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Media Players for Windows Without DRM?

Posted by Cliff on from the just-play-the-bloody-thing dept.

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."

3 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why is license seen as invalid by WMP? by c0d3h4x0r · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe it's due to region encoding mismatch between the disc and the drive.

    Maybe it's due to something having gotten corrupt with the poster's registry or DLL files.

    Maybe it's due to a failing DVD-ROM drive.

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  2. Re:Overkill by thegrassyknowl · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It sounds like a CODEC problem to me, since both players are having that problem. I would guess that even if he installs another media player, he'll have the same problem.

    It sounds like a Spyware problem to me. Real and Windows Media Player all talk back to their creator every time you play a file. You can turn it off, but tcpdump on my router shows otherwise. They can get fscked for all I care. I don't particularly want M$ or Real knowing my viewing habbits.

    This has nothing to do with a broken light switch and living in a cave. Real and windows media player are the worst two players in existance. I think this is more about coming out of a cave and finally finding a program that can play many more media types and can handle partial (still downloading) and corrupted (bit rot on my CDRs) files with style and grace. I know Windows Media Player takes out the OS when you give it a file with some errors and ask it to play full screen. At least mplayer just detects the errors and exits gracefully!

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  3. Real Player by NullProg · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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).

    I had this problem with NFL direct. Enable cookies and your content should play. The new Real Player now defaults to secure mode (no cookies) which I appreciate. Works under Linux and Win32.

    Enjoy,

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