Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X

MacRumors · Nov 7, 2003, 05:06 PM

Microsoft quietly released Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X today.

Quote:

Introducing Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X. Sporting a new brushed steel skin for Apple's newest operating system, this new version of our player opens the world of Windows Media 9 content to Macintosh users, enabling them to access the best audio and video on the Web. New plug-in support added for Internet Explorer, Netscape and Safari enables playback of Windows Media files right from the browser.

Hints at this release appeared in September on Microsoft's site.

Windows Media Player 9 represents the most advanced version of Microsoft's audio/video codec and has been unavailable on the Macintosh platform until now. WMP9 media is being positioned by Microsoft against the MPEG4 video codec.

Le Big Mac · Nov 7, 2003, 05:07 PM

That's interesting. And good.

m.r.m. · Nov 7, 2003, 05:09 PM

what can wmp do that quicktime can´t?

Fitzcaraldo · Nov 7, 2003, 05:11 PM

Finally I can watch my National team on a Mac...

arn · Nov 7, 2003, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by m.r.m.
what can wmp do that quicktime can´t?

play wmp files.

arn

mister880 · Nov 7, 2003, 05:14 PM

Quicktime Rocks on the Mac.. But my Windows XP version of quicktime is slow and buggy.. Hopefully Media Player will be decent on this side.. The past few versions have been decent!

Apple's quicktime is 100% rock solid on the mac!

DreaminDirector · Nov 7, 2003, 05:14 PM

blah.... Quicktime forever...

XnavxeMiyyep · Nov 7, 2003, 05:20 PM

Argh! Windows Media sucks @ss. Unfortunately, I will have to download it to play Windows Media files, which the quality also sucks @ss.

bcsimac · Nov 7, 2003, 05:22 PM

I am on the WM-Talk list and got an email earlier about this being out. I downloaded it right away. I know I will need it only for Windows Media files which are popular in the Christian Radio circles......QuickTime is hardly available on the Christian Radio or Christian content sites unfortunately.

nagromme · Nov 7, 2003, 05:28 PM

Enough of this iTunes/AAC nonsense. Finally I can have my music DRM controlled by Microsoft!!!

(So... does this mean we can now play protected WMA music or not?)

pgwalsh · Nov 7, 2003, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn
play wmp files.

arn

ha ha ha That was a good chuckle.

That has been a problem for some sites. I really don't like the whole idea of having 3 different media players to play music or video off the web. WMP, Real, and quicktime. Can't they all just get along.

reckless_0001 · 05:45 PM

This is awesome!!! Now we can access all the video content the Windows users can.

For all the pessimists... remember this just made the Mac a whole lot more versitile.

EDIT: I love that I can use it in Safari now!!

Fitzcaraldo · Nov 7, 2003, 05:31 PM

Still can't watch my National team on a Mac.

This net TV requires Windows Media Player 9...

“application/x-oleobject” content included No such Mime plugin?

pivo6 · Nov 7, 2003, 05:32 PM

There are still a few radio stations that i listen to that are in this format. I downloaded it, and it seems to work. No small feat for Microsoft.

mainstreetmark · Nov 7, 2003, 05:34 PM

I know someone has provided an Ogg-Vorbis plugin for iTunes, allowing iTunes to "grow beyond it's original programming". I wouldn't be totally opposed to somehow making a WMA pluggin for iTunes, even if it means running Windows Media windowlessly in the background. Same with Real. I don't like having a bunch of different media apps, each with their own skin that makes it look all futuristicy.

There are, in fact, several other media types I'm waiting for, such as Short files.

X86BSD · Nov 7, 2003, 05:40 PM

Don't hold your breath. Ogg is dead except for geeks living in their mom's basement.

Seriously, nice idea, and im sure it was technically better then <insert format you hate here> but it's dead. I seriously doubt you will ever see get adopted en masse.

matthew24 · Nov 7, 2003, 05:48 PM

Nice to see that MS does take the Mac seriously. Now downloading at 2K/sec. (512/ADSL!)

mustang_dvs · 06:01 PM

If there's anything that Quicktime Player can't play (including .asx and .wmv), I usually find that Video LAN Client (VLC) can play it -- usually much better than WiMP. It's free, it's open source and it's small.

http://www.videolan.org/

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14738

[Admin Note: VLC does not play WMP 9 files]

mainstreetmark · Nov 7, 2003, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by X86BSD
Don't hold your breath. Ogg is dead except for geeks living in their mom's basement.

Seriously, nice idea, and im sure it was technically better then <insert format you hate here> but it's dead. I seriously doubt you will ever see get adopted en masse.

My argument is not for "Ogg = Better", but rather for "More Format I Hate Plugins", to reduce the need to look at Real Player and the like.

Malic · Nov 7, 2003, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mustang_dvs
If there's anything that Quicktime Player can't play (including .asx and .wmv), I usually find that Video LAN Client (VLC) can play it -- usually much better than WiMP. It's free, it's open source and it's small.

http://www.videolan.org/

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14738

VLC can't do WMP 9 format files, which is why this is a cool thing.

For all Microsoft haters, remember, now you can listen to Amazon music samples WITHOUT resorting to RealPlayer!

Yes, I'd rather contaminate my Mac with a little bit of Microsoft software than ANY Real software.

Malic · Nov 7, 2003, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Don't hold your breath. Ogg is dead except for geeks living in their mom's basement.

Seriously, nice idea, and im sure it was technically better then <insert format you hate here> but it's dead. I seriously doubt you will ever see get adopted en masse.

Don't say that! I want FLAC for iTunes. Badly.

Mosco · Nov 7, 2003, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mustang_dvs
If there's anything that Quicktime Player can't play (including .asx and .wmv), I usually find that Video LAN Client (VLC) can play it -- usually much better than WiMP. It's free, it's open source and it's small.

http://www.videolan.org/

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14738

I am pretty sure it can't play wmp 9 files though.

Overall it looks pretty much the same as the old version except for the brushed metal.

Anyone know if this supports 5.1 wmp 9 files? i am guessing no.

mainstreetmark · Nov 7, 2003, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malic
Don't say that! I want FLAC for iTunes. Badly.

Must be one of those days. I'll just make a plain, un-misinterpret-able statement:

I want to see plugins for all audio formats in iTunes.

eallison · Nov 7, 2003, 06:02 PM

According to the ReadMe there should be some support for DRM'd files

gothamac · Nov 7, 2003, 06:03 PM

First you must un-install ALL earlier version of the program,

To Uninstall Windows Media Player 7 for Mac or Windows Media Player 6.3 for Mac

To uninstall previous versions of the Player:
1. Drag the Windows Media Player folder to the Trash.
2. Double-click the System folder, double-click the Preferences folder, and then drag the Windows Media Player Prefs file to the Trash.
3. Double-click the System folder, double-click the Extensions folder, and then drag the following files, if present, to the Trash:
? Acelp.net Decoder 05.0 kbps
? Acelp.net Decoder 06.5 kbps
? Acelp.net Decoder 08.5 kbps
? Acelp.net Decoder 16.0 kbps
? Mpeg Layer-3 Audio
? MPG4
? VivoActive G723 Decoder
4. On the Special menu, click Empty Trash, and then click OK.
5. On the Special menu, click Restart.

Wow. forget that

Nov 7, 2003, 05:07 PM	#2
Le Big Mac macrumors 68010 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington, DC	Supports Safari! That's interesting. And good.

Nov 7, 2003, 05:14 PM	#6
mister880 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002	It's about time! Quicktime Rocks on the Mac.. But my Windows XP version of quicktime is slow and buggy.. Hopefully Media Player will be decent on this side.. The past few versions have been decent! Apple's quicktime is 100% rock solid on the mac!

Nov 7, 2003, 05:14 PM	#7
DreaminDirector macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Emeryville, CA	blah.... Quicktime forever... __________________ "There's always something waiting at the end of the road. If you're not willing to see what it is, you probably shouldn't be out there in the first place."

Nov 7, 2003, 05:20 PM	#8
XnavxeMiyyep macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Massachusetts	Argh! Windows Media sucks @ss. Unfortunately, I will have to download it to play Windows Media files, which the quality also sucks @ss. __________________ I have a 14" dock.

Nov 7, 2003, 05:28 PM	#10
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	Whoo-Hooo! BuyMusic.com, here I come! Enough of this iTunes/AAC nonsense. Finally I can have my music DRM controlled by Microsoft!!! (So... does this mean we can now play protected WMA music or not?) __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Nov 7, 2003, 05:09 PM	#3
m.r.m. macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Germany	what can wmp do that quicktime can´t?

Nov 7, 2003, 05:11 PM	#4
Fitzcaraldo macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2002	Finally I can watch my National team on a Mac...

Nov 7, 2003, 05:22 PM	#9
bcsimac macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bolivar, TN	I am on the WM-Talk list and got an email earlier about this being out. I downloaded it right away. I know I will need it only for Windows Media files which are popular in the Christian Radio circles......QuickTime is hardly available on the Christian Radio or Christian content sites unfortunately.

Nov 7, 2003, 05:31 PM	#12
reckless_0001 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canada	This is awesome!!! Now we can access all the video content the Windows users can. For all the pessimists... remember this just made the Mac a whole lot more versitile. EDIT: I love that I can use it in Safari now!! Last edited by reckless_0001 : Nov 7, 2003 at 05:45 PM.

Nov 7, 2003, 05:32 PM	#14
pivo6 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fort Ripley, MN	There are still a few radio stations that i listen to that are in this format. I downloaded it, and it seems to work. No small feat for Microsoft. __________________ MoCUwNfOOSWNNFIOMaS of the PPP

Nov 7, 2003, 05:34 PM	#15
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	I know someone has provided an Ogg-Vorbis plugin for iTunes, allowing iTunes to "grow beyond it's original programming". I wouldn't be totally opposed to somehow making a WMA pluggin for iTunes, even if it means running Windows Media windowlessly in the background. Same with Real. I don't like having a bunch of different media apps, each with their own skin that makes it look all futuristicy. There are, in fact, several other media types I'm waiting for, such as Short files.

Nov 7, 2003, 05:40 PM	#16
X86BSD macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kansas, USA	Don't hold your breath. Ogg is dead except for geeks living in their mom's basement. Seriously, nice idea, and im sure it was technically better then <insert format you hate here> but it's dead. I seriously doubt you will ever see get adopted en masse. __________________ "MICROSOFT: Where do you want to go today? LINUX: Where do you want to go tomorrow? BSD: Are you guys coming or what?" (C) 2001 BSDi Incorporated.

Nov 7, 2003, 05:48 PM	#17
matthew24 Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Netherlands	Nice to see that MS does take the Mac seriously. Now downloading at 2K/sec. (512/ADSL!)

Nov 7, 2003, 05:49 PM	#18
mustang_dvs macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Durham, NC	Video LAN Client If there's anything that Quicktime Player can't play (including .asx and .wmv), I usually find that Video LAN Client (VLC) can play it -- usually much better than WiMP. It's free, it's open source and it's small. http://www.videolan.org/ http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14738 [Admin Note: VLC does not play WMP 9 files] Last edited by arn : Nov 7, 2003 at 06:01 PM.

Nov 7, 2003, 06:02 PM	#24
eallison macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Palo Alto, CA	Protected files According to the ReadMe there should be some support for DRM'd files

Nov 7, 2003, 06:03 PM	#25
gothamac macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manhattan	First you must un-install ALL earlier version of the program, To Uninstall Windows Media Player 7 for Mac or Windows Media Player 6.3 for Mac To uninstall previous versions of the Player: 1. Drag the Windows Media Player folder to the Trash. 2. Double-click the System folder, double-click the Preferences folder, and then drag the Windows Media Player Prefs file to the Trash. 3. Double-click the System folder, double-click the Extensions folder, and then drag the following files, if present, to the Trash: ? Acelp.net Decoder 05.0 kbps ? Acelp.net Decoder 06.5 kbps ? Acelp.net Decoder 08.5 kbps ? Acelp.net Decoder 16.0 kbps ? Mpeg Layer-3 Audio ? MPG4 ? VivoActive G723 Decoder 4. On the Special menu, click Empty Trash, and then click OK. 5. On the Special menu, click Restart. Wow. forget that

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