LAS VEGAS, NV — New web video software is taking center stage at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in Las Vegas this week, with both Microsoft Corp. and Adobe Systems Inc. unveiling new video products during the event.In what Adobe says will be a “lightweight download,” the new Adobe Media Player (AMP) will provide users with higher quality playback of Flash format files, the ability to download videos for offline viewing, as well as “ways to discover interesting new shows, full screen playback, one-click viewer ratings, and a powerful Favorites feature that automatically downloads new episodes of favorite TV shows or video podcasts,” according to a press release issued today by Adobe.

Adobe claims that AMP will also give content publishers a better means to “deliver, monetize, brand, track and protect video content,” including “protected download-and-play.”

Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen said that AMP represents the company’s effort to build on the success and growing user base of Flash, Adobe’s flagship video product.

“Adobe Flash has revolutionized the distribution of video content across the Internet and Adobe Media Player builds on this leadership position,” stated Chizen in Adobe’s press release. “NAB is a great venue to preview the new capabilities Adobe is bringing to market later this year – as we build out a technology portfolio that will drive new advances in Internet video authoring, playback and commerce.”

Microsoft, meanwhile, will unveil at NAB this week its new video technology “Silverlight,” a product the company describes as a “cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web.”

Previously referred to as the Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere (WPF/E), Microsoft says that Silverlight is designed to integrate with existing Web applications to provide higher quality video at a lower cost of delivery for producers and distributors.

“Content providers are seeking a way to deliver rich interactive applications using the tools and skills they already have,” said senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business for Microsoft, Bob Muglia. “They want an end-to-end solution that enables them to rapidly reach multiple platforms with reasonable deployment costs. Microsoft Silverlight delivers on this need and marks a real step forward for the industry.”

Muglia added that Silverlight is “the only solution in the market today that enables content creators to tap into the broad ecosystem for Windows Media technologies while taking the Web’s rich interactive application experience to new levels.”

For more information on the new video technologies from Adobe and Microsoft, see the releases from each company, available at the links below:

Adobe Media Player announcement:
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200704/041607AMP.html

Microsoft Silverlight announcement:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/apr07/04-15WPFEPR.mspx