Windows 10 Update Removes Windows Media Player (betanews.com)

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Windows 10 Update Removes Windows Media Player (betanews.com)

Posted by msmash on Monday October 9, 2017 @07:30AM from the up-next dept.

Recently made available Windows 10 update KB4046355 for the Fall Creators Update disables Windows Media Player from the operating system. BetaNews reports: While it could be argued that Windows Media Player is no longer an essential addition to Windows -- there are plenty of quality third-party alternatives, such as VLC Media Player, not to mention the Films & TV app in Windows 10 itself -- many users still rely on it. The feature's removal came to light when users installed KB4046355 on devices running Windows 10 version 1709 -- the Fall Creators Update. This update, referred to as FeatureOnDemandMediaPlayer, removes Windows Media Player from the OS, although it doesn't kill access to it entirely. If you want the media player back you can install it via the Add a Feature setting. Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & Features, and click on Manage optional features.

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It could also be argued... by QuietLagoon · 2017-10-09 07:38 · Score: 4, Insightful

...While it could be argued that Windows Media Player is no longer an essential addition to Windows...
It could also be argued that the Windows 10 data harvesting is not an essential addition to Windows. Yet there it remains....
.
Makes one wonder what the real reason is for removing Media Player.
1. Re: It could also be argued... by iampiti · 2017-10-09 07:57 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  The real reason is pushing everyone to use the touchy apps.
  I still think it's asinine to force such UIs on mouse users
Why? by RyanFenton · 2017-10-09 07:49 · Score: 4, Insightful

It's a shell linking audio/video codecs (which still exist) to a simple set of video controls, perhaps with some mostly useless cruft, but it did a decent job.
It definitely wasn't anywhere near the best player - but when you went to a random PC, you could be sure that most common videos would play.
Why would you remove that as a minimal component on PCs? Browsers are OK - but when you're going for a presentation on a random PC, there's all kinds of ways those can crap out in ways that a simple default video player would be fine.
Seems a very dumb thing to remove, if you want PCs to be useful general devices world-wide.
And note - probably less than 2% of your user base is going to go onto the 'Windows Store' to try and get ANYTHING to fix this shortcoming. Attempting to profit from your own manufactured problem is not going to pay off in this case, compared to what it's costing you in terms of basic capability.
Ryan Fenton
1. Re:Why? by viperidaenz · 2017-10-09 08:38 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  If you try to open a file that has no associated application, Windows suggests you go to the Windows Store to download an app to open it.
  Regardless of this, there is already other media plays preinstalled in Windows 10. Windows Media Player wasn't the only one.
  It wasn't just a shell linking audio and video codecs to a UI, it was an attack vector that has been exploited in the past with malicious media files. Files that aren't supposed to be executable.
  Here's a list of 52 known vulnerabilities https://www.cvedetails.com/vul...
  Some of them are remote code execution just by visiting a website: "The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if Windows Media Player opens specially crafted media content that is hosted on a malicious website"
Re:Windows 10 is a good Idea? by jwhyche · 2017-10-09 07:49 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's not. WMP has long out lived its usefulness. I honestly thought it was already gone. Imagine my surprise when it opened up the other day on some obscure video format that I had long forgotten about.
VLC does a whole lot better job.

--
I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
What other OS can we use instead? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-10-09 07:54 · Score: 0, Insightful

If we don't use Windows 10, what other OS can we use instead?
We don't want to use Windows 8 or 8.1, because they were pretty awful.
We don't want to use earlier versions of Windows, because support and updates for them are limited or pretty much non-existent.
macOS is perhaps the only viable non-Windows alternative, but it's useless for those of us who don't have Apple hardware. And we don't want to have to buy new, and rather expensive for what you get, hardware just to use macOS.
Linux isn't really an option, especially with so many distros including systemd. I hate to say this, but I've found Windows 10 to boot more reliably for me than the versions of Debian and Ubuntu that use systemd!
Chrome OS is too limited and feeble.
Haiku is a toy.
Solaris isn't really viable, even for powerusers.
Realistically, Windows 10 is the only option for nearly all desktop users who aren't using macOS.
It didn't have to be this way. The various Linux distros had ample time and opportunity to come up with a real competitor to Windows. But instead of doing that they just wasted time with doodoo like systemd, GNOME 3, PulseAudio, NetworkManager, Unity, and Wayland.
We use Windows 10 because it's the only practical option.
1. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-10-09 08:00 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  If I have to choose between Windows 10 "spyware edition" or Linux with systemd, I still go for Linux. Thank you.
2. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by Stormwatch · 2017-10-09 08:25 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  How about some BSD?
  
  --
  Circumcision is child abuse.
3. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by Man+On+Pink+Corner · 2017-10-09 08:35 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  There's nothing wrong with Windows 8, as long as you install ClassicShell and disable all the Metro crap.
4. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by JackieBrown · 2017-10-09 08:38 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Have you really had issues with systemd or even pulseaudio or network manager?
  I installed debian on my samsung laptop and it worked without mesing with any files. I have never had it fail to boot. I have it on my raspberry pi as well running homeassistant also on debian.
  I haven't had windows 10 fail to boot either, just saying I hear the systemd complaint allot but I really don't think it's an issue for most home users. Maybe it messes on the enterprise level, but your post is clearly talking about home users.
5. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by taustin · 2017-10-09 09:04 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Unfortunately, that's not the choice. The choice is "an OS that runs the software I have to use" and "an OS that doesn't run the software I have to use."
6. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by taustin · 2017-10-09 09:07 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  The people that tell you that Windows 10 is the spawn of Satan and a retarded goat seem to be the same ones who insist that systemd will cause the complete destruction of the physical universe, dog and cats living together, and dingoes to each your children.
7. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by Ol+Olsoc · 2017-10-09 11:44 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Have you really had issues with systemd or even pulseaudio or network manager?
  Welcome to the darkside of Linux users. its fashionable to shit on systemd, because its fashionable to shit on systemd.
  I have it on a lot of systems, and aside from fsome early burps when it first came out, it's running well.
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
8. Re:What other OS can we use instead? by UnknownSoldier · 2017-10-09 13:46 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  > We don't want to use earlier versions of Windows, because support and updates for them are limited or pretty much non-existent.
  False. Windows 7 doesn't have the spyware of Windows 10.
  > macOS ... useless for those of us who don't have Apple hardware.
  Translation: You want to continue to make excuses for why your privacy isn't worth it.
  > Linux isn't really an option,
  Linux has always been an option -- you are just too lazy to admin your box.
  > I use Windows 10 because I'm too lazy to learn / use anything else.
  FTFY
  Quite astroturfing. Not everyone wants to be Microsoft's bitch.
Re:This won't make family happy. by TechyImmigrant · 2017-10-09 08:04 · Score: 3, Insightful

I stuck with WMP (when using windows) because it plays music and rips to mp3. I don't need it to do more. The windows 10 replacement was a nightmare because it consumes the whole screen in some tablet-mode nonsense.
I could use any of many media players, but I don't really care. Being familiar with where the play button is and how to get to the playlists is handy.
It's not a function of age, it's a function of not giving a shit.

--
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.