Image via Sizzled Core

If Microsoft doesn't, there's sure to be some folk who will. In fact, some people already are working on pulling the next version of Windows Media Player out of the public Windows 7 beta, and getting it to work with Vista.

Looking for information about a possible WMP12 for Vista release, I stumbled across this article on Sizzled Core, complete with a download link for the adventurous. Comments on the article have lead me to avoid trying out the download, with commenters complaining that Windows reports that the new WMP is "not a valid Win32 application." It's possible that the download is for 64-bit systems; however, that doesn't necessarily mean that pulling the same files from a 32-bit build of Windows 7 will work.

Rather than allow users to possibly have their systems open to malware sneaking in with such attempts to bring WMP12 to Vista, Microsoft might want to put out an official release for Vista. Perhaps even the current beta of the product, flaws and all.

The next version of Windows Media Player brings in some features that have been sorely lacking in older releases, features that many WMP users have been anxiously awaiting. Out of box, the new version includes AAC/M4A audio support, as well as H.264, DivX and Xvid video. On top of that, the cleaner and brighter user interface means a better user experience, and it also can browse and play (unencrypted) music from iTunes libraries of other people on your network, the way WMP11 can do the same with other WMP users right now.

No word yet on podcast support, but if Microsoft could work that in before RTM, that'd make a lot of us happy, too.

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