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CNET Editors' review
More than a few users find it frustrating when their media player won't play Flash videos saved from YouTube and similar sites. After all, they only outnumber all other videos by a huge margin that grows wider every minute. It may be possible to tweak your player with codecs, but with so many free media players available, why not try one that does it for you, such as FLVPlayer4Free. As its name suggests, it's a free media player that specializes in playing FLV and related formats. But it's hardly limited to Flash video: It also plays all the most common audio and video formats and plenty of uncommon ones. With a unique look (easily customized) and tons of options available when you need them, FLVPlayer4Free covers all the bases you need a media player to cover yet offers enough of a difference to stand out in a crowded field.
FLVPlayer4Free's user interface combines a browser-like toolbar with essential controls to show a different face from the usual media player look. With its white background, the look is clean and efficient yet a bit stark, but complaints cease when you right-click the interface to access the main menu and scroll down to Skins: FLVPlayer4Free comes with more than 100 skins, with something for every taste. A pop-up tool makes it incredibly easy to preview and apply them all. The toolbar includes a Playlist Editor, Save Frame tool, and Video Converter.
We like FLVPlayer4Free. It's an attractive alternative to the popular but fiddly open source media players, yet it gives up little in features. We encountered no bugginess, though it did associate our media files despite our expectation of a setup option (it's easy enough to change) and its publisher would like to interest you in other software -- hardly unique or especially annoying. It played Flash video, saved TV programs, and copied DVDs, everything we threw at it, in fact. FLVPlayer4Free offers a nice balance between simplicity and options, especially if you're mostly interested in a top-quality YouTube player that can also handle your DVDs, MPEGs, AVIs, and other video playback needs.
FLVPlayer4Free-Play MKV, MOV, MP4, AVI videos or YouTube video.-Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From FLVPlayer4Free:
FLVPlayer4Free is an updated enjoyable application to play FLV, Youtube Video and other Video files. No need of Flash authoring tool and provides Drag & Drop support (from files, texts, browser links), Multi language function, Full screen and Full resizable options, an useful. Always on top function, volume, and mute commands and Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward. Seeking bar buttons to easily deal with your FLV player. Contain optional Youtube Video Download Toolbar. Support: FLV MP4 F4V F4P F4A F4B DIVX XVID MP4 AVI MPEG MPEG4 WMV ASF MPG M4V MKV DVR-MS HDMOV M2TS M2T MKA 3GP 3G2 3GPP 3GP2 MOV QT RM RAM RMVB video files.
What's new in this version: Version 4.8: volume bug fixed, news skins, new function fit to screen:
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 199 votes
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Current version:
1.4 starsout of 11 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Installs Babylon Toolbar"
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
None discoverable, because cannot install without accepting Babylon Toolbar. Surely they know how hated this invader it?
Cons
Unable to install without accepting Babylon Toolbar. Could not exit installation, had to use Task Manager.
Summary
Save yourself hassle, don't even download it.
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"Full of spyware and toolbars"
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
I wouldn't know, I uninstalled it within 5 minutes without using it. WinPatrol was catching software trying to constantly startup with the system after I installed this.
Cons
It tried to change my IE startup, along with an IE helper, and was trying to constantly install an IE toolbar.
Summary
I trusted CNET for years to give good software and good reviews. It looks like I can't trust them anymore. Sad to see a good site go bad.
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"If you want hidden crapware install this."
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
None that i can think of except maybe sick it on someone you don't like.
Cons
Never even tried software, tries to jam hidden browser toolbars and homepage hijacking down your throat.
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"Nice Try on the Malware sneak, but n00b I am not."
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
Zip, zero, zilch.
Cons
I often see people complain about toolbars being installed and usually (let's be honest) it's the fault of the person installing for not unchecking the boxes in the dialog. This one really does its best to FORCE the toolbars on you and that is beyond uncool.
I didn't even fully install the program because I noticed the sneaky toolbar BS right away. You unclick the boxes for the toolbars and the next box that pops up is a cute little "You should really download this toolbar, it's super cool, for reals! Click OK!" I hit cancel and saw that it advanced me to the next install step and said to myself "Self, the reviews were dead on... this is some shaaaaaady software, we should just abort this install and scrub every instance of this POS from the hard drive."Summary
I wonder how much the writer of this review got paid to shill malware onto unsuspecting users? May your motherboards fry for conning people into screwing up their computers. Cnet used to be the place to go for software you could trust. I guess integrity can be bought cheap these days.
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"Very Functional Program"
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
I like the fact that it will just about play any kind of video file, I found this program would play Mp4 videos very smooth, where Windows Media Player Could not. I like the fact that the program seemed very easy on the Memory usage, which allowed the program to function very smooth with video. I like programs that actually WORK with Videos well. And this one does.
Cons
When you launch the program it looks like your Computer has Crashed. All you see is a Black Screen, until you move your Mouse to the Bottom of the screen, then the Control panel pops up in your face.
I also didn't like the fact that I had to guess what each picture on the Control panel represented. It might be nice if the Programmers put Mouseover tags on the ICONS or labels or SOMETHING.Summary
I am keeping this Program because it WORKS. I don't care about Fancy good looking Programs, I want stuff that WORKS. And this one Works Well. And I like it because of that. Those who use Linux will probably like this Program more than those who are used to windows, because this program Functions much better than it Looks. Even though this program is designed to run on Windows it has the Feel of Ubuntu. :) Get the idea?
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"This program installed horrible INCREDIBAR virus!!!"
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
None. So far spent all my time trying to rid my computer of this awful thing called "mystart.incredibar."
Cons
This terrible "IncrediBar" virus/Trojan horse/extreme malware has so far defeated MalWareBytes, AdAware, SpyBot and Kaspersky. Cnet should stop offering this product and provide detailed instructions about how to remove this self-replicating nightmare.
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""AVOID" THIS CRAP ASS SOFTWARE AT ALL COST."
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
THERE ARE NO PROS, IT CAN'T EVEN PLAY A SIMPLE ******* MP4. IT HAS A CHEAP ASS INTERFACE TO BEGIN WITH.
Cons
WHEN YOU CLICK TO UNCHECK THE CHEAP SPAM SOFTWARE TOOLBAR ADDS DURING INSTALLATION, IT FORCES THEM ON YOU ANYWAY. AND THEY'RE HARD TO GET RID OF.
Summary
AVOID THIS CHEAP ASS SPAM-LIKE PIECE OF **** SOFTWARE.
VIRUS-LIKE TOOLBARS FORCED ON YOUR BROWSER. -
"Incredibar Malware CNET should not be recommending this"
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
I downloaded this junk because I was looking for a FLV player. I used the custom download option and unchecked the options, which were for an incredibar toolbar and some Mystart thingy. It loaded them anyway and they took over my computer. I wasted HOURS tonight trying to rid my browser of the Mystart incredibar page which would load whenever I opened a second tab. Finally I found some instructions and looked in the about:config page, where I found DOZENS of incredibar extension files added to my browser. In the end I had to reset Firefox. The Pro here is I was able to get rid of it - I won't get this Friday night back again though. This is Malware. Don't download it. CNET needs a kick in the arse for recommending it.
Cons
One thousand words is not enough.
Summary
AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
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"Installs Toolbar Even If You Do Not Agree (AVOID!)"
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
None; buggy, and sneaky.
Cons
Buggy and installs a toolbar even if you do not agree. AVOID!
Summary
Avoid!
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"Bugs galore."
Version: FLVPlayer4Free 4.8
Pros
It plays, without controls. It actually does partially display a picture, so it is not completely useless.
Cons
It loads with part of the window off the bottom of the screen.
The window cannot be moved to view the entire window.
The mouse becomes disabled.
The "close" command does not work.
The pause/volume/ etc commands across the bottom of the screen do not work.
More problems, but you get the idea.Summary
Too buggy to use.
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