[Larrabee]

The EU was right. If companies are not allowed to do, why does Microsoft can do that? Because they are so big?

Maybe it was not important, but all the other monopolistic stuff they did...
Don't understand me wrong, I like the Microsoft operating systems (I'm dreaming of Vista!) but the have make a lot of mistakes in the past...

[SkyFuser]

Sadly, WMP would be awesome if it could actually play some less common files and actually load VSFilter and the Haali's Media Splitter CORRECTLY.

[sushrukh]

For less common files, there's MPC ( Media Player Classic).There's not a single audio-video file, that doesn't play in MPC but you need to install a Codec pack.I prefer, K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

[uxevangelist]

SkyFuser: I was speaking about WMP from the perspective of the thread title, but if we're talking about media of various types, I use both MPC and VLC. Quite simply, you just can't go wrong with the combination of both of those players (except the aesthetics of them in comparison to something like WMP 11, but that's a moot point for a lot of individuals).

Larrabee: The way I see it, if Microsoft wants to develop a media player for THEIR operating system, why should they not be able to do that? I mean, if the thing works great, then people will use it! If it DOESN'T work, then people are going to look at a third-party means of media player, and in THIS day and age, there's not a player that costs money that does any more for you than TONS of freeware players out there! I'm sorry, but the EU could've done a LOT more than make MS remove WMP. In my opinion, the EU were just throwing their weight around to show they're a bigger power player than MS and simply made an example out of them in the process.

If I develop an application that MILLIONS of people are going to use, if I think I can HELP THEM by adding MORE to it for THEM to use, then why shouldn't I be allowed to do that? If the users DON'T like what I've developed, then they can go choose amongst the vast number of other similar applications out there! Simple, really. Do YOU need to rely on something being taken away from you to show you that you're interested in something else? Of course not! That's my main point. If the EU wanted to pull the monopoly card (no pun intended), they could've made a much better example of Microsoft than telling them to remove WMP. I mean, if YOU go buy XP or Vista and you've got the choice of paying the SAME AMOUNT for the OS, one with WMP and one without, which are you HONESTLY going to choose? It just doesn't add up to me.

Don't get me wrong! I understand it from the perspective of developers and business! But even then, the media player market is so flooded with POPULAR freeware alternatives, it was just... a joke. But that's just me.

-Stephen

[SkyFuser]

DO NOT NOT NOT NOT GET K-LITE >_<
K-Lite loads all kinds of conflicting filters and has a high chance of crashing your machine. Read about it here. Addition information here. Same applies to Ace Mega.

And uxevangelist, I kind of misunderstood, sorry :P
The WMP interface is pretty fancy and I like it... but Zoom Player's GUI is <3 forever!

[Vipralion]

Originally Posted by uxevangelist

If you're a Windows user, WMP 11 wins hands-down! I've tried Winamp, Rhapsody, and iTunes but other than using iTunes to load songs to my iPod, nothing beats the integration of WMP for me. I liked the WMP 10 UI but they really did some EXCELLENT UI work with WMP 11! I always found it to be a bit stupid that the EU made Microsoft provide copies of Windows without WMP in them due to "monopolizing the audio/video application market". I mean, a good application is a good application and if it weren't for Microsoft DEVELOPING their freakin' OS, there would be absolutely NO market at all! (Well, I'm sure someone would've done something where Microsoft wouldn't have but that's beside the point)

Long story short, if I'm going to buy a product like Windows, I want all the added value I can get and if that includes a very stylish media player that provides tons of functionality, then I'll take it - even if I decide I don't want to use it! I do understand what it means for businesses to be at somewhat of a disadvantage but I'm speaking of this from a consumer standpoint. Now, if I'm a developer trying to develop a media player to charge people to use on Windows, then yes, I would favor the EU's decision... but I'm not. I'm just a Windows enthusiast who's happy with WMP.

-Stephen

What doesn't make sense about that is that Apple's iPod actually ties you to iTunes and doesn't allow you to use anything else at all. You could say that it's Apple's device, they have the right to tie it down like that but then why doesn't Microsoft have the same ability when it comes to their OS? They developed, they sell it, it's their product. What's wrong with bundling it with software? It's not like computer manufactures don't bundle the computers they sell with plenty of software.


I'd like to also mention Zune in this thread. Up until the recent 2.5 update, using Zune as a primary media player wasn't the best choice but since then it totally has become quite the alternative.

The interface is sleek and flowing, yet simple and elegant. The means to view your media library also provide what I've found to be the best way to do so.

Jason Dunn of Thoughts Media has a post on his reasons for switching from WMP11 to Zune.
Why I've Ditched Windows Media Player 11 And Switched to the Zune Software - Thoughts Media Forums

[ChrisTheFeral]

Lol! I have a totally different view on this, instead of the OS developers deciding to put something in because THEY want to, how about they listen to the community and put what WE want in?

Microsoft have really lost their community, Chris Pirillo is very right about that!

[SkyFuser]

Originally Posted by ChrisTheFeral

Lol! I have a totally different view on this, instead of the OS developers deciding to put something in because THEY want to, how about they listen to the community and put what WE want in?

Microsoft have really lost their community, Chris Pirillo is very right about that!

If they did, they'd lose money :P Or things become too expensive, and we still complain.
But that brings another question, what kind of changes do YOU want in the OS? :P

[bboy daniel]

I personally use iTunes to micromanage my music and create playlists for my iPod. It's also really nice to use for parties as well. Other than that when I need to quickly listen to some music I go straigth to the folder on my desktop for breakbeats and use Windows Media Player as my default player. WinAmp was something that I used before because of its great ability for skins and the like. The MD3 skin available for the WinAmp is the best thing ever created for it. It skins in several different color options and the player design is rounded to fit the theme of your wallpaper and Windows skin.

[ChrisTheFeral]

Originally Posted by SkyFuser

If they did, they'd lose money :P Or things become too expensive, and we still complain.
But that brings another question, what kind of changes do YOU want in the OS? :P

They possibly could loose money, then again they will attract more people to buy the OS, that is a good topic to raise actually, I don't think this is the right topic to talk about it though

Originally Posted by bboy daniel

I personally use iTunes to micromanage my music and create playlists for my iPod. It's also really nice to use for parties as well. Other than that when I need to quickly listen to some music I go straigth to the folder on my desktop for breakbeats and use Windows Media Player as my default player. WinAmp was something that I used before because of its great ability for skins and the like. The MD3 skin available for the WinAmp is the best thing ever created for it. It skins in several different color options and the player design is rounded to fit the theme of your wallpaper and Windows skin.

itunes is very good too IMO, I still can't decide if I do like WinAmp better, such a hard decision.