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is there a version of Windows Media Player that works?

elskeptico

elskeptico

macrumors member
Original poster
May 21, 2004
46
0
It's so disappointing that much of the web uses Windows Media and Real. I try to cope, but it seems like whenever I use the Windows Media Player for OS X to view web content, it ALWAYS stutters and then stops altogether. Every single time, regardless of the content provider and internet connection.

Is there something I can use where this doesn't happen? Or is it simply a factor of the format?
 
elskeptico said:
It's so disappointing that much of the web uses Windows Media and Real. I try to cope, but it seems like whenever I use the Windows Media Player for OS X to view web content, it ALWAYS stutters and then stops altogether. Every single time, regardless of the content provider and internet connection.

Is there something I can use where this doesn't happen? Or is it simply a factor of the format?
Click to expand...
Windows Media Player for Mac OS X is crippled compared to the Windows version because Microsoft doesn't really care about it. I would guess that all that was provided to Microsoft's MBU for WMP development is the code for playing Windows Media format files - none of the code was provided for all the other stuff in the Windows version of WMP. To be honest, I'm not sure why Windows Media Player for Mac OS X is acting up for you, since I've never tried viewing content online with it (everything I used to watch with it I had already downloaded to my hard disk), and I don't use it anymore.
 
As far as I can tell, with most WM content on the web, there's no way to download the movie before watching it. I guess this applies to streaming material, which would also apply to QT streaming material. Am I right?
 
elskeptico said:
As far as I can tell, with most WM content on the web, there's no way to download the movie before watching it. I guess this applies to streaming material, which would also apply to QT streaming material. Am I right?
Click to expand...
With streaming material, you are correct - it isn't meant to be downloaded. This applies no matter what media player you're using. All of the Windows Media content I looked at in the past was in the form of a "click here to download movie" link, so I may not be the best source of advice...
 
elskeptico said:
As far as I can tell, with most WM content on the web, there's no way to download the movie before watching it. I guess this applies to streaming material, which would also apply to QT streaming material. Am I right?
Click to expand...
There are lots of porn in Windows Media format that you can download. However, some files are really just pointers to streaming servers. You may experience hiccups in your streams depending on the quality and traffic on your network connection.
 
Most streams you can find on the source(html) of the website and download it. There are some programs that let you stream it and it records it in the format it is streamed at, and save it(like asx or asf or whatever).
 
If you have a laptop, I've had problems with my iBook where WMP stutters if the processor is set to Automatic or Reduced. Setting it to Highest fixed all my issues.
 
WMP that works. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAAH! Oh my! That brought a tear to my eye. Good one.
 
wrldwzrd89 said:
Windows Media Player for Mac OS X is crippled compared to the Windows version because Microsoft doesn't really care about it.
Click to expand...
its because of this that i wished the team which develops microsoft office 2004 was in charge of bringing ports to the mac. not only would it work - but it would also have a definitive mac feel to it.

windows media player 9 wasn't released for the mac till about a year ago. and when it was released, everyone complained about it. not only does it run like garbage, it also looks and feels almost exactly the same as media player 7.1. but it is the only way we can view windows media 9. just think - when microsoft develops a media 10 codec - how long do you think it'll take till they bring out another handicapped version to the mac.

media player isn't the only app thats crippled, you have msn messenger as well. which hasn't changed since its previous incarnations. i'm not even sure if you can do all of the extra features such as video chat or whiteboarding as you can do with the pc version.

meanwhile, i've never had a problem with quicktime for windows. it may not run as well as it does on a mac, but at least it doesn't stutter and kill itself.
 
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