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Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X Available

Posted by pudge on from the whoopee dept.

corsa writes "I found Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X on Microsoft's site today. I downloaded it and have it running under Panther. It seems to play WMV9 files, at least the few I've tried so far."

4 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Ultimate in Downgrades by michaelnz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've already downloaded and installed this and it is without a doubt one of the worse releases of a piece of software I've seen. In the past my copy of Media Player would at least run some of the videos that QuickTime wouldn't, now nothing. I've tried running every WMV file I could get my hands on and none of them play. It seems that Microsoft has chosen to go with less functionality, not more.

    It's an interesting move for Microsoft, especially after the release of iTunes for Windows. Apple is doing it's best to convert Microsoft users by offering them incredible software. Microsoft is offering Mac users shitty knockoffs of Windows software.

    I'm guessing this is a gambit to make Mac users realize they can't have the cross-platform operability that OSX seemed to bring about, that if they want to use Windows files they should run Windows. Ultimately I think the frustration that people will feel towards the new Media Player will cause even more resentment towards Microsoft. Apple's attitude that you lure more flies with Aqua than you do with water is definately the winning strategy.

    If you don't already know (and chances are if you're reading Slashdot you do), you should be using VLC. It does everything this crappy Windows port does and more.

  2. And this even exists because? by heapacreep · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It seems to me that microsoft might only be releasing this as just another piece of software for the MacOS, unless of course, they will be using it as part of a music store like the itunes version, just crappy and with a bad file type. We all know how that would go over within the mac community. It also does not seem like they would be releasing this to steal the thunder from another product's new release, so here is the question...WHY BOTHER? Quicktime already exists, and there are many other better file codecs and ecoders for that matter out there than the .wma junk...

    --
    --Shut up and get a mac--
  3. Eventuality by HebrewToYou · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The true goal of MS is to only write for only one platform. They will soon cut off the Mac BU's ability to update Office v.X and force users to purchase the *new* Mac Office suite: Virtual PC and Office for Windows. Windows Media Player 9 ain't that bad, but the fact that MS refuses to update the UI just reinforces what I wrote above. WiMP is just a horribly media application for the Mac....and for good reason.

    --
    I'm not popular enough to be different.

    Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

  4. RealPlayer: Surpisingly Refreshing by michaelnz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agree, RealPlayer has done a great job with their Mac player. It's small, doesn't hog system resources and an easy install. Everything that WMP should have been.

    Isn't it odd when RealPlayer comes off as more professional than Microsoft... Well, maybe not that weird.