A beta version of Microsoft's latest Media Player is now available for download from the company's Web site.

The software can play music and video streamed in real time over the Internet, as well as record, organize and play songs off CDs and access 1,900 Internet radio stations.

A final version of the software will be released this summer in the upcoming next-generation operating system, Windows Millennium Edition.

More details can be found at www.zdnn.com.