QT codec for WMV (Popwire)

[theBB]

Thanks to MacWorld, I have noticed that Popwire has come up with a QT codec for WMV (Popwire), which is universal. Playback part is free, but you need to pay to export files in WMV format, but why would you, right? Anyways, I checked out their website:

http://www.popwire.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=7

It has an installer instead of letting the user just "drag and drop" into one of Library/Quicktime folders. I am a little reluctant to try it, I don't want to mess up my other codecs. Has anyone tried it? Any feedback?

 

[treblah]

Is anyone else having problems getting to Popwire's site? Keeps timing out.

 

[mad jew]

Site works for me. Have you tried a different browser? I'm on Safari 2.0 FWIW.

 

[charmin]

Anybody know how this compares to Flip4Mac?

 

[Sdashiki]

ill test it out when I get home if I can remember...

 

[~Shard~]

Why wouldn't you just use Flip4Mac? It's free...

 

[theBB]

Why wouldn't you just use Flip4Mac? It's free...

Popwire is free as well and already intel ready. Flip4mac intel support is "coming soon" for oh, 4 months now. Of course, I am not even counting the six month heads up Apple gave.

Anyways, in short, competiton is always good for the consumer.

 

[~Shard~]

Popwire is free as well and already intel ready. Flip4mac intel support is "coming soon" for oh, 4 months now. Of course, I am not even counting the six month heads up Apple gave.

Anyways, in short, competiton is always good for the consumer.

Didn't realize this - thanks for the head's up on that.

 

[Lollypop]

Just tried it out, huge installer in comparison to flip4mac.

Once its installed it behaves oddly, quicktime opens a wmv file, but then only displays every few frames per second, and doesnt tell me what teh playing framerate is, I pause it for a few seconds and start it again, and then its fine and the framrate is what its suppose to be.

Havnt thrown anything HD at it (as i dont really have much wmv content), still have a PPC based mac so will definately be staying with flip4mac until I get a intel based mac, that entire free thing is hard to beat!

 

[nutmac]

The frame rate is subpar for first few seconds, then picks up nicely (20" iMac with 2 GB RAM). And it has trouble playing earlier WMV formats (unofficial MPlayer Intel and VLC play them fine, however). In addition, Popwire does not support browser, so websites with WMV contents will not play.

 

[mkrishnan]

In addition, Popwire does not support browser, so websites with WMV contents will not play.

Mmmm... it's nice that there is now a second company competing to improve the quality of WMV playback on Macs, but this seems like a substantial limitation.... Hope they resolve it soon.