Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
What's the top media player? Opinions differ, but if you mean one that's open-source freeware, plays more files than the others, can be totally customized and configured to suit, and is not only updated frequently but also regularly offers new features and options created by a huge community of programmers and users, the answer is VLC Media Player.
Our default media player for years, VLC has managed to stay ahead of the competition in features and performance, if not always looks, though that's easy enough to fix if you want to. VLC and its source code are maintained by the all-volunteer VideoLAN Organization.
VLC is quick and easy to install. You can make VLC your default media player for various (or all) file types, but if you just want to try VLC without giving up your current player, you can skip the file associations. We clicked the familiar orange-and-white traffic cone icon to open VLC's famously plain interface, which is also a model of efficient layout design (and completely customizable, in any case: clicking the skinned player option in VideoLAN's Start Menu folder opens VLC in a sleek new view).
Effects? VLC has 'em: Audio, Video, and Synchronization effects, including a graphic equalizer with many presets; totally customizable dynamic range compression; an audio spatializer tool; AtmoLight video effects; interactive zoom; logos and overlays; and even special effects like blur, wave, water, and mirror effects. VLC's minimized interface hides the player's controls until you need them, and a raft of hot keys make it easy to toggle between views and to quickly access any of VLC's features. Playback quality is as good as it gets. We've used VLC to play MP3s, WAVs, CDs, DVDs, Flash video, and other formats. As for support, few programs of any sort can match VLC's Help files and wikis, and its dedicated community of users, forums and other online resources.
From myriad file types to playlists to codecs and video capture, if it's useful to have in a media player, VLC has probably got it or soon will. VLC plays everything: if there's a media file it can't play but should, just ask!
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.
What's new in this version: Version 1.0.5 include various fixes, speed improvements, and translations updates. It also benefits speed-ups from both an updated compiler (gcc 4.4.2) and codecs updates.
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Plays more music and video than ever, including Flip Video and ...Visit Site Or, Learn More About Windows Media Player 12This download is served from an external site
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 3,431 votes
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Current version:
4.3 starsout of 205 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"FULL OF MALWARE AND SPYWARE"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
The player all by itself is quite good.
Cons
The manufacturer claims that it's the fault of third parties who are bundling crapware with the player. I don't believe them, as this is how they make money.
Here's how to thoroughly cleanup your computer from this crapware that spoofs Google, and does many other nasty things:
Open Regedit and search for the word: babylon. If you can delete these instances, go ahead. Some entries can only safely be modified, and you should make the data blank. Keep searching for more instances of babylon. Then type :about:config" in the Firefox address bar. Search for "babylon." One of these instaces contains a long regisry key. Go back to Regedit and selete this key. THEN uninstall Firefox and reinstall it.
BE VERY CAREFUL EDITING YOUR REGISTRY, AND BEFORE DOING SO BE SURE TO CREATE A RESTORE POINT.Summary
BUNDLED WITH GARBAGEWWARE
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"A pretty good player/viewer"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
Played all formats. Played them well and the visual quality was really good.
Cons
Not stable all the time. Did have some quirks. The sound quality is poor. didn't really satisfy me overall. Even though it is a very good product.
Summary
Other than Windows Media Player, The KMPlayer is my preferred multi format multi-dimansional viewer.
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"Very happy with it"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
not used it much but works very well. audio & Video too.
Cons
Not noticed any so far.
Summary
Very straight forward & simple to use; could jazz it up with some video generated display like window media player, while playing audio music;without compromising on the quality.
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"Excellent product."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
It is one of the best media players that I have encountered so far.
Cons
There are no significant shortcpomings.
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"Quickest, by far has the most codecs installed, + free"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
- Very fast encoding of video's. Have never had a problem with freeze up
- It's free :)
- Quick and easy to install, only about 17 meg
- Has very good options for slowing video, adjusting frame rate and aspect ratio's.
Best all around player by farCons
None so far..this player is ahead of most mainstream companies and has been able to play anything I need it to play. And it play's them well!
Summary
Awesome player, get it! If you torrent movies especially. If you don't and you just want a nifty little player for your music and movies, this is it!
Best for movies though :p -
"Stream master, lightning speed, high quality play!"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
Every detail is very professional made. Every aspect is possible to fully customize, from picture and audio plus filters. Bunch of codecs and support for almost every media file. Good features for DVD reproduction. VLC contains even to many options.
Cons
Configuration is very professional and huge so you must take care what and how much do you configure something. Can crash sometimes, but that's less important.
Summary
In my opinion, VLC media player offers much more then other players whose you have to pay. Not only because it is free, it's because of developers who made such an excellent media player. They were thinking of everything that one media player should have. It's only marketing trick and bluff for commercial players to be better comparable to free ones.
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"It plays without any hassle what so ever. "Go to go"."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
The sound is loud as %$%$(%%. Kewl!
Cons
None! Its everything you need in a player.
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"Excellent player"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
Great little player. Very nifty, completely region free! gets around that region specific DVD stuff with ease! Handles 5.1 sound perfectly, better than Windows Media player even with bought sound plug-in filters.
Cons
Some choppiness when going to different menus occasionally. Some stickiness configuring it initially to work in Windows Vista.
Summary
I love it because it's region free and works fast, and it handles 5.1 sound beautifully. There can be some issues when going to and from different menus occasionally (DVD menus), and you have to tweak it to make it work well on Vista. But the bad things are just small detractions, it's a great free player!
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"Operating system: Windows7?"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
I have Wis7. On your Op systems you list the reqiurements for the VLC Media Player up to Win Vista! The latest release of VLC is Jan2010: how can VLC release their newest media player one level below the newest Win platform?
Cons
Don't know yet!
Summary
Is it safe to download VLC on Windows7 platform?
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"Plays everything I can throw at it!"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.0.5
Pros
This is a simple to use, play-all player. This is my go-to player for any video media files - keeps me from having to download codecs and various players for all of the many types of files I have. I also like the keyboard shortcuts.
Cons
Pausing, fastforwarding, and rewinding sometimes causes audio sync problems during playback, and sometimes takes a while to reconnect.
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