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BS.Player is a free video and media player that's been around in several versions for some time. It's a capable tool with lots of options and some useful specializations, such as automatically scanning your system for missing codecs and downloading and installing them. It's got some clunkiness, though, and it displays a nag message overlay when you play videos. It's only on the screen for a few seconds (though it seems longer) but all it does is tell you that BS.Player is free for noncommercial use.
BS.Player's installer has several options, including associating supported media files, which we declined. But it also scanned our system and identified a number of necessary and recommended codecs and offered to install them, which we accepted. These are familiar freeware media codecs like Haali Media Splitter. BS.Player splits its interface into two parts: a control panel and a video window. The compact console has the usual controls and displays (title, timer, etc.) plus a right-side menu with expandable controls for configuring and playing Video, DVD, Audio, Radio, and TV. A Menu next to the Minimize button opened an extensive file of commands, options, and features, including FAQs, a wiki, a forum, and updates, but no manual or Help file. You can reskin the console, too. We previewed the available skins but found them like the main theme, a bit garish and with styling cues taken from game controllers.
BS.Player can play just about anything, though that's also true of its principle competitors, which also rival it in options (and beat it soundly in looks). But BS.Player isn't particularly intuitive, either; for instance, when our first video finished playing, we looked around for a way to close the video screen before finally resorting to the menu. An autohiding Exit button on the window or a Close File button on the console would be welcome additions. But, bottom line: a free video player that plasters its so-called freeness over your video in an onscreen message you can't defeat isn't free in our book, or worth our time -- not with so many excellent free media players a click away.
Publisher's Description
From AB Team:
BS.Player is a Windows based multimedia player that plays all types of media files (AVI/MPG/ASF/WMV/WAV/AVCHD/FLV YouTube videos/MP3) and specializes in video and DivX playback. Main features: display subtitles; support custom subtitles position, color, font, transparency, supported formats: MicroDVD, subviewer, and SubRip. fully skinnable - any shape, transparent skins, resizable movie window, multilingual, drag and drop support, command line support, pan-scan and custom pan-scan option, custom aspect ratios, playlist support, resolution changing, frame capture, AVI files with more than 2 audio streams supported (multi-language), support for OGM files, including more then 2 audio/video tracks, supports embedded subtitles/chapters, external audio file supported, S/PDIF output supported for AC3 files.
What's new in this version: Version 2.65 fixes bugs.
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All versions:
3.3 starsout of 120 votes
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Current version:
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"One of my essential system setup programs"
Version: BSPlayer 2.64.1073
Pros
Plays everything I throw at it
Built in sub-titles downloaderCons
Separate controls window sometimes gets lost
Summary
I always install BSPlayer when setting up a new system and use it for video / movie playing when on my PC.
It plays pretty much anything I can throw at it and the built in sub-title download tools is great -
"Great for just playing movies, vids"
Version: BSPlayer 2.64.1073
Pros
Pretty good picture quality for watching movies and vids
Cons
I had downloaded this once before and it was detected as spyware. This player will get annoying, because it "takes over" all videos on your computer. When you try to correct it, it automatically switches back to BS player. Weird. If you like capturing stills from your videos, this one is a pain to do it. GOM player is so much easier
Summary
If you just want to watch movies with this and dont plan to use any other player then maybe this will be ok. I still dont trust it since it still keeps forcing itself to be the default player. When I uninstalled this, it messed up the other videos players including windows media player! I had to reinstall all those to work properly again
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"Wonderfull!!!"
Version: BSPlayer 2.62.1068
Pros
easy to use
works as claims
Amazing!Cons
not found yet
Summary
I like it very much. It is one of the best software I have found.
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"Player that lose leadership"
Version: BSPlayer 2.62.1068
Pros
beautiful interface
Cons
codecs is needed for playing some files
Summary
Good player, my ex-favorite
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"love it,use it,every day"
Version: BSPlayer 2.62.1068
Pros
simple, reliable, like an automatic search for subtitles
Cons
non so far
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"Great play-anything media player"
Version: BSPlayer 2.61.1065
Pros
Very lightweight, fast, keyboard shortcuts, supports dual displays, and gets subtitles from the net automatically. Downloads codecs from the net if needed.
Cons
Skin is a bit outdated. It offers to install toolbar, but this can be simply unchecked and it will not bother you ever again.
Summary
User friendly player, plays all media files, i recommend it to all my friends. IT'S A MUST HAVE PLAYER!
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"When it does not Uninstall it is crap"
Version: BSPlayer 2.35.985
Pros
Still crap when I cannot get rid of it. Closer to malware than good programming. And there is no clear way out.
Cons
Maybe crap is being too nice. Lets try and address the problems guys. Am on XP Pro and reinstalled it and uninstalled it using the uninstaller that came with it instead of Windows Add Remove program. This is a P.O.!
Summary
still crap. Until you guys will figure out why it stays I will negify this program on FB.
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"It's the right Video player for me"
Version: BSPlayer 2.58.1058
Pros
I love that it looks for subtitles for me.
Cons
Maybe a better look.
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"It's Ok, but could be better."
Version: BSPlayer 2.58.1058
Pros
Fairly simple, and it usually works.
Cons
Has some stability problems. The "Help" files are very limited, settings and options are often guess work.
Summary
It's Ok for a free player, but needs work.
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"Cannot play .mov videos"
Version: BSPlayer 2.57.1051
Pros
Has good interface.
Cons
Cannot play .mov videos
