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VLC 0.8.6 Released

h2g2bob writes "VideoLAN yesterday released a new version of VLC media player. A shout out goes to ffmpeg for many of the codec improvements." From the blurb: "Building on feedback from the 29 million downloads of VLC media player 0.8.5, we bring you version 0.8.6 with many bugfixes, as well as a couple of new features we think you will truly enjoy. Most prominent are probably Windows Media Video 9 and Flash Video. Other important changes are improved H.264 decoding, better Windows Unicode support, a Fullscreen controller, and Apple Remote support for Mac OS X."

36 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm....WMV9 on OS X? by xjerky · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I realize Flip4Mac exists for this, but does the new VLC implement Windows WMV9 DLLs for the Intel OS X version?

    --
    A sentence you'll never see on an Internet discussion board: "You know what? You're right."
    1. Re:Hmmm....WMV9 on OS X? by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 5, Informative

      FFMPEG now contains an open-source WMV9 decoder.

    2. Re:Hmmm....WMV9 on OS X? by stuuf · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think it uses the new WMV9 decoder added to ffmpeg for Summer of Code, so it doesn't need windows DLLs or any other platform-specific or legally shady methods.

      --

      Everyone is born right-handed; only the greatest overcome it

    3. Re:Hmmm....WMV9 on OS X? by kosmosik · · Score: 5, Informative

      No. It would be illegal (in some countries) to use Windows files - they got its own license and it wold be sloppy. Instead VLC uses ffmpeg codecs which implement (partially) WMV9 decoding (but no DRM and no encoding *FIXME*). Ffmpeg codecs are another implementation (than Windows DLLs) achieved through reverse-engeenering (which also may be illegal to use in some countries).

      As for now from ffmpeg documentation:
      http://ffmpeg.mplayerhq.hu/ffmpeg-doc.html#SEC23

      WMV8 and WMV9 are "not completely working". But I think they may work well for 90% of media files out there.

      So kudos for VLC team for another great release. :)

    4. Re:Hmmm....WMV9 on OS X? by KonoWatakushi · · Score: 5, Informative

      I have a PPC mac and it is great to have a native working WMV9/VC-1 codec. While I haven't tried it in VLC, I have used it in the recent MPlayer dev builds, and it is much better than flip4mac.

    5. Re:Hmmm....WMV9 on OS X? by dr.badass · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ffmpeg codecs are another implementation (than Windows DLLs) achieved through reverse-engeenering (which also may be illegal to use in some countries)

      Um, no. There is no reverse-engineering involved. Windows Media Video 9 (fourcc: WMV3) is the same as VC-1, which is an SMTPE standard, and a reference implementation has been available for a while now. I've been using ffmpeg builds with it for months.

      Of course, I can't blame anyone for being confused, given how utterly useless the ffmpeg documentation is.

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  2. Why is this under Linux? by drcagn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This program is cross-platform and this build has Windows- and OSX-specific features. Why is this under Linux? Just because it's open source?

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    1. Re:Why is this under Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Go show your mom this comment. She will get you some help.

  3. VLC is teh woohoo! by DaveM753 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    > "a Fullscreen controller"

    Woohoo! I've been a tad frustrated with the lack of control while in fullscreen. I suppose I could memorize all of the keyboard shortcuts, but I use several different viewers between the Mac, Linux and Windoze...it just gets too confusing. I can't wait to try this out!

    1. Re:VLC is teh woohoo! by Miseph · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I think the key phrase was user-interface. Most free software does need a lot of fixing up in the UI department, and most commercial software needs a lot of improvement in the functionality department.

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  4. nigthlies is up by gerbalblaste · · Score: 5, Informative
  5. /.ng by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ok, it is time that you all stop covering software releases. You /.'d a college; now cut it out. My porn is of a greater urgency than your reporting.

  6. Re:How is this news? by DaveM753 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > "How is this news?"

    When Microsoft Windows Media Player, QuickTime or Real Player release a new version, it makes the front page of CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times. So, when a free, open-source player releases a new version, is it not appropriate for a promoter of open-source software to announce it?

  7. ffmpeg's WMV9 implementation by wesley96 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Since it's using ffmpeg to decode WMV9 instead of using Windows DLLs, both PPC and Intel Macs enjoy native decoding of the codec in question. No wrapper, no drag.

    Incidentally, it looks like the new version is finally available in Universal Binary as well as Intel- and PPC-specific builds. And it seems to load subtitle texts automatically from the get-go without mingling with the preferences settings (yes, I confirmed this by trashing the existing preferences file). I say job well done for the VLC developers.

    --
    Serving time in Aristotelean prison for violating laws of physics
  8. How about a mirror? by ZiZ · · Score: 5, Informative
    Use a bloody mirror!
    • VideoLAN primary mirror - France - Download (HTTP)
    • VIA Centrale Reseaux, École Centrale Paris - France - Download (HTTP)
    • Twente University - Netherlands - Download (HTTP)
    • IRCAM - France - Download (HTTP)
    • Université de Strasbourg - France - Download (FTP)
    • Cr@ns, ENS Cachan - France - Download (FTP)
    • Providence University - Taiwan - Download (FTP)
    • Endpoint Corporation - Sweden - Download (FTP)
    • Optralan - USA - Download (HTTP)
    • Brno University of Technology - Czech Republic - Download (HTTP)
    • Brno University of Technology - Czech Republic - Download (FTP)
    • Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná - Brazil - Download (FTP)
    (These are all Windows downloads. Remove the filename and last directory from the path to explore other download options.)
    --
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    1. Re:How about a mirror? by maxume · · Score: 5, Funny

      Which one has your trojan embedded?

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    2. Re:How about a mirror? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      We all know slashdotters rarely if ever get a chance to embed a trojan...

    3. Re:How about a mirror? by legal_asshole · · Score: 5, Funny

      I appologize in advance...

      I'd go with the mirror from India. The trojan has probably slipped off the executable, and the executable is going to be smaller to boot!

      I hate myself...

  9. torrent? by metroplex · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is there an official torrent of the releases hosted somewhere reachable?

    --
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  10. h264 decoding on vlc player kicks ass! by vivek7006 · · Score: 4, Informative

    On windows platform, when I play h264 video files the cpu usage is considerably less than other players. Especially in comparison with mplayer-classic using ffdshow. I usually encode all my home-videos using x264 and use VLC player for playback. VLC player uses minimal cpu and video quality is awesome. Thanks guys!

  11. Re:slashdotted with no comments by _Pablo · · Score: 4, Informative
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  12. VLC is a packet-based player by aok · · Score: 5, Informative

    I use VLC player for playing all my videos under Linux, both standalone and as a firefox plugin (in conjunction with the MediaPlayerConnectivity Firefox addon extension).

    The only downside I find is that actions are a bit laggy compared to frame-based players. For example, if I hit pause, it doesn't pause instantaneously.

    Also, and I'm not sure if it's a limitation of being a packet-based player, but I wish it wouldn't close the video right after it's done playing. I prefer the last frame to stay on the screen.

    P.S. For those using VLC under XGL and get a weird green-tinted bar at the top of your videos, change the Video output module to "X11 video output". You'll need to toggle the Advanced Settings checkbox.

  13. Mirrors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative
  14. It's news. by Kadin2048 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    VLC is a very significant piece of software, not just for Linux users (for whom its especially significant) but for anyone who watches a lot of movies or other media files.

    This version introduces a number of new and long-requested features, beyond what the point-release number upgrade would lead you to believe.

    In many ways, I'd say that a new release of VLC is probably more significant than the latest "marketing department" release of Quicktime Player or Windows Media Player.

    --
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  15. Re:What fullscreen controller? by flimnap · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Installed 0.8.6 and when I go to fullscreen, I can't find any new full screen control.

    Gack, good! One of the best things about VLC is that there is no annoying "control" eating screen space when you go fullscreen. The keyboard shortcuts remain fully functional, so use those.

    I've seen way too many public presentations that begin with the Windows Media Player controls present, then sliding away, not to appreciate the value of VLC.

  16. Re:How is this news? by EvanED · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because like oil, the whales, and oxygen, version numbers are a non-renewable resource!

  17. Re:slashdotted with no comments by chrispl · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have not tried the new version yet but in the old version moving the mouse to the top right corner of the screen would pop up the controls.
    Took me a while to figure that one out...

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  18. Version Number Deflation... by 7Prime · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is it just me, or does it make NO SENSE that this is a point.point upgrade? I don't care who you are, 0.0.1 upgrades are for things like bug fixes, small new implimentations, slight library recompiles... fuck: a new ICON. NOT major format additions, a UI overhaul, and a boatload of additional features!

    I can understand the concern for version number inflation (Netscape 4 -> Netscape 6 was idiotic, same with Winamp 3 -> Winamp 5), but let's not be overly humble to the point of confusing users. Version Number Deflation looks just as silly.

    I remember a time in which anything under 1.0 meant that a program was practically unusable and ONLY for elite users. But I've started to see a trend in the OSS community towards NEVER releasing a 1.0, as if 1.0 means that you're now an evil commercial entity that must be punished. No, 1.0 means "finished to the point of usability and beta tested to a certain level of solidity". Obviously, the finer points of this can be debated and are up to the descresion of the developer, but at a certain point, COME ON! When you've been working on a reasonably small audio player for over 4 years, and haven't even reached your 1.0, this tells me one of two things 1) You don't know how to code, and probably should find a new line of work, or 2) you're using numbers under 1.0 as a symbol of you're elitist OSS community status.

    Seriously, I've tried VLC... it crashes sometimes... not as often as Windows... not as often as MPlayer... it's been above a 1.0 for YEARS now, just fucking call it what it is, and cut with the ritualistic, elitist, OSS symbolism bullshit.

    --
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    1. Re:Version Number Deflation... by MMC+Monster · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I think that a lot of open source projects avoid going to 1.0 because they lose the whole "it's a beta, it's supposed to have problems" crutch. The fact of the matter is, people in general understand that all applications, regardless of version number, have flaws.

      When you call it 1.0, there is no going back. It's kind of scary for some projects. Look at the difference in press in a project like firefox. When it hit 1.0 it started getting flack for a poor upgrade mechanism and such, while before that no one cared much if it only came in .zip files.

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    2. Re:Version Number Deflation... by WheresMyDingo · · Score: 4, Funny

      in related news.. as part of their Truth in Point Releases Initiative, Microsoft has renamed Windows Vista as "Windows 0.6.1"

  19. Re:How is this news? by jasmak · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You may find it surprising, but when I saw the title of the article I literally almost fell out of my chair I was so excited. It could have been because I was sitting all the way back in my 135 degree angle but out of the 10ish media players I use, VLC is by far the simplest of most comprehensive one I have ever used and because of how long it has been since it was last updated and because of how many new features makes this big news. Also, consider the fact that I, along with many others who use it a lot, probably would not have realized that it was updated because the regular news outlets don't cover geek news... that is what /. is here for. Also, unlike these other services you are mentioning, VLC chooses not to spam you every time you open it with the option to upgrade which I think also deserves recognition.

    --
    It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
  20. Thank you VideoLAN for VLC from a Mac user by theurge14 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I use VLC here at home to play the videos Quicktime won't, and I have a copy on my USB drive so I can also play videos and listen to AAC files on the Windows 2000 machines at work that I don't have admin permissions to install anything else on. Thanks for making a great player, a cross platform player, and a portable player. Software the way it ought to be.

  21. Sooooo pretty. by supabeast! · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm just stopping by to point out that the new FFMPEG codecs included with VLC are dreamy. Fullscreen video looks twice as good as it used to. And having Apple remote support in fullscreen mode is fab. Truly an excellent release.

  22. Re:Anyone know the changelog? by Xenographic · · Score: 4, Informative
    Their poor site is half dead but here's the changelog they put up:

    Building on feedback from the 29 million downloads of VLC media player 0.8.5, we bring you version 0.8.6 with many bugfixes, as well as a couple of new features we think you will truly enjoy. Highlights of the new features and improvements:

            * Support for Windows Media Video 9 and VC-1
            * Support for VP5/VP6 and Flash video
            * Support for TTA and WavPack Lossless audio
            * Much improved H.264 support
            * Preliminary DVR-ms, MXF support
            * Shoutcast TV support
            * Windows unicode fixes
            * Apple Remote support
            * Apple Fullscreen controller
            * Universal Binary


    Wish I knew how to make shuffle default to off :/
  23. Plays DVDs & CDs from ISO images by dickeya · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That feature alone makes it my default media player. VLC rules.

  24. Re:And it still doesn't support multipart rar's... by Spad · · Score: 3, Funny

    Christ man, how lazy do you have to be that after downloading your movies for free you can't be bothered to un-rar them? Perhaps you'd like VLC to support torrents and write up a summary of each video for you - cut out the human interaction all together.