Media player

[Guest Nellie2]

Can someone recommend a media player that I can download........preferably free......that will support all media formats. Am I asking to much here???? :huh:

[Scarthy © ® ™]

hmmmm <_>

that will support all media formats

You don't want much Nellie2. Are we talking playback only or ripping also??? And I assume 'media' means audio and video files???

There are alot out there. Some free, some with free versions. The problems are that there are alot of formats available...WMA/ WMV/ DivX /RealPlayer/ Mpeg/ Ogg Vorbis/ MP3 etc etc, and most common ones work on most players. The trouble is when you add DivX/ Ogg or other less well known ones.

Here are a few...

WinAmp

DivX

Quicktime

db Power Amp

Real Player

Music Match

Plus there is Windows Media Player and Creative PlayCentre (comes with Creative Soundcards)

I only use Windows Media Player (with DivX Codec for DivX films), I also have Quicktime and Power DVD installed, my nephew loves WinAmp. It's a personal choice really.

Real Player is supposed to be good but you have to be careful when installing (it tries to take over - Computer Active did an article about installing it a few months ago)

db Power Amp has alot of plug-ins for different file formats eg. Ogg Vorbis/ MP3 Pro etc etc

Hope this helps a little. ;)

[Guest Nellie2]

I have Power DVD........ just need to re-install that. Quicktime annoys me because it installs itself into my start up and if I take it out it just puts itself back!! :angry:

I like Window Media player now that I have XP and am quite happy with it....are you saying that it will play real player files etc!!........As to your other question I was only really interested in playback. :)

[Scarthy © ® ™]

I don't think Media Player plays Real files. Not sure if Winamp does?....Will have to wait for a few users to reply for that.

;)

[Guest Nellie2]

Thanks Scarthy and thanks for the links......... It will be interesting to see what players the other forum members prefer. I had Real Player on W98 but as you said, it is a bit intrusive! Must have missed that Computer Active issue!!

[Prince of Calcutta]

i hate real player :angry: i hardly view .mov files so installing quicktime seems to be a bit of a bother to me

very satisfied with windows media player 9 and the divx codec installed B) recently installed music match for mp3 to wv and vice versa conversions :)

ps: i don't think media player will play real audio files :(

[Scarthy © ® ™]

Quicktime annoys me because it installs itself into my start up and if I take it out it just puts itself back!!

Do you mean it auto-runs at Windows StartUp and loads the Icon in the System Tray (bottom right near clock etc)? If so then just run the player and select...

EDIT > Preferences > QuickTime Settings > and untick the box that says "QuickTime System Tray Icon...Install QT Task Icon In System Tray" - This will stop it from enabling at start-up. After a restart it should be gone.

I have looked in my Computer Active mags and can't find it yet, if I do I will post the issue number. It must be in either Computer Active or Tips and Tricks because these are the only 2 mags I buy...and I definately read it.

;)

[Guest moon]

I've heard Media Jukebox described as the 'Rolls Royce' of media players but it's not free. I ran it for the trial period and it was great. Skint though, but I'll get back to it later.

http://www.musicex.com/mediajukebox/

[Guest Nellie2]

Do you mean it auto-runs at Windows StartUp and loads the Icon in the System Tray (bottom right near clock etc)? If so then just run the player and select...

EDIT > Preferences > QuickTime Settings > and untick the box that says "QuickTime System Tray Icon...Install QT Task Icon In System Tray" - This will stop it from enabling at start-up. After a restart it should be gone.

You know.......... there are days when I think life would have been so much easier if I had actually been born with a brain................ even one brain cell would be good!!!!