Windows Media Player 9 Series for Mac OS X: Coming

MacRumors · Sep 5, 2003, 12:26 PM

A previous mailing list email 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 now reflects that WMP 9 will be coming soon for OS X:

Quote:

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:28 PM

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

zer0army · Sep 5, 2003, 12:29 PM

I will stick with VLC thank you.

edesignuk · Sep 5, 2003, 12:31 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:31 PM

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

PubGuy · Sep 5, 2003, 12:37 PM

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

arn · 12:39 PM

Quote:

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:38 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:41 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:46 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:48 PM

Quote:

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:49 PM

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!!!!!!!

Mudbug · Sep 5, 2003, 12:53 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:55 PM

Quote:

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...

bryank1 · Sep 5, 2003, 12:57 PM

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

webplummer · Sep 5, 2003, 12:59 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:01 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:01 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:05 PM

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

Chealion · Sep 5, 2003, 01:05 PM

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

SilentPanda · Sep 5, 2003, 01:14 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:17 PM

Quote:

I am aiming for a Microsoft free Mac.

I've already hit the bullseye. I'm MS free on my iBook.

Quote:

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:22 PM

Quote:

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:22 PM

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 · Sep 5, 2003, 01:24 PM

Quote:

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.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:28 PM	#2
Nutzoids macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philly	We are now working the wrong way...Apple to PC...Not PC to Apple...No More Microsoft Products for Apple! __________________ The Switcher! from PC--> to Mac... baby!

Sep 5, 2003, 12:31 PM	#4
edesignuk Demi-God (Moderator emeritus) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Great(?) Britain	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. __________________ V's wise words Search before you post: MRoogle **Better BBC Search**

Sep 5, 2003, 12:38 PM	#8
jayscheuerle macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Right behind my eyeballs, around 2 inches back. Wet. Warm. Dark.	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 __________________ 2006-The year I learn to shut my pie hole.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:46 PM	#10
Nutzoids macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philly	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. __________________ The Switcher! from PC--> to Mac... baby!

Sep 5, 2003, 12:49 PM	#12
CheekyGit macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Alabama	Heavens No!!!! 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!!!!!!!

Sep 5, 2003, 12:29 PM	#3
zer0army macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto	I will stick with VLC thank you.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:31 PM	#5
JtheLemur macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2002	Thank god! VLC and MPlayer are fabulous, but there are still codecs out there that demand WMP9...

Sep 5, 2003, 12:37 PM	#6
PubGuy macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2002	Oh yeah, Microsoft DRM for the Mac....swell. A necessary evil, I guess.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:41 PM	#9
Vonnie macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2003	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.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:53 PM	#13
Mudbug macrumors god Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Northwest Louisiana	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. __________________ happy thankschrismahanakwaanzicasmasgiving.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:57 PM	#15
bryank1 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2002	This is a chance to redeem themselves after releasing that "piece of crap, can't even give it away for free" version 7.

Sep 5, 2003, 12:59 PM	#16
webplummer macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NY, NY	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. __________________ Currently showing - Leftover Meat Bear On! "Uhh... huh huh. Is this a god-dam?"

Sep 5, 2003, 01:01 PM	#17
Photorun Banned Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NYC	I wonder if M$ will give it their sad lame attempt at the brush steel skin (poor man's quicktime?!) like the current version.

Sep 5, 2003, 01:01 PM	#18
TEG macrumors 601 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Langley, Washington	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 __________________ Apple and Dell are the only ones in this industry making money. They make it by being Wal-Mart. We make it by innovation-Steve Jobs The Tegian Zone-Wikipedia

Sep 5, 2003, 01:05 PM	#19
Goekeli macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2002	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

Sep 5, 2003, 01:05 PM	#20
Chealion macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta	I know its a good thing, but Windows Media Player sucks so much. __________________ Chealion, the one and only =)

Sep 5, 2003, 01:14 PM	#21
SilentPanda Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Bamboo Forest	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. __________________ "grade image" - say it out loud, it'll make you laugh.

Sep 5, 2003, 01:22 PM	#24
jimthorn macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA	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. __________________ Home: MacBook Core2Duo 2.2GHz, 4GB RAM, OS X 10.5.5 Work: iMac G5 20" 2.1GHz, 1GB RAM, OS X 10.4.11

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