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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."

5 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.

    1. Re:Ultimate in Downgrades by Domini · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually I tend to agree with the previous poster.

      I've installed it and I cannot even seem to play an AVI. Ok, let's see... integration with look and feel: iTunes for windows has ALL the functionality that the Mac version has. It is not a crippled product.

      WiMP for Mac on the other hand does not play the same files as WiMP for Windows. It does not have the visulisations, library support, options, enhancements (audio/video... not UI), it's UI is sucky... all the things that make WiMP for Windows a killer app is not present in the Mac version!

      Argh!

      I love WiMP for Windows (Check out the Media Player Classic project on Sourceforge!) I love iTunes (even for Windows). But as excited as I were about WiMP9 for Mac.... it sucks.... a real disapointment!

      I do not think I'm biased... I love MS for Games/Video, Mac for Mail/Web/Music/Work and Linux for Programming.

  2. Application folder change by CoolMoDee · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I installed it yesterday and the installer changed the icon on my Applications folder from the default to the stuffit exapnder icon. This release is truely rushed. The wmv file i threw at it, it couldn't even play it. MPlayerOSX had no problems playing that same file.

    --
    Jisho - A Japanese English German Russian French Dictionary for the rest of us.
  3. if it doesnt work for porn... by redwood2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I downloaded this this afternoon and every chunk of porn I threw at yielded the same results:
    mozilla launching to a page about media rights or something...
    hmmmm...

    It has since been deleted.

    Cig? Don't mind if I do...

  4. Die, die, die by Squozen · · Score: 5, Informative

    WMP for OS X sucks, pure and simple. On a 1.25Ghz CPU with 1Gb of RAM running a fresh install of Panther, WMP 9 started struggling on a local file after 20-30 seconds, stuttering and skipping frames. Use VLC and hope that they integrate all the annoying Microsoft proprietary codecs soon.

    Interestingly, RealPlayer isn't bad at all on the Mac. I held off on installing it for quite a while after seeing all the baggage that came with a Windows install, but it's pretty clean and seems to stream video well.