VLC Media Player 0.8.5

Quick specs
Price: Free
Operating system: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
Date added: May 09, 2006
Total Downloads: 12,746,644
Downloads last week: 124,766
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A newer version of VLC Media Player is available.

Download the latest version | Learn more about VLC Media Player 1.0.3

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CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1911 votes
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CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

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. 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.

Version 0.8.5 is a bugfix release.

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User reviews of VLC Media Player 0.8.5

Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 1911 votes
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Showing 5 of 132 user reviewsSee all 132 user reviews
This software version | All versions
5 stars

28 out of 31 people found this review helpful

Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.5

"A breath of fresh air."

by trumpetman1433 on July 16, 2006

Pros: This lightweight, free media player can decode most anything. Skinable UI and support for streaming. No matter what main media play I'm using I keep this for back-up.

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5 stars

32 out of 35 people found this review helpful

Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.5

"Never worry about video type again."

by Jorlwind on May 9, 2006

Pros: Even before it was here I have been a long time user of VLC, and i feel its a great video player
This bad boy can play just about everything(except real video think)so if you have windows media player, Real player and VLC there isn't anything you can't play , period.

Cons: well.. Its ugly as hell, but its still easy to navigate and it doesn't skip forward of back very well.. still, gets 5 stars because its a must have.

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5 stars

21 out of 23 people found this review helpful

Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.5

"excellent media player"

by Legless_Bandit on May 17, 2006

Pros: very good media player, plays all used formats. highly recommended

Cons: bit ugly

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4 stars

27 out of 35 people found this review helpful

Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.5

"Just what the Doctor ordered!"

by heinz_beans on June 14, 2006

Pros: Its a good player.Easy to understand.Been looking for this kind of software, because WMP10? codecs codecs codecs!! Need I say more?A lot more features than I thought.Equalizer, Visualizer, full screen etc etc etc.The list goes on.I had a file on my pc of Dimebag live,gathering dust.I can now play it again!

Cons: Only one gripe.
VideoLan project says is only a "7.9MB" Download.When you go to "Prog/Files" it's 25.6MB.

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5 stars

159 out of 248 people found this review helpful

Version: VLC Media Player 0.8.5

"VLC Media Player will play ANYTHING!"

by merlot_1 on May 9, 2006

Pros: With Windows Media Player 10 you have to guess what codecs to download when you get the dreaded error message saying extra codecs are needed to play a file. VLC Media Player has all those codecs built in...it will play ANYTHING!

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