CNET Editors' note: The VLC Media Player source code is also available.
CNET Editors' review
VLC Media Player is a longtime open-source favorite, and the latest version offers fixes and feature enhancements for the Mac version that make it a must download. It's not the only option for free video playback, but it's one of the best, and it's often the go-to media player for Mac users who can't seem to play a specific media file.
VLC Media player offers a number of tools and customization options to manage and watch video. Users get frame-by-frame advancement; granular speed controls allowing for on-the-fly slower or faster playback; and live recording of streaming video. The toolbars are fully customizable, so you can have only the buttons you need in the interface.
This version comes with improvements to Mac OS X Media Key handling and Auhal audio output, and fixes bugs in GUI, decoders, and demuxers. Along with minor tweaks, VLC continues to offer robust support for a wide range of video and audio formats, including OGG, MP2, MP3, MP4, DivX, HD codecs like AES3, Raw Dirac, and even support for playing back zipped files. It can also be used as a server to stream in unicast or multicast in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network.
The default interface is still a stripped-down player that belies VLC's functionality and features, but integrated skinning can fix that quickly. Behavior can still be a bit unpredictable depending on the quality of the skin, but VLC's open-source foundation and community ensures that it evolves quickly and often, with new features and fixes released frequently.
Overall, VLC Media Player is a must-have application for its ability to open just about any type of video file you throw at it, making it a great option for Mac users having trouble playing certain file types.
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.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 302 votes
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Current version:
4.3 starsout of 16 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Best Media Player Ever"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
Plays Anything
Plays Everything
Plays Anything & EverythingCons
Little simple
Summary
I mean seriously, the best friggin media player ever created.
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"Works great on Mac!"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
Plays WMA files on Mac! I had no idea it would be so difficult to play my music after getting a new Macbook. I tried so many different things and VLC is the first one that works for me!
Cons
UI is a little unusual, but I'll get used to it in no time.
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"Good overall."
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
Easy to use.
Cons
Somewhat limited,
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"Media player for almost any format"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
Easy to view movies when you have difficulty opening other softwares.
Cons
Wish it had a better interface, with discovery of content.
Summary
This is the alternative media player for almost any format on the planet. I have never found a video that it couldn't play. And when I did, its useful debug messages helped me figure out what the problem is.
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"Complete this gem by downloading Integrated VLCTimer"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
A perfect media player
Cons
Didn't find any
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"All in one...without it u would need many Media Players"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
Plays anything others wont.
Cons
Too many features i don't understand...this doesn't mean it is difficult to use.
Summary
My default Media player on my iMac.
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"so far so good"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
it's my next stop when quicktime w perian does not work
Cons
UI is not the most friendly
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"VLC IS THE BEST SOFTWARE"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
BEST FOR WATCHING ALMOST ANYTHING
Cons
NOTHING WRONG
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"works very well, easy app to use"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
excellent pic and sound, easy to use
Cons
none, it is a great app
Summary
really like VLC
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"ALWAYS WORKS when others WON'T!!!!!!"
Version: VLC Media Player 1.1.12
Pros
very easy to use and can play almost any format out there
Cons
wish there was a burn function
Summary
If you have vids that you can't play with other players, get this one!!!!
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