Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X

MacRumors · Jul 10, 2003, 08:52 AM

ActiveWin.com references a WMTALK listserv email from a Microsoft employee indicated that support for WMA 9 Voice as well as all 9 Series codecs is coming to Mac OS X in the fall.

Quote:

"We are definitely planning to support WMA 9 Voice in the upcoming release of Windows Media Player 9 Series for Mac OS X. We showed the new player running with Apple's Safari browser at their WWDC a few weeks back. We're shooting for fall release to web right now and we'll keep the list posted. Thanks for your patience"

arn · Jul 10, 2003, 01:50 PM

Previous replies wastelanded for obvious reasons.

play nice.

arn

york2600 · Jul 10, 2003, 02:00 PM

All I can say is about time. VLC can kinda play WMV files, but it tends to crash every few minutes.

reedm007 · Jul 10, 2003, 02:05 PM

mplayer does a better job than VLC, in my opinion. Just another option.

While I'm not a big fan of WMP myself, this is good news in the sense that having more access to online media is always a good thing.

Billicus · Jul 10, 2003, 02:29 PM

It's nice to see continued Windows Media Support on the Macintosh platform.

bobindashadows · 03:52 PM

[ Admin Edit: let's leave that other thread to die. no need to revive it here

]

As for WMP 9... isn't that the one for Win that once you agreed to it, ms reserved the right to install DRM patches without your knowing?

[edit] Incomprehensible sentence grammatically corrected [/edit]

trilogic · Jul 10, 2003, 03:11 PM

what is Windows Media Player ?

solvs · Jul 10, 2003, 03:12 PM

I'm glad the thread was restarted.

It was kinda funny though.

All I know is that when I installed WMP 9 on one of my Windows machines, it screwed up the system something awful. Required full OS reinstall. I couldn't unistall it. I know that this isn't typical, but that was my experiance. I have the codecs installed on my Win2000, but not the player.

Is it just me, or does this version look suspiciously like QT? Look real close, you may see some similarities.

mislabeledstar · Jul 10, 2003, 03:44 PM

I'm glad to see continued support on our platform from M$. I know alot of people have a hatred for them, but this release is a strong thing for us to be able to receive certain items that aren't recognized by QT yet. I'll be alot happier if/when Apple adds those codecs to QT rather than having to go to WMS.

Does M$ have the ability to not release the codecs if they want? And does anyone know if that is why they haven't appeared in QT yet?

aristademis · Jul 10, 2003, 03:47 PM

Maybe I'll be able to play avi files? Finally.

arn · Jul 10, 2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aristademis
Maybe I'll be able to play avi files? Finally.

certain AVI files will likely never play. There are some old codecs around that haven't (and will likely never) been ported to OS X.

All new content shouldn't use these old codecs... and probably will play under the newest WMP.

arn

rockman2023 · Jul 10, 2003, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn
certain AVI files will likely never play. There are some old codecs around that haven't (and will likely never) been ported to OS X.
All new content shouldn't use these old codecs... and probably will play under the newest WMP.

arn

With all the support that OSX has nowadays, it's a shame to see that the Indeo Video codec isnt ported to X. You cant even play Indeo Video encoded avi's in VLC, and we know that VLC plays almost anything (except .rm files). If i need to encode an Indeo avi, I have to boot into Classic

arogge · Jul 10, 2003, 04:30 PM

"Apple: Windows Media Player shows anti-standards behavior"

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/.../06/quicktime/

C14ru5 · Jul 10, 2003, 05:00 PM

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

I've heard from some Linux friends of mine that there are no Linux movie players that can play Sorenson 3 encoded files (because Sorenson 3 isn't an open standard). If so, then Apple also has some skeletons in the closet just like Microsoft has with WMV 9.

Any thoughts on this?

Sheebahawk · Jul 10, 2003, 05:16 PM

its embarrassing having to switch over to a PC to watch clips of dave chapells show on the comedy central website, (anyone ever see his switch ad spoof? Now I can look at more porn than ever!)

not having access to most streaming media is the only disadvantage I can think of using my mac on the internet, just hope I won't be getting assaulted with streaming adds... can safari block those too? can't wait to upgrade from 10.1.5 to panther.....

tny · Jul 10, 2003, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by C14ru5
Please correct me if I'm wrong:

I've heard from some Linux friends of mine that there are no Linux movie players that can play Sorenson 3 encoded files (because Sorenson 3 isn't an open standard). If so, then Apple also has some skeletons in the closet just like Microsoft has with WMV 9.

Any thoughts on this?

My understanding is that Apple doesn't own the rights to Sorenson's codecs, Sorenson does. One doesn't have to create QuickTimes in Sorenson (in fact I stopped doing so for precisely that reason, that Linux apps can't use Sorenson because it requires a license). Not sure what the IP status of the MP4 format is, haven't looked into it enough to know if there's a specific codec involved or if it's a multi-codec format. Somebody else?

MisterMe · Jul 10, 2003, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tny
My understanding is that Apple doesn't own the rights to Sorenson's codecs, Sorenson does. One doesn't have to create QuickTimes in Sorenson (in fact I stopped doing so for precisely that reason, that Linux apps can't use Sorenson because it requires a license). Not sure what the IP status of the MP4 format is, haven't looked into it enough to know if there's a specific codec involved or if it's a multi-codec format. Somebody else?

You are correct. Sorenson owns Sorenson. Apple is in no way responsible for Sorenson's business practices.

hvfsl · Jul 10, 2003, 07:17 PM

I hope then include some speed imporvements in this version since v7 on X was slower at playing MPEG4 than VLC.

Also people are saying iTunes is better than WMP9. Well the audio capibities are only slightly better than WMP9, but WMP9 can play just about any media file you try with it (except some quicktime and real files of course). Apple needs to do an all-in-one media player instead of the multiple apps they have at the moment. iMedia might be a good name.

Nermal · Jul 10, 2003, 08:01 PM

Time to change my sig

deejemon · Jul 10, 2003, 08:14 PM

Quote:

quote:
We showed the new player running with Apple's Safari browser at their WWDC a few weeks back.

Hmm... must have missed that. Exactly which conference room was that demoed in?

usersince86 · Jul 10, 2003, 10:25 PM

Since I live in Venezuela (but am a U.S. citizen), I use the internet to listen to radio stations and certain web broadcasts. Several stations support only WMP, not Real. So I'm glad that MS is continuing WMP development for the Mac.

At the same time, I like the idea of the Quicktime Player supporting WMP (and Real Player, if possible) standards. Would that be possible???

reedm007 · Jul 11, 2003, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by usersince86
At the same time, I like the idea of the Quicktime Player supporting WMP (and Real Player, if possible) standards. Would that be possible???

Nope. There are specific agreements that all three software companies have signed that forbid any of them from doing that.

Otherwise, QT Player could be in trouble: QuickTime is available in Cocoa and Carbon for any app on the platform, so MS or Real could easily incorporate QT playback into their app. The agreements, however, restrict them from doing just that.

hvfsl · Jul 11, 2003, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reedm007
Nope. There are specific agreements that all three software companies have signed that forbid any of them from doing that.

Otherwise, QT Player could be in trouble: QuickTime is available in Cocoa and Carbon for any app on the platform, so MS or Real could easily incorporate QT playback into their app. The agreements, however, restrict them from doing just that.

Well Real Player One on the PC does that.

Nermal · Jul 11, 2003, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hvfsl
Well Real Player One on the PC does that.

Yeah, RealOne on the PC will play almost anything you throw at it, including ASF, WMV, and I think MP4.

solvs · Jul 11, 2003, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nermal
Time to change my sig

Looks like you got your wish.

Quote:

Originally posted by hvfsl
Well Real Player One on the PC does that.

Yeah, it's too bad it sucks so much.

That's why I'm still using an old version on my Win2000 PC. And I only use it for .rm files. If I need to play WMP files, I use an older version with the new codecs. It may be older tech, but it's faster that way, and works better for me than the newer stuff.

Would be nice to have 1 program that plays them all well.

Jul 10, 2003, 02:29 PM	#5
Billicus macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Charles City, Iowa	It's nice to see continued Windows Media Support on the Macintosh platform. __________________ "...I know it's hard when you're up to your armpits in alligators to remember you came here to drain the swamp." - Ronald Reagan February 10, 1982

Jul 10, 2003, 02:48 PM	#6
bobindashadows macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2002	psh where's sTreaMinG!!?! [ Admin Edit: let's leave that other thread to die. no need to revive it here ] As for WMP 9... isn't that the one for Win that once you agreed to it, ms reserved the right to install DRM patches without your knowing? [edit] Incomprehensible sentence grammatically corrected [/edit] Last edited by arn : Jul 10, 2003 at 03:52 PM.

Jul 10, 2003, 03:12 PM	#8
solvs macrumors 601 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: LaLaLand, CA	I'm glad the thread was restarted. It was kinda funny though. All I know is that when I installed WMP 9 on one of my Windows machines, it screwed up the system something awful. Required full OS reinstall. I couldn't unistall it. I know that this isn't typical, but that was my experiance. I have the codecs installed on my Win2000, but not the player. Is it just me, or does this version look suspiciously like QT? Look real close, you may see some similarities. __________________ True love never dies The only thing more dangerous than a woman scorned, is a man with nothing left to lose...

Jul 10, 2003, 05:00 PM	#14
C14ru5 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oslo, Norway, Sector ZZ9 PluralZ Alpha	Please correct me if I'm wrong: I've heard from some Linux friends of mine that there are no Linux movie players that can play Sorenson 3 encoded files (because Sorenson 3 isn't an open standard). If so, then Apple also has some skeletons in the closet just like Microsoft has with WMV 9. Any thoughts on this? __________________ /C14ru5

Jul 10, 2003, 05:16 PM	#15
Sheebahawk macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Long Beach California	GREAT!!! its embarrassing having to switch over to a PC to watch clips of dave chapells show on the comedy central website, (anyone ever see his switch ad spoof? Now I can look at more porn than ever!) not having access to most streaming media is the only disadvantage I can think of using my mac on the internet, just hope I won't be getting assaulted with streaming adds... can safari block those too? can't wait to upgrade from 10.1.5 to panther.....

Jul 10, 2003, 01:50 PM	#2
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	Previous replies wastelanded for obvious reasons. play nice. arn

Jul 10, 2003, 02:00 PM	#3
york2600 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Antarctica & Portland, OR	All I can say is about time. VLC can kinda play WMV files, but it tends to crash every few minutes.

Jul 10, 2003, 02:05 PM	#4
reedm007 macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2002	mplayer does a better job than VLC, in my opinion. Just another option. While I'm not a big fan of WMP myself, this is good news in the sense that having more access to online media is always a good thing.

Jul 10, 2003, 03:11 PM	#7
trilogic macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Switzerland	what is Windows Media Player ?

Jul 10, 2003, 03:44 PM	#9
mislabeledstar macrumors regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: Los Angeles	I'm glad to see continued support on our platform from M$. I know alot of people have a hatred for them, but this release is a strong thing for us to be able to receive certain items that aren't recognized by QT yet. I'll be alot happier if/when Apple adds those codecs to QT rather than having to go to WMS. Does M$ have the ability to not release the codecs if they want? And does anyone know if that is why they haven't appeared in QT yet?

Jul 10, 2003, 03:47 PM	#10
aristademis Banned Join Date: Feb 2002	Maybe I'll be able to play avi files? Finally.

Jul 10, 2003, 04:30 PM	#13
arogge macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tatooine	"Apple: Windows Media Player shows anti-standards behavior" http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/.../06/quicktime/

Jul 10, 2003, 07:17 PM	#18
hvfsl macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: London, UK	I hope then include some speed imporvements in this version since v7 on X was slower at playing MPEG4 than VLC. Also people are saying iTunes is better than WMP9. Well the audio capibities are only slightly better than WMP9, but WMP9 can play just about any media file you try with it (except some quicktime and real files of course). Apple needs to do an all-in-one media player instead of the multiple apps they have at the moment. iMedia might be a good name.

Jul 10, 2003, 08:01 PM	#19
Nermal Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Whakatane, New Zealand	Time to change my sig

Jul 10, 2003, 10:25 PM	#21
usersince86 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio	Good for this reason, too... Since I live in Venezuela (but am a U.S. citizen), I use the internet to listen to radio stations and certain web broadcasts. Several stations support only WMP, not Real. So I'm glad that MS is continuing WMP development for the Mac. At the same time, I like the idea of the Quicktime Player supporting WMP (and Real Player, if possible) standards. Would that be possible??? __________________ * Joy is better than happiness, because joy is not based on your circumstances.

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