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Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack provides a set of software codecs for viewing and listening to many forms of media in Windows Media Player. While this program merely enhances a media player, it does a fine job of accommodating many different and unusual types of videos and music.
The program's interface is simple to operate, since it maintains the classic media player layout. Its commands are easy to understand and navigate. This codec pack makes it a bit difficult to measure any improvements to Windows Media Player since it's not a player itself but rather a set of add-ons to your current audiovisual software. However, it adds the capability to watch and listen to a bevy of file formats, from DVDs and CDs to video files downloaded from the Internet. Everything played well, and we never found any glitches during our testing. Using this as a basis, we'd say the program was pretty successful. It also offered an interesting subtitle database feature that lets you input subtitles on programs. This wasn't as necessary for DVDs, which normally come with their own subtitles, but it's a thoughtful and useful addition. While we had a difficult time gauging just what this collection of codecs adds to the original media player, we were confident we could watch or listen to practically anything after downloading and installing it.
Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack is freeware. It lets you view many different media types on your player, and we recommend it.
Publisher's Description
From MediaCodec:
Windows Essentials Codec Pack is a collection of audio and video DirectShow codecs and filters. With Windows Essentials Codec Pack you should be able to play 99% of all movies and music files that you download off the Internet, stay up to date with the latest codecs with the Audio/Video Codec Update Service, and eliminate the many conflicts and errors caused by using multiple codecs to decode the same file types. Windows Essentials Codec Pack is designed as a user-friendly near complete solution for all your video and audio needs, with it you can play audio CDs, DVDs, (S)VCDs, and XCDs on the fly, and it adds support for 3GP, AAC, AC3, APE, AVI, DivX, 3ivx, DAT, h.264, x264, Nero Digital, DTS, FLV, FLAC, HD-MOV, MPEG-1/2, M4A, MP3, MP4, MO3, MOD, MKV, OFR, TTA, OGG/OGM, S3M, Vorbis, VOB, XviD, XM, WV, and UMX formats so you could play any video/audio file with your favorite DirectShow media player or with the (included) Media Player Classic.
What's new in this version: Version 4.4 minor bug fixes
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 555 votes
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Current version:
1.0 starsout of 6 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-6 of 6
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"Hijack! Search isearch.fantastigames.com FIRST!"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 4.4
Pros
None, well, maybe its good practice for removing malware from your computer.
Cons
Browser hijack! Beware. http://isearch.fantastigames.com/465
Summary
Cnet, review this please!!
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"Infected with CRAPWARE"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 4.4
Pros
Absolutely None
Cons
I've lost all confidence in CNET for even listing this GARBAGE without a WARNING!!!!
Summary
Pop-ups start appearing everywhere. This is pure TRASH...
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"BEWARE NOT SAFE!"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 4.4
Pros
There are no pros.
Cons
I have only begin to discover the other things that got downloaded with this program. Luckily I caught some of it because it actually opened a second installer which I closed before it could work. To add to that it does not do any of the things advertised except for adding a copy of Media Player Classic which I already had.
Summary
It is unfortunate this is on such a reputable site. Don't download!
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"Contains Spyware - DO NOT USE"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 4.4
Pros
Absolutely None
Cons
WAKE UP CNET - it's been months now and you STILL offer this program for download.
Summary
If it wasn't for Avira AV my PC would be infected now
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"did not work with droid x video"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 4.4
Pros
it was free
Cons
dose not work
Summary
waste of time
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"Infected with spyware, which took hours to remove"
Version: Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack 4.4
Pros
As described this provided some useful updates but these were rapidly deleted by me as it was soon obvious that this download came with nasty unwanted 'extras'.
Cons
On downloading, my search toolbar immediately defaulted to a search engine and IM service that is identified as spyware by many reputable sites. This proved to be very invasive in various places on my PC (eg leaving traces in the Registry etc.) even after I had successfully removed the toolbar. I'm quite sure that I did not request any new toolbars etc. when downloading this (although this spyware program was not advertised as one of the search engines).
Summary
It's bad enough that CNET now include extra search engines with their downloads which users have to actively opt out from. It's simply appalling that this download contained a virus (or something akin to one). Clearly, reading other reviews, I'm not alone with this experience.
After 7 years, I'm afraid this website will no longer be my first port of call for new programs etc. Thank you for the good times.
Results 1-6 of 6
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