CNET 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 1.1.2 has extensions and scrips updates, miscellaneous fixes in interfaces, and updated translations.
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 3,430 votes
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Current version:
4.1 starsout of 82 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Seems to be the best version yet. Still my favorite."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
The best features are the slow motion and the frame by frame views which make it much easier to get the perfect snapshot.
Cons
This is the first version that didn't have something I didn't like jump right out at me.
Summary
It has just been improved so much since the first release. I deleted the first few releases they were so bad..
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"Very grateful for a full featured player ~Linux to M$"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
Works.
Easy subtitling
Clean.
User friendly install, bug fix, updateCons
Just very happy to have it available.
[I WILL send $$, I promise!, I DOSummary
The best aspects for me were to have an alternative to Cyberlink
which was the whole thing for me on Windows, because I usually
delete M$ Media Player. Old hatreds die slowly.
AND..good on several OS(s)...Chrome too?...
so I can share P2P movies across the board.
THNX!
P.S. Just did 1.1.4 actually so never used 1.1.2, but..... -
"Works good. Give it a try."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
Works good. Give it a try.
Cons
Works good. Give it a try.
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"On par with the others."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
VLC Media Player: I simply love it! It can play just about every media type out there. Which is more than I can say for WMP 11.
Cons
Two gripes: why can't it play my WMP playlists? And, why isn't there a version that can operate as an add-on for WMP?
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"Works fine - and not a memory hawg like many other"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
see above - see above
Cons
See above - see above
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"clear, concise, very easy to use"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
great graphics and natural colours,; excellent free product!
Cons
don't really have any complaints about this product
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"It works impeccably."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
It's dependable and plays almost every type of video....
Cons
i have yet to find any....
Summary
It is my default player....
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"Brilliant programme"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
Opens just about every format and very easy to use
Cons
none that I can see
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"The best madia player ever created!!"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
You can play any media file. It don't have to load like divx player. And the picture cuality is great.
Cons
Nothing bad to say. It's free and the best!!
Summary
The best media player ever made!!
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"Computer said it was a Trojan and blocked it."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.2
Pros
Please see above
Cons
Please see above
Summary
See above
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