[ros-dev] Feature Request CORE-15418 ReactOS Default Media Player - Media Player Classic

[dean beedell]

Feature Request CORE-15418 to create a ReactOS Default Media Player 
using the code from Media Player Classic.

This feature request was discussed some time ago on the forum at length 
and it came to little conclusion, some wanting to bundle VLC, others 
wanting to bundle classic media player - an open source tool that has 
recently received some attention. The importance of a media player was 
noted but one of the main problems was left out.

The nub of the problem is this:

Windows has a default media player provided as a core part of the 
system. It is not just a media player, being so tightly integrated into 
Windows it is used by (some/many?) apps to produce the default sounds 
and video that emanate from normal program usage.

Note that on Windows, ActiveX/COM allows access to system level 
components and one of those components that is defined as a system level 
resource is the windows media player (WMP). COM allows programs to make 
calls to WMP to allow them to play embedded videos or audio tracks 
within their applications without having to design their own player and 
bundle their own codecs. The use of WMP means that a far greater range 
of codecs will be available and the chances of being able to play a 
particular type of file are increased. *Without such a player these 
Windows applications will not function as intended.*

See the description here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... 
ject-model 
<https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/wmp/about-the-player-object-model>

ReactOS is not a straight o/s without any whizzes or dongles, ie. it 
already has such bundled apps as games and the ReactOS version of 
paintbrush. So, the concept of bundling apps is already set, ie. it is 
perfectly OK to have apps bundled with ReactOS and ReactOS will have 
them when released. It is just a matter of which applications are 
bundled. I propose we add Media Player Classic as the default media player.

A Windows Media Player type application would be very useful, in fact 
essential to replace the windows media player that came bundled with 
Windows, it will need to be a straight drop in replacement for WMP.

Indeed, users expect the basic components of an o/s to be present and 
although RAPPS allows users to install the components they need, some 
applications are integrated into the o/s far more than others. I would 
suggest that it is time to re-open this debate and consider using the 
open source Media Player Classic as ReactOS own embedded version of WMP 
and to ensure that active X/COM controls can see Media Player Classic 
just as WMP is disclosed as the default media player in Windows.

MPC looks like a media player that ReactOS could use. It is written in 
C++ and is open source and it supported by the devs at doom9. It seems 
to me that the only thing missing from Media player classic is the 
Active X control that allows Windows/ReactOS programs access to its 
functions. With that control in place it might be a perfect drop-in 
replacement for WMP and would restore that missing sound functionality 
to programs giving ReactOS added compatibity.

Request raised here in JIRA:

https://jira.reactos.org/browse/CORE-15418

Hope this finds you all well this Christmas and that you will consider 
this feature request for later inclusion.

Dean Beedell (dizt3mp3r)




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