Media Players for Windows Without DRM?

jasonmicron asks: "I am curious as to what you Linux/UNIX people use for a media player that supports both license lookup on the internet and DVD Playback support. I am quite sick of Microsoft's media player telling me that my 'license is invalid', even on DVDs that I own. I find that VERY lame. I ask because not only does Microsoft tell me that my license is invalid but Real Network's Real Player tells me the same thing (even though I place my totally VALID and self-owned DVD in my DVD-ROM player in my DVD-ROM, which runs on Windows). What media players does Slashdot recommend to bypass the total ignorance of Microsoft and Real Networks? I am looking for a Windows solution, though any Linux / UNIX solution is completely welcome."

Comments

Mplayer32

[Omniscientist]

The 32 bit binary of mplayer will be all that you need. The 64 bit version of mplayer will lack some important windows/quicktime codecs, but you probably aren't worried about that.

Mplayer is available for a multitude of platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, and *nix. In fact my girlfriend uses mplayer and mplayer only on her Mac OS X due to Quicktime being unable to play a large amount of movies.
Of course if you want dvd playback you will need libdvdcss, libdvdread, etc.
Get mplayer here.

Winamp

[Creos073]

I use winamp for music, and a lot of the time I just use it for videos, too.

Most like its not DRM

[Utopia]

Your time-limited DVD playback software has probably expired.
Media Player by itself will not display 'license is invalid' message for normal DVD playback.

You just need to buy a new DVD decoder.
NVidia PureVideo Decoder or WinDVD are some of the best around.

Re:Most like its not DRM

[rmjohnso]

I think the parent commentor is on the right track here. Windows Media Player and Real Player CANNOT natively decode DVDs. They require a licensed decoder in the background. WMP and RP just are different looks to the same decoder.

For example, you can install WinDVD and have WMP or RP use the WinDVD decoding to play back DVDs. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do this, but that's just me. Remember, you USUALLY have to pay for a decoder, so the software maker can pay the monolithic MPAA for the CSS keys.

As for Linux programs, see the other comments about MPlayer, VLC, Xine, etc.

videolan

[mnmn]

you mean you can play dvds in other media players than videolan?

This is NOT DRM

[malakai]

After all, if it was true DRM, switching to another player wouldn't make a damn bit of difference. If the content was locked and encoded with DRM technology.

Nope, instead the parent post is most certainly right. WMP9/10 will not prevent you via any DRM mechanism from watching a DVD. The DRM technology is for downloaded and locked content. Examples of such content? I don't really know of any. It's one of those things they spent a lot of money to build but no market for it yet.

The error message you are getting, and the fact you get the same message via WMP and RealPlayer is likely because they both are using the same CODEC for DVD data. The CODEC has expired. Remeber, by default Windows out of the box (Excluding Plus+ Pack) can't play DVDs. So you had to install something to make it work (unless the OEM pre-installed something) and that something appears to have been a trial only.

But, it is funny how well trained you are to immediately think DRM/MS conspiracy to prevent you from playing your legitimatly own DVDs. Shows the OpenSource FUD is working.

It wont be long now until Microsoft^h^h^h^$oft is groveling at the feet of the supreme GNU council begging for a seat at the table...

Oh how they'll pay....

get a clue!

[bonezed]

media player classic and klite codec pack or just VLC

not real hard to use Google

Re:Editing?

[miTcixelsyD]

Well, checking the grammAr would be a nice thing, yes.