VLC Media Player

CNET Editors' review

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.

VLC Media Player:

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    4.3 stars

    out of 3,440 votes

    • 5 star: 1835
    • 4 star: 1090
    • 3 star: 236
    • 2 star: 109
    • 1 star: 170
  • Current version:

    4.0 stars

    out of 64 votes

    • 5 star: 26
    • 4 star: 24
    • 3 star: 6
    • 2 star: 4
    • 1 star: 4
  • My rating:

    0 stars

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