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Winamp 2 + Winamp 3 = Winamp 5!

An anonymous coward writes: Having been a loyal iTunes user for quite some time, after seeing the report on Ars Technica about the newly released Winamp 5 Final, I simply had to try it out. It's pretty amazing, rivaling iTunes in many ways on Windows (mainly, speed). Ripping, library, etc: They're all there. Plus it comes with a slew of of new scriptable features. Simply put, it's dead sexy. Get your copy now! Note, last link requires some other OS.

20 of 896 comments (clear)

  1. Some other OS... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know.. the one that hardly anyone uses.. I think its called Windows or something.

    Obscure thing. :)

  2. Link to privacy policy returns 404 by corebreech · · Score: 5, Interesting

    See?

    Also, if you're going to compare it to iTunes, mention the fact that you can't do a lot of things (like ripping to MP3) unless you pay for the Pro version.

    iTunes is free, right?

    So maybe somebody should mention this.

    1. Re:Link to privacy policy returns 404 by li99sh79 · · Score: 5, Funny
      Free with a $200 OS and overpriced, underperforming hardware, sure.

      Yes, but you can also run iTunes on a G5 with OSX. :D

      -sam

      --
      I was just here, where did I go?
  3. Ripping and Burning is Pro only by hyperherod · · Score: 5, Informative

    Looks like you have to pay $15 to get MP3 encoding and CD burning functionality. Considering a lot of people want to rip and burn to save money (read: nicking songs!), this seems a pretty stupid idea if they want to go better than iTunes, and any other software which will do it for free.

  4. Yes CmdrTaco... by Nos. · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Note, last link requires some other OS.
    Imagine that a product called Winamp requires windows.

  5. anyone else get this? by 1000101 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I go to http://winamp.com it looks different than when I go to http://www.winamp.com Why?

  6. Re:2.0 by Bish.dk · · Score: 5, Informative

    the newer versions, which have no additional features worth the speed decrease.

    It took me about 0.5 nanosecond to fall utterly in love with "global hotkeys". Never again will I need to use mouse or ALT+TAB to find Winamp, just to change the song. Everything can be controlled from whatever program I'm currently using.

    That's definately worth the increased startup-times (which, by the way, seems to only exist if you're using a "modern skin").

  7. Re:2.0 by Down8 · · Score: 5, Informative

    You are the reason for WinAmp5!

    I avoided 3.x like the plague, as well, b/c it was a resource hog. WA5 has taken the goodness from WA2 (speed), the goodness from WA3 (awesome skins), and maintained the general WinAmp greatness (play anything, cool vis, etc.), and brought them to WA5.

    Seriously, unless you're only looking ot be 31337, WA5 is worth a try. I would caution you again installing both and not expecting problems between the two though.

    -bZj

    --
    .sig
  8. I'll take care of it... by interactive_civilian · · Score: 5, Funny
    corebreech said:
    So maybe somebody should mention this.
    Don't worry. I'll take care of this.

    Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that while iTunes allows you to rip to .mp3 or AAC as well as other things (like run on a Macintosh) for FREE, you have to pay for the pro-version of WinAmp to do the same things (well...accept for the AAC and MacOS support).

    Just wanted to mention this...

    ;-p

    heh...oh well...I have some karma to burn.

    --
    "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
  9. Installing.. by MikeDX · · Score: 5, Informative

    Remember to untick "Add AOL shortcut to desktop"

  10. MP3 patent by tepples · · Score: 5, Insightful

    you can't do a lot of things [in Winamp] (like ripping to MP3) unless you pay for the Pro version.

    MP3 is patented, and the patent holder is not willing to license encoders on royalty-free terms.

    iTunes is free, right?

    The iTunes client is proprietary, and the no-charge version's MP3 encoder licensing fees are presumably subsidized by QuickTime Pro revenue and Macintosh hardware revenue.

  11. long time? by Down8 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Didn't iTunes for Windows only drop a month or two ago? How does one count a month as being a "long time" user?

    -bZj

    --
    .sig
  12. Re:When the duplicate story arrives... by ArmenTanzarian · · Score: 5, Funny
    It's Fibonacci, that'll be Winamp 8.
    Ex:
    1 + 1 = 2
    1 + 2 = 3
    2 + 3 = 5
    3 + 5 = 8
    So your sequence is 1,2,3,5,8
  13. Re:2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 19... by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny
    Is Nullsoft adopting a Fibonacci versioning system?

    'cause that would be awesome.

    ...I dunno. Fibonacci versioning sounds cool and all, but tech support would be a nightmare:

    Tech: "Okay, sir, which version of our software are you running?"
    Customer: "Version 1."
    Tech: "OK...which version 1 are you running?"
    Customer: "Huh?"
    Tech: "Are you running the first version 1 or the second version 1?"
    Customer: "Ummmm..."

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  14. Winamp 5 is a Good Thing(TM) by angstorm · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've used Winamp 5 pre-releases for a month, here's my observations:

    * FAST: As snappy as 2.x even on old machines using the "classic" skin.
    * STABLE: In a month of use, no crashes or uncouth behavior.
    * 2.x FEATURES: "Jump" and "Physically Delete" have been re-introduced.
    * SKINS: Works with version 2 and 3 skins. New default skin is user-friendly and purdy.
    * RIPPING: Making good MP3s from your CDs is fast and easy.
    * Global hotkeys: Control all program features through global hotkeys, e.g. press CTRL-ALT-5 to activate pause/play, even when Winamp is not focused as the active app.
    * Media library: Quickly find songs based on title, album, and artist.

    If you liked Winamp2 but not 3, you should give this a try.

  15. A Skeptic's View by Apreche · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ok. I'm a winamp2 nut. I refused winamp3. So naturally my first reaction when I heard about 5 was, screw that! winamp2 forevar!

    But I couldn't resist trying it. So I downloaded the free winamp5. I must say that this is an appropriate analogy.

    windows2000:windowsXP::winamp2:winamp5

    winamp 5 can be turned into winamp2 with a few mouse clicks
    windows xp can be turned into windows2000 in a few mouse clicks

    winamp 5 can run every plugin, skin and visualization from winamp 2
    windows xp can do everything windows 2000 can do

    winamp 5 has more options and more features than winamp 2
    windows xp has some stuff in it that win2k don't got

    The audio quality is identical. On my fast pc the speed is identical. I don't need cd burning or ripping because I have CDex and Nero, so I don't need to pay for the pro version, which only costs 15$.

    My faith in nullsoft has been restored. I'll try winamp 5 a week and see if I find a reason not to use it.

    Oh, the minibrowser is gone (yay!) but it is present in the media library (boo!), but you can click one button and it will go away (yay!). So it's all good.

    --
    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
  16. Re:When the duplicate story arrives... by aneurysm36 · · Score: 5, Funny

    thats amazing! ive got the same combination on my luggage!

    --
    ------ hi mom
  17. Foobar 2000 by Mitchell+Mebane · · Score: 5, Informative

    I use Winamp for playing files with weird extensions, because there are so many nifty plugins that let me listen to PSFs, NSFs, etc.

    I used to use Winamp for that, but now I use Foobar 2000. While not as polished as Winamp, it's an amazing piece of software.

    --

    The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
    --Aristotle
  18. Ah Nullsoft... by phildog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The company that AOL wants you to forget they own... Nullsoft releases cool software called Waste, AOL pulls plug almost instantly. Nullsoft releases cool software called AIMazing, AOL pulls plug almost instantly.

    I still use WinAmp, but this company no longer whips the llama's ass.

    --
    slashsearch.org - slashdot search. powered by google.
  19. Will NullSoft honor... by Keick · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... us early adopters who actually paid for WinAmp back in the day?

    If I'm not mistaken, you could purchase WinAmp back then with free upgrades for life. 2 monthes later, they honored that contract by making it free. Now that the Pro version isn't, I want my free upgrade :)