped home screen, easier navigation, and is more intuitive, Adobe says. Users would also now also be able to download content in the background, as well as be notified when new material is available. With the new content deals, Adobe Media Player will feature about 25,000 video clips, including about 600 television shows.
Adobe has not said how well its new software is faring against competitors like Apple’s iTunes and Windows Media Player, holding back specific installation specifics. However, the company does note that it has seen significant numbers of people trying out Adobe Media Player when installing Flash and Adobe Reader.
