Windows Media Player 9 Series for Mac OS X: Coming

[MacRumors]

A previous mailing list email (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/07/20030710085202.shtml) hinted that Windows Media Player 9 would be coming to Mac OS X, with a demo shown at WWDC.

One reader points out that Microsoft's Windows Media Player for Mac OS X page (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/software/Macintosh/osx/default.aspx) now reflects that WMP 9 will be coming soon for OS X:

Coming Soon!**Windows Media Player 9 Series for Mac OS X will deliver compatibility with 9 Series audio and video content.


The current version of WMP for OS X is 7.1. Version 9 should bring the Mac version up-to-date with the current PC version of WMP.

[Nutzoids]

We are now working the wrong way...Apple to PC...Not PC to Apple...No More Microsoft Products for Apple!


:mad:

[zer0army]

I will stick with VLC thank you.

[edesignuk]

Nutzoids, zer0army, as much as you may not like it, it is important that WMP9 does come out for Mac as soon as possible as there is a growing amount of WMP9 only media out there on the web, video streams, audio streams etc.

[JtheLemur]

Thank god! VLC and MPlayer are fabulous, but there are still codecs out there that demand WMP9...

[PubGuy]

Oh yeah, Microsoft DRM for the Mac....swell. A necessary evil, I guess.

[arn]

Originally posted by zer0army
I will stick with VLC thank you.

As mentioned above, VLC does not support WMP9. Despite the knee-jerk reactions above... this is a Good Thing.

arn

[jayscheuerle]

We need it.

I just can't wait to see how it clumsily integrates DRM. Microsoft does not, never has, and never well "get it".

Unless the "it" is money.

- j

[Vonnie]

Thank god, I prefer quicktime player (pro), it even plays my divxes after installing the codecs smoother than mplayerosx, and allot smoother than VLC.

But still, there is allot of WM9 only content out there on the web.

[Nutzoids]

edesignuk, You are 150% right about that. I just wish Apple could come up with something of there own that can play them. I am aiming for a Microsoft free Mac.

[edesignuk]

Originally posted by Nutzoids
edesignuk, You are 150% right about that. I just wish Apple could come up with something of there own that can play them. I am aiming for a Microsoft free Mac.
Apple probably could, but would Microsoft give them a license to integrate whatever codec in to QT? Not on your nelly!

[CheekyGit]

I updated to WMP 9 a few months ago on my WinXP box and it totally trashed my mpeg videos and mp3s. The audio and video would skip every few seconds and it got very annoying. Luckily, I had them backed up to CDs and went back to WMP 7.1.


It is a terrible program!!!!!!! :mad:

[Mudbug]

While I agree with this being a good thing as far as offering all the WM9 file playback on the mac, I fail to have faith that M$ will keep out of my machines. The DRM stuff that this comes along with frightens me to a certain extent, and I really have nothing (that I know of) that I need to worry about. It's my machine, tho, and I can do with it what I want - without M$'s approval.

I may need it down the road, but I don't think I'll be spending large quantities of time waiting in line to download this, tho.

[Vonnie]

Originally posted by Nutzoids
edesignuk, You are 150% right about that. I just wish Apple could come up with something of there own that can play them. I am aiming for a Microsoft free Mac.

Sadly, if Apple would reverse engineer Microsofts DRM that is a significant part of WM9, it would be a violation of the DMCA. Stupid law... :rolleyes:

[bdkennedy1]

This is a chance to redeem themselves after releasing that "piece of crap, can't even give it away for free" version 7.

[webplummer]

The current WMP app sucks major wind on my machines, TiBook 550 and PM867. Both play QT flawlessly, but WMP files choke and stutter...

I certainly hope the performance of this new one is better than the last. Not that I care to use it, but, you know, if I have to.

[Photorun]

I wonder if M$ will give it their sad lame attempt at the brush steel skin (poor man's quicktime?!) like the current version.

[TEG]

This a only a great if it has support for those smeggin' MSMPEG4 .asf files too. I still get some of those, and VLC doesn't always know how to handle them.

TEG

[Goekeli]

Thanks Arn! I have needed this really really bad. I have tried every player that I know of and have not got this WM to work. Thanks M$ you bastards!~)

Joe :p

[Chealion]

I know its a good thing, but Windows Media Player sucks so much.

[SilentPanda]

Whenever something is encoded not in quicktime format I always give it a second thought before playing it. If it's in Real format I don't even bother because I don't have Real installed on my machine. I have WMP 7.1 on my machine but I can't even remember the last time I used it. Yeah there are things that I'd *like* to watch or listen to but I don't want to give the impression to companies that I use Windows Media Player and that it's okay to only offer their content in that format. I don't think they should offer their content in only quicktime format either. All three formats would be preferrable or at least WMP and QT.

[pilotgi]

I am aiming for a Microsoft free Mac.
I've already hit the bullseye. I'm MS free on my iBook.
there is a growing amount of WMP9 only media out there on the web, video streams, audio streams etc.
Which I happily live without, thank you very much. Another solution would be for the content providers to offer both mpegs and WMP files.

[Nutzoids]

Originally posted by edesignuk
Apple probably could, but would Microsoft give them a license to integrate whatever codec in to QT? Not on your nelly!



Microsoft would sell anything for the right price! I heard on the radio today that Microsoft is starting a High School in Philadelphia. It will open in 3 years and guess what it will be called....Thats right The Microsoft High School. MHS! I think for the right price they would sell it.

[jimthorn]

I'll take Real over WMP any day. Fortunately, most of the stuff I listen to or watch off of web sites (NPR, KCRW.com, etc) is in Real format.

[Wonder Boy]

Originally posted by webplummer
The current WMP app sucks major wind on my machines, TiBook 550 and PM867. Both play QT flawlessly, but WMP files choke and stutter...

I certainly hope the performance of this new one is better than the last. Not that I care to use it, but, you know, if I have to.

Hmm...Quicktime-Apple product, on Apple machines runs fine.
WMP-M$ product, on an apple machine does not run fine.

Quicktime-Apple product, on M$ machines do not run fine.
WMP-M$ product, on an M$ machine runs fine.

I can't say I'm surprised by this.

[ColoJohnBoy]

It's about time! The WMP for OS X right (7.1 is it?) is wonderfully unintrusive compared to WMP on a PC, but it feels clunky; it runs slow, only ocassionally recognizes the conten to be played, and just reeks of Microsoft. Hopefully this update will be more suited to OS X and (God willing) Panther.

[maxvamp]

1: ) If WMP did not come to Mac OSX, we would be starting ( and actually did start, but have turned around and are coming back ) down the same road as OS/2. OS/2 had better integration with their media, but as they got shut out of newer codecs, so went the OS . Well, that and several other features.

2: ) I would hope that WMP9 offers the same web site integration play abilities that the windows version offers. There have been times where I have come across sites that have content that wouldn't play easily simply due to a call they make to play the video in the browser, and on Mac, the WMP only plays as a stand alone.

Other than that, I have yet to see one MS app on the Mac (OSX) wth any performance, and this is when compairing Mac Apps to Mac Apps... a kinda Apples to Apples comparison.

Max

[vitrector]

Originally posted by Nutzoids
We are now working the wrong way...Apple to PC...Not PC to Apple...No More Microsoft Products for Apple!


:mad:


The truth is, more and more corporations, and even turnkey video recording solutions (medical/surgical), are using WM9 video. Personnally I do not understand why open standards are not adopted (i.e. mp4), but that is what is happening. Thus, it is GOOD that OS X will get WM9!

[MacsRgr8]

Isn't this necessary to be able to use Microsoft's music store?
This thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35059&highlight=microsoft+AND+music+AND+store) comes to mind.....

[AppleMatt]

This is good, I've been waiting for this for a long time. Most important on my list (codecs aside);

- Performance.
- No skins.
- Browser integration.

Also, MSN Messenger needs to be brought upto PC spec.

Although theoretically it would be nice to have a Microsoft free Mac, the fact remains that many people (myself included) need to use Word X and WMP9 (and MSN messenger), I'm not going to damage my workflow just out of principle. This is good.

AppleMatt

[hobbes3113]

Wow, that's craptastic!

[foniks2020]

If Microsoft wants to put money and energy into making a Mac version of any of their software, I have no problem with that.

In fact I wish that is all they would spend money on... here me Bill? Stop developing your insecure, oppressive, ill conceived Operating System and put all your energy into developing software for a real OS, OS X. Just make sure you read ALL the way through the Mac User Interface Guide.

[SiliconAddict]

Originally posted by Vonnie
Sadly, if Apple would reverse engineer Microsofts DRM that is a significant part of WM9, it would be a violation of the DMCA. Stupid law... :rolleyes:

Yep and if MS reverse engineered QT to be compatible with MP9 ever Mac user would be up in arms. It works both ways.
:rolleyes:

[gopher]

Despite my lack of desire to have things Microsoft on my computer, many websites have embedded WMP 9 video and audio and no Realplayer video or audio or Quicktime for that matter. Who knows, that may change with the recent lawsuit against Microsoft being victorious:

http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0903micropaten.html

[SiliconAddict]

*licks his finger and puts it in the air* Mmmm there's zealot out there.

Come on people if you don't want to use MP9 then there is a simple option DON'T USE IT!!! :rolleyes:

You DO realize you are complaining that another piece of software is now available for the Mac right?!?! This should be "A good thing"tm not something to complain about.

Also unless it’s drastically diff from the Windows version you can go into the options and turn off DRM when ripping music.

And not only that. Its free! :\ Please give it a rest. Now if Media Player has some sort of history of crashing OSX like I've read IE has been known to do there is some legit complaining there. Otherwise. Ignore it and move on.

[hayesk]

Originally posted by gopher
Despite my lack of desire to have things Microsoft on my computer, many websites have embedded WMP 9 video and audio and no Realplayer video or audio or Quicktime for that matter.

I wonder how much that would be the case if people requested the content be encoded in QT or Real, instead of blindly accepting it. Sometimes we forget who is in charge - the customer.

Everytime you set your browser user-agent to IE, or use a PC to view a MS-proprietary video clip you are sending the providers the message that their current practice is ok. If you need to view the content, fine, but send them a letter, let them know what you, the customer really want.

[Snowy_River]

Originally posted by maxvamp
1: ) If WMP did not come to Mac OSX, we would be starting ( and actually did start, but have turned around and are coming back ) down the same road as OS/2. OS/2 had better integration with their media, but as they got shut out of newer codecs, so went the OS . Well, that and several other features.
...

I think that you're giving WMP far too much credit. While I do regard this announcement as a good thing, I don't think the lack of WMP on the Mac would seal the fate of Apple...

[aquafina]

Most of the quality material I want to see on the web is already in QT, so I will NOT be installing this.

[gopher]

Originally posted by hayesk
I wonder how much that would be the case if people requested the content be encoded in QT or Real, instead of blindly accepting it. Sometimes we forget who is in charge - the customer.

Everytime you set your browser user-agent to IE, or use a PC to view a MS-proprietary video clip you are sending the providers the message that their current practice is ok. If you need to view the content, fine, but send them a letter, let them know what you, the customer really want.

Oh I know and do. Still it is rare when somebody does actually listen. I've been trying for the longest time to get it through Yahoo's thick skull to make a decent chat client for their service on the Mac. Contacting Yahoo is tricky enough. Getting them to do anything about it is like asking Microsoft to make Access for the Mac.

[rotorblade]

I hope Microsoft is found guilty of infringing on the intellectual property and patents of Burst in creating WMP-9.

And I also hope Burst doesn't cave in and accept some small sum of money from Microsoft to settle this case. I'd much rather see Microsoft really innovate something on their own while all the poor saps who chose to use a proprietary media format shake their heads in disbelief.

[Token]

The truth is, more and more corporations, and even turnkey video recording solutions (medical/surgical), are using WM9 video. Personnally I do not understand why open standards are not adopted (i.e. mp4), but that is what is happening. Thus, it is GOOD that OS X will get WM9

In my town our public library has started a free music download service ... Thats really great.. and guess what? it requires WMP 9? And why ? Because of the DRM - thus no open standards here, because, according to the library, they don't exist out there.

If anyone has knowledge of an open standard based DRM system that works reliable, and is non-beta, please message me ASAP!

[themadchemist]

Originally posted by pilotgi

I've already hit the bullseye. I'm MS free on my iBook.
[/b]
Which I happily live without, thank you very much. Another solution would be for the content providers to offer both mpegs and WMP files. [/B]

Yeah, I can't understand this obsession with proprietary formats like Windows Media and Real...

Why can't there just be standards--doesn't it make more sense to use formats that any player can process properly?

[simX]

Originally posted by SiliconAddict
Yep and if MS reverse engineered QT to be compatible with MP9 ever Mac user would be up in arms. It works both ways.
:rolleyes:

Not really. QuickTime is not at version 4 on the PC and version 6.3 on the Mac. As far as I know, QuickTime is at version parity on both platforms. The point here is that WMP is not just one version behind, but TWO versions behind. That's lame.

Originally posted by Token
In my town our public library has started a free music download service ... Thats really great.. and guess what? it requires WMP 9? And why ? Because of the DRM - thus no open standards here, because, according to the library, they don't exist out there.

If anyone has knowledge of an open standard based DRM system that works reliable, and is non-beta, please message me ASAP!

Uhhh, what's wrong with MPEG4?

[Bengt77]

Originally posted by Token
If anyone has knowledge of an open standard based DRM system that works reliable, and is non-beta, please message me ASAP!

Ever heard of a company named Apple who recently started this music download service called ... erm ... iTunes Music Store? You can actually download DRM-ed AAC (open standard) files there.

Dûh!

:rolleyes:

[jethroted]

BOOOO! Microsoft yuck! And no, I don't mean Boo-urns. We should spend less time trying to get microsoft products on the mac, and focus on getting everyone to make their streaming content Quicktime. Quicktime is a thousand times better than MP9. I hate Microcrap :mad:

[Fender2112]

Originally posted by Wonder Boy
... Quicktime-Apple product, on M$ machines do not run fine. ...

Since when?

I have a brother-in-law who does 3D visualizatin for an architect firm. He does all his work on Windows and claims that Quicktime is much better and more reliable than anything he has access to.

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by edesignuk
Apple probably could, but would Microsoft give them a license to integrate whatever codec in to QT? Not on your nelly!


uh, what's a nelly?

[redAPPLE]

Originally posted by Nutzoids
I heard on the radio today that Microsoft is starting a High School in Philadelphia. It will open in 3 years and guess what it will be called....Thats right The Microsoft High School. MHS! I think for the right price they would sell it.

so, if they add a new wing, would that be a "service pack"? an "upgrade"?

a lot of students would surely get sick all the time, because of the "viruses"
:D

[redAPPLE]

yeah, there are a lot of windows media player content on the web. it irritates me sometimes.

but come to think of it, if i can't open it? i leave it alone.

me, striving to be microsoft free.

[ptd]

Now we can choose to not buy from BuyMusic instead of being automatically redirected off of their page.


Originally posted by edesignuk
Nutzoids, zer0army, as much as you may not like it, it is important that WMP9 does come out for Mac as soon as possible as there is a growing amount of WMP9 only media out there on the web, video streams, audio streams etc.

[Doctor Q]

I'm worried that Microsoft's new software will do any or all of the following:

(a) disable or interfere with the operation of my other software

(b) change my defaults and preferences

(c) send information about my system or habits to Microsoft

All of these have happened with other products, so I'm wary. But since I want to be able to play the latest WM files, I may have to take my chances.

[JW Pepper]

Well a friend and I converted an avi, he did it into wmp and I to quick time. He managed to compress it to 1/2 the siz of the quicktime movie. Yes I do have qtp and I can't work out how he has managed to do it and retain the quality. I have treid differing codecs but if I compress it to much the quality goes.

If this is typical I am not supprised people are encoding into wmp format.

[aafuss1]

I actually like the Windows version WMP9 -great interface and easy to use-has special features in the XP version. Content-a MS video matchup of 98 and XP uses .asx, which requires WMP.

[gopher]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
I'm worried that Microsoft's new software will do any or all of the following:

(a) disable or interfere with the operation of my other software

(b) change my defaults and preferences

(c) send information about my system or habits to Microsoft

All of these have happened with other products, so I'm wary. But since I want to be able to play the latest WM files, I may have to take my chances.

This is why you must backup your data prior to applying any software update or installation. That will allow you to revert back to the the previous condition of your system should a software installation go awry.

[coolbreeze]

Sure, MSFT sucks and all, and their software is invasive, but it is a necessary evil in this world. Take this example for instance. At the moment, if you aren't running WMP9, you can't view this history-making event...after WMP9 for the Mac is released, you should be able to participate (UK users for now).

Click "questions" in the top righthand corner. Then look at the second question in the list.

Internet Movie (http://www.thisisnotalovesong.com/)

[edenwaith]

Hmmpf! Finally. Don't take too long or anything. WMP 7.1.3 is pretty slow and does NOT like anything else going on when it tries to play movie clips (wmv or asf), plus it seems to be able to open only one movie at a time. Quicktime can open multiple movies and doesn't seem to lag nearly as much. Sorry, but WMP for Mac OS X is seriously lacking in performance on my machine (and I'm unfortunately not in the market for a new machine yet.).

[aafuss1]

The Windows version can use 'SRS Wow effects' Quicktime and iTunes don't have this. WMP9 on the PC does.

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
I'm worried that Microsoft's new software will do any or all of the following:

(a) disable or interfere with the operation of my other software

(b) change my defaults and preferences

(c) send information about my system or habits to MicrosoftOriginally posted by gopher
This is why you must backup your data prior to applying any software update or installation. That will allow you to revert back to the the previous condition of your system should a software installation go awry. That doesn't help with (c), so we members of the Witness Protection Program have to be careful.

[DamnDJ]

It may be compatible with WMP 9 files on the PC, but what good is compatibility if you can't get the thing to run correctly. :p

I hold no hope that this product will be any better than the scraps of rotten fish MS has let fly at us in pervious versions.

[Doraemon]

The more software available for Mac the better. Period.

(Think switchers)

[airmac]

Originally posted by gopher
This is why you must backup your data prior to applying any software update or installation. That will allow you to revert back to the the previous condition of your system should a software installation go awry.

You must be joking, right? What if you run multiple systems? And the space needed for back up..hm..tera data?! That's why i'm here, when security update pops this site gives you a green light to install. Hm, maybe you meant any software or installation from MS?!