- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
- Date added: July 01, 2009
- Total Downloads: 12,942,139
- Downloads last week: 16,770
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1305 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff on November 08, 2008
WinAmp 5.3 took some long-needed steps to improve the old-school media player, with support for AAC encoding, CD burning, and a robust file-management system. WinAmp 5.56 ups the ante with strong support for portable devices, including iPods, the ability to sync non-DRMed files to your PC from your device, an optional new interface layout and a built-in browser for media discovery.
We liked that clicking on an artist's name will get you related headlines and Web sites in a separate pane. There's also Podcast support, device synchronization that lets you tweak the sync list while in progress, and continued support for AOL's excellent Shoutcast. The new Bento layout is worth mentioning, too, because it gets the venerable llama away from the old modular format. The joined panes for the browser, media player, artist list, album list and more make WinAmp instantly more visually appealing. There's also an Auto-Tag feature, which will download metatags from the Gracenote database, and Winamp's proprietary music scrobler called Orgler, with links back to AOL Music.
If you want MP3 encoding and full-speed CD burning, you have to shell out $19.95 for the Pro version. However, there are other problems. Automatic album art download support is spotty at best. More importantly, there are some stability issues when playing videos, and occasional program crashes were far more common than they should be.
WinAmp 5.56 is no iTunes killer--not yet. It has become, however, a strong alternative and should be of interest to those looking for something with more meat on its bones. Llama meat, that is.
Publisher's description
From Nullsoft :Winamp is a free multimedia player made by Nullsoft. It supports numerous audio and video formats. It also plays streamed video and audio content, both live and recorded, authored worldwide. It has an extremely customizable media library, and allows you to rip and burn your favorite music CDs. Winamp has thousands of skins and plug-ins that allow you to change the look-and-feel of the player, as well as add new features. The player also has access to thousands of free songs, videos and online radio stations from SHOUTcast Radio and AOL Radio with XM.
Version 5.56 has Winamp Orgler plugin let's you track, chart and share your listening history and fixed iexplore process not ending when browser closed after opened via Winamp.
What's new in this version:
Version 5.56 has Winamp Orgler plugin let's you track, chart and share your listening history and fixed iexplore process not ending when browser closed after opened via Winamp.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 1305 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 59 user reviewsSee all 59 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Winamp 5.56
"Winamps looks better than performs better than WMP"
Pros: The main sense of of Winamp is a simple interface with sensible option of themes. Its very straightforward and I prefer it to WMP. Wmp imain ssues are lack of themes and personalisation i.e boring...
Cons: Serious issue over updates., Regular crashing. Nullsoft need to test before updates are released
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Winamp 5.56
Pros: easy to use.work very well
Cons: i want winamp in the next edition to play (rm) songs.i ope that
Summary: i like it but i want to play (rm) songs in winamp too
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Version: Winamp 5.56
"Feel like a sucker paying for Winamp"
Pros: It actually worked until i upgraded
A lot of online stuff available if you want that sort of stuffCons: Support is TERRIBLE..... I can use my hotmail account to pay for the product but somehow I cannot port that over to their forum to get answers?
The DJ and mixing from 1 tune to the next capabilities are very weakSummary: Look elsewhere or at the very least DO NOT waste your money paying for Winamp until you are sure you can get it work.... yourself because support is no good. But that is what I should have expected from AOL.
Upgraded the product becaus... read more >> -
Version: Winamp 5.56
Pros: Many nice features and visualization, also,plug-ins.
Cons: Bento theme is not so good. Modern Theme is still better in usability.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Winamp 5.56
"Great product. Don't know how I would do without it!"
Pros: Very straight forward for an non-techie like me to use.
Cons: Just a bit slow starting.
Summary: Again, I used Nero for all of my audio projects prior to purchasing Winamp. I still use Nero a lot, but find myself relying on Winamp for file conversions, etc.
- See all 59 user reviews Write review
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