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GOM Media Player for Windows handles most of the more common video formats, including MP4, AVI, MKV, and more. It comes with a sleeker, more media center-focused design and packs plenty of codecs under the hood to play just about any media format you throw at it.
The initial installation is standard, like any other Windows product: accept a couple terms, set a destination folder, and choose to opt in or out of an offer from AVG. After installation completes, GOM will guide you through an optional setup process to optimize initial use based on sound and monitor setup.
You'll be introduced to a 4:3 ratio default window with an orange, black, and silver theme that will make you wonder if Halloween came early. Your token playback tools like Play, Stop, and Skip Forward and Back are located on the bottom left corner, and control panels for managing your media content are located on the opposite side. In the middle is a small, integrated upsell ticker that links users to any of GOM's other products or video content. Though this can easily be removed by switching to another skin, it's far less intrusive than other attempts at product promotions that we've seen in many other apps.
Right above is a timeline that's extremely narrow; this is fine for standard keyboard/mouse users but hardly ideal for touch. Right-clicking anywhere on the player will expose even more detailed options and audio/video-related tweaks like those found in other open-source players. You can add custom audio EQ effects, tweak subtitle lengths, and even take burst screenshots to capture particular moments from videos. However, some of the language was a bit confusing: GOM labels screen rotation as "flip input/output." Not a deal- breaker by any means, but not a labor-intensive fix either.
Power users are given the added option to set custom hot keys and even sync their remote iOS and Android devices like tablets and phones to control the media player over Wi-Fi. And though this feature works for the most part, buggy playback and less-than-stellar navigation do not make this prime time-ready.
But when it came to video playback, GOM was no slouch. Videos played and looked as they should, and it was easy enough to incrementally tweak your picture settings during live play.
Whether you choose this or VLC, both are solid media players, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. GOM tries to do a lot, and though some of those attempts could use some work, its core mode is rock solid: watching your favorite Global Starcraft II League (GSL) masters duke it out in this season of GSL.
GOM Media Player:Publisher's Description
From Gretech:
GOM Player is a free multimedia player with popular video and audio codecs built-in. GOM Player supports file formats such as AVI, DAT, MPEG, DivX, XviD, WMV, ASF. Users don't have to install codecs separately. GOM Player is capable of playing incomplete or damaged AVI files by skipping the damaged frames. It can also play locked or partially downloaded files. Its other features include drag-and-drop support, HTTP streaming, editable skins, subtitling, overlay mixer, key remapping, enhanced filter rendering, real-time index rebuilding for AVI files and unicode support among others.
What's new in this version: Version 2.1.50.5145: 1. Modified the software's codec settings for AAC audio playback. 2. The AC3 tab has been removed from the Prefences window, and internal AC3 options have been disabled. 3. Corrected a sync issue with certain TS files. 4. Corrected a playback issue with MP4 files containing hard-coded scrolling subtitles. 5. Added features to delete and disabled the saving of recently played files to the Windows "Recent Files" list (Windows 7 and 8 only).
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 1,785 votes
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Current version:
3.4 starsout of 12 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"An excellent media player!"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
Great interface, very user friendly.
Cons
The AVG toolbar is a big con.
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"Worth downloading if you need a free player"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
Worth downloading if you need a free player
Cons
Worth downloading if you need a free player
Summary
Worth downloading if you need a free player
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"Dirty trick to install AVG toolbar"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
-- Plays almost everything.
-- Light weightCons
BEWARE
It plays a dirty trick and in 90% cases even if you are aware that it will give you option not to choose AVG toolbar still you will end up installing it.
Here is what it does.
1. You click on the Install button and it will pretend that it's not responding for few seconds.
2. Now you will try to click on Install button again. And that the trick. In the next page exactly at the same position then have given option to install AVG toolbar.
3. When you click on Install button 2nd time, then will consider it as clicking you on AVG toolbar button and will start Installing AVG toolbar.
I faced this problem so many times that now I am sure that it's not a software glitch rather intentional trick.
Donno why security suite like AVG need to act like a malware.Summary
Still VLC is the best. No Tric, plays more files.
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"Easy to use. Can play most any video."
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
Easy to use. Can play most any video.
Cons
Easy to use. Can play most any video.
Summary
Easy to use. Can play most any video.
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"great software, easy install"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
great player, comparing it to the other one i use (VLC)
Cons
none so far
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"seems to work fine"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
seems to work fine,does what it :"should"[?]
had always "bad luck" with the highly praised VLC PLAYER [on all my computers]
so this is new one iswelcome !!Cons
not found any problems at this moment
Summary
Worth downloading if you need a free player
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"Download this if you want another crappy toolbar"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
If there are any, they aren't worth it
Cons
Virus/malware scan showed up negative, after installing media player my browser had a new search engine installed despite me declining it's approval. I was so pissed I didn't even look at the media player. Thanks for distributing garbage CNET.
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"I LOVE THIS product"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
Love that it plays all video types
and they look great
love the audio player
LOVE that I can change skins
AND almost anything else that needs it.
Just love itCons
http://******/17OHT3Z
None, now that I know I do NOT have to install AVG with the updates
there is a checkbox to refuse install but it is hard to see
Here is a screen shot of it for easier reference
http://******/17OHT3ZSummary
I would happily recommend this product to anyone
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"Super product! Easy to use"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
Easy to use. Can play most any video.
Cons
None for me. It does seem that many users have downloaded the software and did not read the comments on the download. You do not have to install the AVG software and toolbars. If you don't want it, just click the box to decline. It seems pretty simple to do, in my opinion.
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"Good product gone bad"
Version: GOM Media Player 2.1.50.5145
Pros
GOM player is a good media solution but the latest update is messed up with AVG toolbar bundle.
Cons
toolbars is such an evil
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