Media players are software programs that play streaming media content from the internet or local storage. Apple’s iTunes and Microsoft’s WMP are examples of all-in-one media players, while some prefer lean programs like VLC for specific tasks. VLC is popular for its cross-platform flexibility and ability to play a wide variety of codecs. There are many free media players to choose from, and some have browser plug-ins for automatic opening of media files.
A media player is a software program designed to play streaming media content from a network such as the Internet or from local storage to a hard drive or other resource. It might be expected to understand and translate several audio and video codecs, covering many digital music and video formats.
Customers of Apple products such as iPod® and iPhone® will have iTunes® installed, a versatile media player which, like Microsoft’s WMP, has many advanced features. These large and complete programs act not only as players, but also as media libraries, rippers and burners.
Having an all-in-one media player works for some, but others prefer their favorite proprietary software for tasks like ripping and burning. These folks might opt for a player that serves only one purpose: a lean little program that runs fast, gets the job done, and stays out of the way. Something without the flash, bang and glitter of bigger, bloated players.
One of the most popular in this category is a free, open source media player called VLC. Originally designed by students from a French university, VLC is now a global project with contributors around the world. It’s popular for a number of reasons, including its cross-platform flexibility, at home on all popular operating systems, and its ability to play what is perhaps the widest variety of codecs of any player. VLC will also play an .iso file, a format that normally needs to be converted to MPEG or burned to DVD before playback. Best of all, VLC has a small footprint that runs fast, uses little system resources, and does a great job of streaming live media.
Regardless of your preferences, there is no shortage of media players to choose from, almost all of which are free. Many, including VLC, have browser plug-ins so that the player automatically opens music or movie files as you browse. Even if you prefer an all-in-one reader, installing a faster program can help for this purpose.
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