Here's Looking at the Right Codec
If you've ever downloaded a video file that just plain wouldn't play, you're probably either using the wrong player or missing a video codec. You can hunt down these codecs and install them--but let's be frank, that's kind of a pain. Open-source media player VLC sidesteps these problems by building in most video codecs. It supports most audio formats, too.
VLC--which open-source aficionados might remember by its former name, VideoLan Client--played almost every video with which I tested it. It makes no claim to play Real files; for that, you need either Real Networks' player or the third-party Real Alternative:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23205,tk,srx,00.asp
VLC also choked on a WMA file with digital rights management built-in. Everything else displayed well, even the mystery files that sat on my desktop for months because I couldn't be bothered to find and install the right codecs.
No slouch as a music player, VLC played every odd file I could unearth. The blessedly basic control panel is a mere sliver that doesn't automatically default to visualizations, advertisements, and the other useless screen-munching items that are all too common. I particularly liked one of the included skins, not so much for its Mac-like brushed-aluminum look, but because the playlist and controls could detach from one another--a nifty feature that few players support.
VLC is free of charge. If you like the program, feel free to toss a few dollars to the good folks at VideoLan.org.
You can check out a screen shot here:
http://images.pcworld.com/reviews/graphics/122737-vlcDLthis_b.jpg
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,26092,tk,srx,00.asp
No comments:
Post a Comment