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windowsmediaplayer posts

Filed under: Video, Microsoft, Browser Tips

Microsoft updates Windows Media Player plugin for Firefox

by Brad Linder Apr 17th 2007

WMP plugin Microsoft has launched a Windows Media player plugin for Firefox 2.0 that supports Windows XP and Vista. The plugin is compatible with versions of Windows media Player from 6.4 to 11.

There's a known issue with Firefox version 2.0.0.3 on Windows Vista, where the installer does not work the first time you try it. All you have to do is restart Firefox and then install the plugin again.

It's good to see Microsoft improving compatibility with a competitor's product, but we can't help wonder why it's taken so long.

[via Port 25]

Tags: firefox, windows media player, WindowsMediaPlayer, wmp

Filed under: Audio, Windows Mobile, Freeware

WinVibe: Free music player for Windows Mobile

by Brad Linder Feb 5th 2007

WinVibeOkay, it's official. There's no reason to use the mobile version of Windows Media Player, and there's no reason to pay for an alternative program.

Sure, you could pick up a first class commercial product like Conduits Pocket Player or 40th Floor's iPlay (worst customer service ever). But with free programs like MortPlayer and GSPlayer I've never seen the need to spend money.

The newest kid on the block is WinVibe, an amazingly versatile little player out of Korea (while the download link is in Korean, all the program menus are in English). There's a VGA version available as well.

WinVibe supports MP3, OGG, WMA, ASF, and WAV playback, which places it at or near the top of the heap when it comes to Windows Mobile music players. Those level meters you see, they work. There's also a working equalizer spectrum.

You also get a nice playlist manager, sleep timer, button mapping, support for HTTP and SHOUTcast streams and playback speed changing.

There are some nice sound effects, including bass boost, 3d chorus, surround sound, reverb, and echo. It even recognizes that I'm running it on a Dell Axim X50v, which has hardware support for bass and treble boosting, as well as a 3D audio setting. On the downside, it takes a long time to load large music folder and playlists, and WinVibe appears to use more CPU than MortPlayer. I also like MortPlayer because of its support for audiobooks and bookmarks.

Tags: gsplayer, iplay, mortplayer, pocket player, PocketPlayer, windows media player, WindowsMediaPlayer, winvibe

Filed under: Audio, Windows, Freeware

Foobar 2000 - alternative audio player for Windows

Windowsby Jason Clarke Oct 2nd 2006

Foobar 2000 audio playerIf you're not happy with your options for playing audio content in Windows, like Windows Media Player, iTunes or WinAmp, you might be interested in trying Foobar 2000. Foobar 2000 is "an advanced audio player for the Windows platform. Some of the basic features include full unicode support, ReplayGain support and native support for several popular audio formats.", although rather than tout it as an advanced player, I think it would be more accurate to pitch it as a pared down player that does what it does well. You're not going to get the glitz of the other media players mentioned, but Foobar does include support for add-in components, so its functionality can always be built upon.

Tags: audio player, AudioPlayer, foobar 2000, Foobar2000, iTunes, WinAmp, Windows Media Player, WindowsMediaPlayer

Is Windows Media Player 11 an iTunes-killer?

by Jordan Running May 22nd 2006

Windows Media Player 11 betaWith little fanfare Microsoft released Windows Media Player 11 in beta form last week coupled with Urge, the music service from Microsoft and MTV designed to compete with Apple's iTunes Music Store. WMP11 is a sort of preview of what we can expect to see next year in Windows Vista, and the question that seems to be on everyone's minds is whether Microsoft can finally best Apple's rock-solid player and service. According to the Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro, at least, the answer is no. His article can be summed up by its title, "New Media Player: Nice Features, but It's No iTunes." Pegoraro says that WMP11 has a cleaner interface that represents "a smart, creative way to organize a digital music library" and catches up with iTunes in a number of respects, like its ever-present live search box and easy CD burning functionality. Its album artwork downloader, however, is bewilderingly inept. Pegoraro's review of Urge, which has both a la cart ($0.99/song, $9.99/per album) and subscription (rent your music for $9.99 a month) options, is less favorable, saying, "Not only has MTV failed to match iTunes, it has repeated some of the worst mistakes of earlier iTunes challengers." He criticizes the service's lack of extras like lyrics and bonus videos, irritating search behaviors, and the lack of iPod support that has become a cliché among iTunes' competitors. Head over to the Washington Post for the full review or Microsoft's web site if to bite the bullet and try Windows Media Player 11 out yourself.

Tags: apple, itunes, mediaplayer, microsoft, review, Rob Pegoraro, RobPegoraro, urge, vista, washingtonpost, windows, windowsmediaplayer, wmp, wmp11

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