Adobe launches Adobe Media Player

Filed under: Internet, Video, Features, Adobe, Beta

Adobe launches Adobe Media Player

by Brad Linder Oct 1st 2007

Adobe has launched a new standalone media player that's a bit like a cross between Miro and Adobe Digital Editions. While Adobe's Flash player for web browsers has become the default media utility for viewing online video in a browser, it seems like there's a mad dash to create standalone media browsers.

The reasoning is sound: Web browsers are meant for viewing text and images. Multimedia was kind of an afterthought, so why not build a new media browser from the ground up. We're not sure people are rushing to download standalone applications like Joost, Babelgum, Miro, or VeohTV, but nobody wants to be left out in the cold if these things do take off.

Adobe's entry is built on Adobe AIR, so you'll need to install AIR before you can run Adobe Media Player. Fortunately, even though the application is still in beta, there's a handy web-based installer that does the heavy lifting for you. Click one button, check a few boxes, and you're all set.

We wish we could say we were as impressed with the media player as with the installer. The application was slow to load, video playback was choppy (although not quite as choppy as in the screencast above, which was recorded at 12 frames per second), and there's no way to browse for more videos without pausing the one you're currently viewing.

For a beta product Adobe Media Player's not bad. We like the overall menu system and the easy to read graphics. But we like our media players a bit more responsive. Some original content would be nice too.

Tags: adobe-media-player, internet-video, video-browser

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Punchy said 1:18PM on 10-01-2007

I discountinued using Adobe Reader years ago due to it's slow start up and bloated download size. Add to that, Adobe's continued insistence that I uncheck boxes to prevent applications like Adobe Photowhatever Junior being installed by default.

With a glut of on and off-line media players available, I doubt very much this will become one of my downloads of the day.

Air looks nice but I'll wait for something written for Air that is decidedly more innovative.

Punchy

hazard said 8:22AM on 10-02-2007

interesting .. looks great with slick transitions but navigation is rather ackward .. lost interst very quickly as the available content is crap.

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