Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' note: The VLC Media Player source code is also available.
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 2.0 includes faster decoding on multi-core, GPU, and mobile hardware and the ability to open more formats, notably professional, HD and 10bits codecs.
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 3,430 votes
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Current version:
4.3 starsout of 49 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"The best media player out there!"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
Will play anything that you throw at it. It's great!
Cons
None that I can think of.
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"Very good with more options"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
Great flexibility. More customizable.
Cons
Does not seem to be able to remember certain customizations after a few plays with windows 7.
Summary
Not too sure if the newer version is completely compatible with all windows advertised when it comes to customization. otherwise this is still a very good player.
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"It's free, easy to use & very useful"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
Plays nearly every type of media I have. Its advantage over other players for a PC is the ease of using controls from a keyboard. Features like pause with the space bar, single frame advance with E key, faster play with +, slower with -. THe aspect ratio & audio sync are easy to adjust from a dropdown box.
Cons
It appears to use older codecs than the latest versions of traditional media players for some media. VLC won't play a couple (that I know of) file types - .ram & .ivr. Recording to file of CDs or DVDs can only be .wav for audio or .mpg for video.
Summary
End users are lucky that there are at least two free players, VLC & Media Player Classic, competing. You wonder what they get out of it. I prefer VLC at the moment because of greater ease of use & the greater number of files it will open. Copying tracks from your CDs & DVDs is one button simple but it is disappointing that it won't save as mp3, mp4 or flv.
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"New version 2.0 worse than the previous"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
New interface.
Cons
Mediocre sound quality that required tweaks in the effects tool bar. And overall bad sound compression.
Some hd videos aren't as sharp or as fluid as before.Summary
For reasons i cannot understand, vlc 2.0 is... simply put... woorse than previous versions...
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"Easy, Simple, and plays tons of format"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
It was the only one to work when all others could not; plays .mov .mp4 and .flv, for me it is enough
Cons
non seen so far! however could not see the clip preview when in folder?!?
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"The best alternative to Windows media player"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
nice Audio effects such as graphic equalizer and presets+ 2 pass, compressor and spatializer.
Cons
it can't be controlled using with play, pause... keys on keyboard when vlc isn't active window.
Summary
Nice and the best alternative to default windows and Linux players
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"Awesome, opens any video/audio file!"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
I love this program how it can open any audio/video file. It's one of my favorite programs.
Cons
None that I can think of.
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"The VLC MEDIA PLAYER 2 functions worse than 1.1.11"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
none so far.The vlc 2.0.0 player is incompatible with so many DVD media
Cons
The team at EPITECH universty france who have taken over the development from DAVID Ruiz are Joking.The player now does not support so many codecs as it used to.I have tried playing DVDs with none playing on recently upgraded VLC 2.0.0
Summary
Get serious developers
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"" SIMPLE ""
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
The features of VLC is very user Friendly.
Cons
Some times .dat files have a low resolution icon
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"VLC Media player is excellent"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0
Pros
Plays most anything without a problem.
Cons
Little simplistic, but uncomplicated.
Summary
It works when others don't. Wonderful!
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