Why are media players so awful?

[lehnerus2000]

I have used various media players and most of them are awful.
My favourite media player is WMP 10!

WMP 10
The layout isn't too bad and there are only a few haphazard control/option placements.
The library is reasonably easy to use.
This player is the one I use in XP.

Winamp
The control/option placements are fairly haphazard.
Updating track info in the library has to be done one track at a time.
This is the player I use in Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit).

WMP12
This player is awful.
The control/option placements are totally haphazard (scattered over several windows).
It has horrible problems (e.g. it refuses to obey instructions/settings).
There are many web pages about its bad behaviour.
The library isn't too bad.
I refuse to use this player because of the problems it has caused me.
See this thread for examples:
http://www.sevenforums.com/music-pictures-video/132616-stop-media-updating.html

VLC
The control/option placements are fairly haphazard.
The Playlist and Media library are awful.
I only use this player for rmvb files.

Media Player Classic
It's not particularly user friendly.
In April or May, something changed on my XP and Windows 7 installations and it couldn't play rmvb files correctly (video OK, audio broken).
See this thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/91999-did-ms-patches-may-break-rmvb-support-mpc.html
It doesn't really have Playlists or a Media library.
I use this player for all my videos (except rmvb) in XP and Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit).

Real Player
The installer is horrible.
The installation scatters files all over my HDD (requiring me to conduct "search & destroy" missions).
Updates require a complete reinstall (i.e. it doesn't remember any of the previous installation settings).
It always hijacks my file extensions even when I tell it not to.
The control/option placements are fairly haphazard.
The library isn't too bad.
It seems to have a good CD database.
I use this player for ripping CDs.

WMC
I find navigation is difficult.
The control/option placements are fairly haphazard.
Overall it's not too bad, but I don't use it.

I have also tried other programs at various times in the past:

• GOM Player
• DivX
• Aktiv Player
• jetAudio Basic
• Music Match
• SMX

Does anybody else have any media player horror stories? What are your favourite media players?

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

I use VLC for all of my MKV-contained content. I find that given it's overall slim size in comparison to others like WMP and iTunes it gets first run.

When I have my stuff converted out of MKV and into MP4 containers, I send them to iTunes. iTunes has everything I watch or listen to. Almost 500GB worth.

 

[logicearth]

I see Zune Player is missing from your list... >.>
You don't need a Zune to use it. <.<

The Zune Player is freaking gorgeous, best looking thing there is.

 

[Zepher]

I use Zoom Player from Inmatrix.com - Zoom Player Download to play almost all of my video files.
For files that have issues I will use VLC.
For music I will either use Zune, itunes or WMP12, depending on what I am doing at the time.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Missing Programs

Thanks for commenting.
I thought that it was only reasonable, to complain about programs that I had actually used.

When I have my stuff converted out of MKV and into MP4 containers, I send them to iTunes. iTunes has everything I watch or listen to. Almost 500GB worth.

On the PC "Flame" blog that I read, Windows users are always complaining about iTunes and Mac users say it's fantastic.
The consensus seems to be, that it is great on Macs and only so-so on Windows.

I see Zune Player is missing from your list... >.>
You don't need a Zune to use it. <.<

On that same blog, a lot of Windows users praise Zune (and of course the Mac users don't really like it).
I have considered trying to get a copy, but since I have already got everything set-up for Winamp, it hasn't been a high priority.

Thanks for that link Zepher. I'll add it to my collection.

BTW, Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

When I have my stuff converted out of MKV and into MP4 containers, I send them to iTunes. iTunes has everything I watch or listen to. Almost 500GB worth.

On the PC "Flame" blog that I read, Windows users are always complaining about iTunes and Mac users say it's fantastic.
The consensus seems to be, that it is great on Macs and only so-so on Windows.

Agreed. It has it's moments. I've just gotten use to it. Apple made a great product on the mac so-so on Windows just to gain more market share. I think they felt they "HAD TO" in order to look like they like Windows+iPod users.

 

[1337]

I use VLC for most of my videos and MediaMonkey for my songs. I guess, I'm just simply used to how MediaMonkey works. XD

 

[logicearth]

(and of course the Mac users don't really like it).

Mac users cannot actually use it, It is Windows only so I would take what they say with a grain of salt. Plus most are anti-microosft anything even if it is good.

I have considered trying to get a copy, but since I have already got everything set-up for Winamp, it hasn't been a high priority.

It shouldn't alter your collection or anything. It will just use not alter unless you tell it to, any music in the Music library. Makes it easy to test it out.

 

[severedsolo]

Windows users are always complaining about iTunes

Thats because Itunes is the most god awful piece of software known to man. You know how every other media player, all you have to do is point it to your music library and it figures it out? Well Itunes doesn't like that, it has to create its own special folder, so you have the same Music twice....

Frankly, I like WMP12 it does what I want it to do. WMP10 caused me no end of issues, I think i can think of about 5 files (out of 2000 odd media files that I have) which WMP12 won't play. For those I use VLC.

I get what you mean about the controls though, they are a bit all over the shop. This is why I always just use the "Alt" key, basically everything you want is in those 5 little dropdown menus. I dont know why Microsoft think that "File Edit etc." offends our eyes so much and insists on hiding them away. This is my main gripe with MS Office too. The Ribbon just makes no sense to me at all.

 

[lehnerus2000]

The Ribbon

Mac users cannot actually use it, It is Windows only so I would take what they say with a grain of salt. Plus most are anti-microosft anything even if it is good.

I had assumed that they either saw it on their friend's PCs or they were dual booting Windows.
I agree that the vocal Mac advocates generally hate anything made by MS.

It shouldn't alter your collection or anything. It will just use not alter unless you tell it to, any music in the Music library. Makes it easy to test it out.

WMP 12 shouldn't either.

I hate installing and uninstalling programs.
There always seem to be orphaned folders and leftover Registry entries to deal with.

Even more so now, after the discussions about winsxs on:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/131118-winsxs-safe-delete.html

... I dont know why Microsoft think that "File Edit etc." offends our eyes so much and insists on hiding them away. This is my main gripe with MS Office too. The Ribbon just makes no sense to me at all.

I agree with you about the Ribbon (in Office 2007, I haven't used 2010).

The first time I encountered it, I couldn't figure out how to print a document.
So much for all the common functions being easier to access because of the Ribbon.
I didn't realise that the "lollipop" logo was actually a button.
I was so bamboozled, I forgot that I could use Ctrl + P.

Ironically though, I think that it could actually work in a media player.
You could have tabs for Media Library, Music, Pictures, Playlists, TV and Video.

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

Windows users are always complaining about iTunes

Thats because Itunes is the most god awful piece of software known to man. You know how every other media player, all you have to do is point it to your music library and it figures it out? Well Itunes doesn't like that, it has to create its own special folder, so you have the same Music twice....

It asks you if you want this feature when you install it. Did you miss that?

Frankly, I like WMP12 it does what I want it to do. WMP10 caused me no end of issues, I think i can think of about 5 files (out of 2000 odd media files that I have) which WMP12 won't play. For those I use VLC.

I get what you mean about the controls though, they are a bit all over the shop. This is why I always just use the "Alt" key, basically everything you want is in those 5 little dropdown menus. I dont know why Microsoft think that "File Edit etc." offends our eyes so much and insists on hiding them away. This is my main gripe with MS Office too. The Ribbon just makes no sense to me at all.

You sound like a grump old man. LOL.

When it doubt, VLC it!

 

[noobvious]

What are your favourite media players?

For just listening to my music on the computer, foobar2000 with the foobar2000: Components Repository - WASAPI output support component installed.

For aggregating my podcasts, and managing my MP3 players' content, I'm a long-time MediaMonkey » Free Media Jukebox, Music Manager, CD Ripper & Converter user. I have the upgraded Gold version, but most people can get by with the free version just fine....I certainly did for quite a while.

For videos, I just use WMP12. I did try VLC for a little while, but for whatever reason, it was using 10% more CPU than WMP12 was, so I went back to WMP12. With Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs installed, WMP12 will play pretty much anything.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Windows users are always complaining about iTunes

Thats because Itunes is the most god awful piece of software known to man. You know how every other media player, all you have to do is point it to your music library and it figures it out? Well Itunes doesn't like that, it has to create its own special folder, so you have the same Music twice....

It asks you if you want this feature when you install it. Did you miss that?

Exactly so.

I use a 10 plus year old version of iTunes on Windows 7 with no issues at all. Never have had any issues with it.

I just turn off most of the options and don't give it any control over my mp3 library. All it can do is play from the single copies of my mp3s.

I do have an "iTunes Music" folder. It has absolutely nothing in it because I made the config choices shown below.

It's the best player I have found and I have tried a bunch. A full screen interface with minimal clutter.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Sorry, I think that it's awful

I just installed Zune and I'll have to agree with the Mac users on this subject. :shock:
Luckily I used a VM!

The installer is awful:

• It doesn't say where it is installing the files to (the 1st time it dumped all of its files directly into the "Program Files" folder).
• I didn't notice an option to disable the desktop icon.

First Impressions weren't promising:

• It played an annoying intro ad/startup sequence.
• It was using ~30% CPU (Winamp in the same VM uses <1%).
• There didn't seem to be an obvious way to kill the "visualisation" (related to the previous point).

It's other "helpful" features are just like the other MS media players:

• It "helpfully" modified the "Libraries".
• It created a "Podcast" entry (I never use podcasts and there's no way to stop it).
• It seems like all of its options are always on (you can't disable anything).
• The interface has tiny text. How could anyone read that on a portable device?
• It couldn't find ~1300 video files, despite being told where to look (it found ~50 other files on that same drive though).

It demonstrates that:

• MS thinks users are too stupid to be able to make their own decisions.
• MS always knows best (at least that's what they believe).

Despite its minor annoyances, Winamp seems to be the media player I'll have to use on Windows 7.

 

[Fayla]

Hm, I use Winamp for audio and BSPlayer for video files (.MKV / etc.) I switched WMP 12 out because it had a more limited file playback range.


I had to install ITunes though, because my store purchased files demanded activation through ITunes.

 

[noobvious]

Hm, I use Winamp for audio and BSPlayer for video files (.MKV / etc.) I switched WMP 12 out because it had a more limited file playback range.

The Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs package solved that for me. WMP12 has played everything I've tried to play on it, audio or video. I only use it for video though.

 

[Fayla]

I'm really not fond of codec packs (had some bad experiences with them in the past.) Programs like VLC / BSPlayer have the modern codecs built into them and don't mux with the system.

Thanks for the advice though.

Hm, I use Winamp for audio and BSPlayer for video files (.MKV / etc.) I switched WMP 12 out because it had a more limited file playback range.

The Shark007.net - Windows 7 Codecs - WMP12 Codecs package solved that for me. WMP12 has played everything I've tried to play on it, audio or video. I only use it for video though.

 

[Trucidation]

Any advice on .rmvb (video) players? I generally use VLC for videos but it doesn't smoothly playback certain formats. I avoid WMP; absolutely loathe the auto-switch-to-library-interface thing it does when you stick a USB drive in your machine. Media Player Classic sounded like what I was looking for but apparently it wants codecs, and we all know doing that isn't as simple as grabbing a nice standardized package somewhere and I'm not in the mood to chase down version numbers or names right now.

The good thing about standards is that there's so many of them to choose from.
/sarc

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

Any advice on .rmvb (video) players? I generally use VLC for videos but it doesn't smoothly playback certain formats. I avoid WMP; absolutely loathe the auto-switch-to-library-interface thing it does when you stick a USB drive in your machine. Media Player Classic sounded like what I was looking for but apparently it wants codecs, and we all know doing that isn't as simple as grabbing a nice standardized package somewhere and I'm not in the mood to chase down version numbers or names right now.

The good thing about standards is that there's so many of them to choose from.
/sarc

lol .RMVB. I forgot that format even existed

 

[lehnerus2000]

I just solved this rmvb problem on my PC

Any advice on .rmvb (video) players? I generally use VLC for videos but it doesn't smoothly playback certain formats. I avoid WMP; absolutely loathe the auto-switch-to-library-interface thing it does when you stick a USB drive in your machine. Media Player Classic sounded like what I was looking for but apparently it wants codecs, and we all know doing that isn't as simple as grabbing a nice standardized package somewhere and I'm not in the mood to chase down version numbers or names right now.

The good thing about standards is that there's so many of them to choose from.
/sarc

After 8 months I have finally got MPC to play rmvb audio again.
Real Player was preventing MPC (& K-Lite Mega Codec Pack) from installing properly.

You may have to get some dlls from another source also.
I haven't confirmed if I needed to install extra dlls (they were already present from my experiments during the day).

For the steps I used, see this post:
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/91999-did-ms-patches-may-break-rmvb-support-mpc.html#post1151048http://www.sevenforums.com/1151048-post6.html

Now I can go back to using MPC for all of my videos.

lol .RMVB. I forgot that format even existed

A lot of anime episodes are in rmvb format.