The best media player...

[Dagibit]

I recently posted this on the songbird forums http://www.songbirdnest.com/node/1816:

"One of the biggest issues I’ve noticed over the short time I’ve used Linux is that it [and the open source world in general] seems to lack a really excellent universal media player. I started this little, probably pointless, but fun project before discovering songbird, and built a demo of what I would consider the best media player. By the way, I don’t/ suck at programming, sorry. The first image below is just a plain sample, while the second is labeled to describe it further:

[ external image ]
http://dagibit.googlepages.com/SongbirdPost.png

Using outstanding programs like Sony Vegas (which I have) as models, this media player would:
1. Be designed to perfectly support any media type and format from MPEGs, MP3s, and still images, to DVDs, panoramas, FLVs, and animated GIFs.
2. Have a simple and straightforward, but extremely powerful and customizable interface.
3. Replace all other media players for media on the desktop, and embedded on the web.
4. Can sync with Firefox or other browsers and detect playlists on the web (like songbird) and even intercept streams from other apps like Flash or Quicktime.
5. Be able to save any media it plays (ie streaming mov or flvs)
6. Not become confused or handicapped with certain media types or streaming situations.
7. Be entirely skinnable as well as in web player and fullscreen modes.
8. Have an excellent add-ons system like Firefox, possibly installed through Firefox via a Firefox add-on.
9. Have many other specific features not worth mentioning at the moment.

What do you think?"

[Haos]

Foobar2000 is better audio player, mpc - lighter and less demanding video player. If something is designed to do everything, it wont do anything well.

[betatester]

Foobar2000 is better audio player, mpc - lighter and less demanding video player. If something is designed to do everything, it wont do anything well.

I think Videolan is better you dont need to install any other thing for it and dont need codec it have waht you need

[LRN]

MPC and VLC are just two different good players. VLC (and mplayer) is 'all in one' solutions, while MPC mostly relys on DirectShow. This has advantages AND disadvantages. That's why it is best to have both players. If one doesn't works, you could always use another.

[Z98]

VLC isn't written using the windows API. It also has some weird bugs that they still can't nail down.

[elhoir]

VLC isn't written using the windows API.

should i think that is why it is better than WMP? LOL

[Haos]

No, you shouldn`t.

[etko]

foobar2000 - the only best one

[elhoir]

foobar2000 - the only best one

but not open-source

[Haos]

Open-sourceness wasnt a condition here.

[Phalanx]

VLC isn't written using the windows API.

should i think that is why it is better than WMP? LOL

I have set up WMP with DirectShow Filters and Codecs, then added the registry settings. I use to be a fan of VLC, but now I have to say it's a long way behind. Take for example the media libraries, the user interfaces, it's ergonomics are a long way ahead (and this is against the dev builds). With the correct setup I can play everything I did on VLC, plus more (and I don't really need the ability to play a video on my wall paper which holds icons on it).

[Haos]

I can play everything I did on VLC, plus more

What can you play on WMP, that you couldn`t on VLC?

[RaptorEmperor]

I can play everything I did on VLC, plus more

What can you play on WMP, that you couldn`t on VLC?

I couldn't get MIDIs to run, from my experience.

[artguy10]

That looks fine, except I'd rather a glass or metal theme than black plastic, and I might re-arrange the buttons for simplicity.

[etko]

When Winamp or VLC or WMP will handle 50 000 songs fast and easily I will rethink my decision. Till the time arives I'l stick with foobar. Yes it's a bit sad it's not open source. For video I will always use MPC .