Windows Media Player: Here At Last

Hey there. I tried using the so-called Windows Media Player and it gave all soerts of problems, a virus was one of them. This doesn't seem to be valid. You would see it on softpedia or download.com by now and people all over the net buzzing about it. I don't like what I see in the version I saw first. There was another WMP12 player screenshot I saw and I liked That one! I have been hearing people say that WMP12 will ship with Windows 7. I get that for the millionth time. What I am interested in is getting WMP 12 for beta or a final. That is all. I am not too happy with Windows 7 from what I seen in screenshots. Just wanted to get a taste of WMP12 from Microsoft officially and see the new UI. And play my media of all kinds; video, audio and
images. I am sick of J River. Too boring and unstable Windows is the best out now but I know WMP12 will be the best of all time. Hopefully I will get WMP12 by new years eve or even new year's day. Can't wait any longer.

unisol said:

Hey there. I tried using the so-called Windows Media Player and it gave all soerts of problems, a virus was one of them.

A virus? What was reported and with what scanning software?

unisol said:

This doesn't seem to be valid. You would see it on softpedia or download.com by now and people all over the net buzzing about it. I don't like what I see in the version I saw first.

This is an older build that does not include some of the features available with the build in the latest Windows 7.

unisol said:

There was another WMP12 player screenshot I saw and I liked That one!

Likely one of the newer builds.

unisol said:

I have been hearing people say that WMP12 will ship with Windows 7. I get that for the millionth time. What I am interested in is getting WMP 12 for beta or a final. That is all.

What you downloaded is the only standalone build of WMP12 that I know of.

unisol said:

I am not too happy with Windows 7 from what I seen in screenshots. Just wanted to get a taste of WMP12 from Microsoft officially and see the new UI.

Unfortunately, you'll have to get Windows 7 to see the latest WMP12. Neither would be exactly "official".

unisol said:

And play my media of all kinds; video, audio and images. I am sick of J River. Too boring and unstable Windows is the best out now but I know WMP12 will be the best of all time. Hopefully I will get WMP12 by new years eve or even new year's day. Can't wait any longer.

I doubt that an "official" beta will be available in that time frame. WMP12 depends on a new codec framework in Windows 7 to handle most of the new formats. So far I've not been able to transplant WMP12 files into Vista and have them run because I can't figure out how to transplant that required framework.

darkassain said:

as i see it...
xp didnt have the framework that vista had wmp 11 (on xp) still relied on ffdshow so i can see what he thinks that wmp 12 would be different...

the thing is since they are now working with on tighting the integration with only core technologies (i mean as in bundling with the os IE WMP ect) i believe there wont be wmp 12 till at least sp2 if not later....

but thats my opinion but it sure seem like that from what i hear

WMP11 did not rely on ffdshow. At least not out of the box. If it did then they would not need a new framework as ffdshow plays most of the stuff they are trying to play in Windows 7. Maybe you meant DirectShow?

You might be right -- WMP12 standalone might not appear right away but look at WMP11 -- they released the required WMP11 format runtime installer along with WMP11 for Vista not long after Vista shipped.

You can still install and use whatever DirectShow filters you want and they will easily override the built-in support. Software like GSpot will still function as well.