- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: May 03, 2007
- Total Downloads: 15,859,755
- Downloads last week: 129,504
- See full specifications
A newer version of VLC Media Player is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1912 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
When it comes to video files, nothing is ever as easy as it should be. Thankfully, VLC Media Player offers a one-stop solution for the file-format problem. The program supports playback of OGG, MP2, MP3, MP4, DivX, DVD, and a whole slew of other file types. In addition, it also can function as a streaming media server. Because of its open-source foundation, VLC Media Player evolves quickly, with new features and fixes released frequently.
Though the interface varies from platform to platform, the sparseness of the Windows version leaves plenty to be desired. The skinned mode perks things up slightly, but the program seems to suffer from unpredictable behavior when skinned. Also, the basic task of opening a file is far more confusing than it should be; the program gives you several options, including the head-scratching Quick Open File. Overall, though, VLC Media Player is a must-have application for its ability to open just about any type of video file you throw at it.
Watch the CNET video review of VLC Media Player:
Publisher's description
From VideoLAN Project :VLC (initially VideoLAN Client) is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, MP3, and OGG, as well as for DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It also can be used as a server for unicast or multicast streams in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network.
The most prominent additions to version 0.8.6 are probably Windows Media Video 9 and Flash Video. Other important changes are improved H.264 decoding, better Windows Unicode support, and a full-screen controller
Version 0.8.6b includes enhanced Flash video support and a variety of bug fixes.
What's new in this version:
Version 0.8.6b includes enhanced Flash video support and a variety of bug fixes.
More popular Video Players downloads
- 357,665 downloads 1. FreeZ Online TV
- 237,166 downloads 2. DivX 7 for Windows
- 190,840 downloads 3. GOM Media Player
- 155,136 downloads 4. VLC Media Player
- 152,811 downloads 5. RealPlayer SP
- See all Video Players downloads
User reviews of VLC Media Player 0.8.6b
- Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 1912 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 5 of 110 user reviewsSee all 110 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
16 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.6b
"Opening a file is child's play!!"
Pros: This program opens video files that other programs don't. My experience is that if VLC can't open it, it can't BE opened.
Oh, the reason that opening a file is easy comes from the fact that it's so reliable I've reassigned all my file associations which lets me open any video file by just clicking on it.
-
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.6b
"Good to open the strange stuff, but grainy when playing WMP-capable files"
Pros: Will open anything I have thrown at it so far!
Cons: Resolution is grainier than Windows Media Player, else I would make VLC player my primary utility!
-
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.6b
"Best Media Software - Small, Simple, Fast, Opens Everything"
-
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.6b
Pros: Has been one of my favourite program to play video files for some time. It is able to read nearly all types of video formats. if ether u can't read a format, use the new GOM media player. With these 2 programs u will be able to read all video formats
-
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.6b
"extremely simple video player"
Pros: plays everything "out of the box".
easy to use.
fast startup.
I give it 4 stars because it does its job well, and is a simple program to use...
Cons: Back to win 95? (ugly/oldfacion userinterface)
I only use VLC to play movies and tv-shows in fullscreen, so the looks of the program does'nt matter.
- See all 110 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Previous Versions:
