Well I don't share your Audio issues, but having instaled WMP9 previously working links to view here media in alternatives to WMP such as Real Player cause my Systems profiler to load?
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Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X
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Well I don't share your Audio issues, but having instaled WMP9 previously working links to view here media in alternatives to WMP such as Real Player cause my Systems profiler to load?
I have done some research since posting earlier and I found this:
At present there is no audio if you use Windows Media Player under Macintosh OS X.
3AW audio streaming uses the ACELP.net codec which is the best codec for voice.
Mac OS X does not support the ACELP.net codec
from this site: http://www.3aw.com.au/troubleshoot/FAQ.html
So it seems this is actually Apple's fault and Mac OS X's fault.
Why would Apple not be supporting this codec in Mac OS X?
It is REALLY annoying and frustrating.
I'm only having one problem with the new windows media player, VLC still opens wmp files instead of windows media opening them. I looked in wmp preferences and VLC prefs and couldn't find anwhere to change this. How can i make windows media player open the files without having to go the 'open with' menu?
I have my doubts as to whether this is really true. They just state it and don't give any specific reasons. My guess is they just don't feel like taking the time to make it for Mac OS X.
In any case, you might want to drop Apple a line and let them know about the issue, in case it really IS something with Mac OS X.
Is it gathering information about your system to transmit to Microsoft? Not that I'm suspicious or anything.
I read the WMP Privacy Statement very carefully. They say all the right things. I like to say I don't trust Microsoft, but from what I've seen, Real Player is more likely to keep to touch with its owner organization than Windows Media Player is.
This should be corrected-- it should probably read "WMP for OS X does not support ACELP.net codec.
Providing codecs for MS use is not Apple's job-- providing codecs for Quicktime is.
Apple can't "not support" someone else writing a codec.
Yeah, this version is probably safe, and maybe the next one, and then all of a sudden some "security update" gets posted that changes the terms of your EULA and sets up superuser access for MS Marketing.
They keep trying to set up two way comms to our machines, and the public outcry makes them shut it down, and then they try again the next time.
I've seen too many dirty tricks out of Redmond to trust anything they do for a very long time...
I just installed V.7 for OS 10.3 the other day and now this comes out.
Why isn't it featured on Microsoft's Macpage: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downlo...nmp_osx.xml&secid=80&ssid=8&flgnosysreq=False
How annoying...
Maybe they should update the page ?
Why isn't it featured on Microsoft's Macpage: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downlo...nmp_osx.xml&secid=80&ssid=8&flgnosysreq=False
How annoying...
Maybe they should update the page ?
AnalogKid, if you are truly this paranoid, you should buy/install LittleSnitch.
Otherwise, WMP9 is a tool which many people are interested in. There's no need to turn this thread into your own personal Microsoft rant.
Yes, people don't like Microsoft. We get it.
Bottom line: WMP9 content exists. This player will play WMP9 content. VLC will not.
arn
Well apparently WMV files that have audio encoded with ACELP.NET will play if you use WMP 7.1 under OS 9.
So, what does that mean? It works under OS 9 but not OS X, so is it Microsoft, Apple or VoiceAge (the owner of the codec)? Who is responsible for it working under OS X?
Weird installer
The installation went without a hitch. Now WMP stuff plays in Safari (take that, RealOne!).
The installer has a lot of peculiarities though. It stalls for a long time and then installs all the files quickly. Unfortunately, there is no way to get a list of files that it installs. I would prefer to have some log (especially for something that takes an administrative password). Even more peculiar, the installer is technically not localized in English! Check out the menus of the installer. Pretty damn weird!
The installation went without a hitch. Now WMP stuff plays in Safari (take that, RealOne!).
The installer has a lot of peculiarities though. It stalls for a long time and then installs all the files quickly. Unfortunately, there is no way to get a list of files that it installs. I would prefer to have some log (especially for something that takes an administrative password). Even more peculiar, the installer is technically not localized in English! Check out the menus of the installer. Pretty damn weird!
I don't think it's possible for Apple to prevent a codec from running on their machine. A codec should just take a data stream and translate it to the speakers.
I'm not sure who needs to write it, MS or VoiceAge-- probably the same company that wrote it for other platforms.
I suppose it's possible that Apple wrote it for OS9, but I doubt it. They seem focused on QT supported standards.
DRM is still problematic (some files still throw you to their license page and do not play the content). Also, a QT codec is needed because this player does not support WMV3 (Windows Media 9) in an AVI container. Yes, I have tried renaming some of these files with a .WMV extension but the player just kicks back a invalid format error.
Also, sounds like some have never really seen some of the better 9.0 media. Quality is actually pretty good for some rather compact video files. Sadly all this DRM stuff turns the entire experience into a nightmare and just as how QT can be a terrible experience on Windows (which it really is compared to how excellently it runs under OS X), WMP is still pretty crappy on OS X. Too bad this product is not in the hands of the MacBU team as it would at least be a little bit better. Like others, I just want to be able to play the media without any fuss and unfortunately, we are still getting the short end of the stick. Most folks in the Windows world do not care about QT and are just using what is included in XP which is Windows Media. The tools are also surprisingly easy compared to the morass of getting quality MPEG-4 videos out from the Mac without a bunch of 3rd party apps or resorting to going the ffmpegX route. Cleaner 6 is no help as it puts out damaged MPEG's and constantly crashes (it wastes more time which is sad because it used to be a really good app when Terran Interactive owned it). I guess I use tools on both sides and some of the freeware apps on the Windows side are rather good (we need a Virtual Dub sort of freeware app for OS X). I mention this because the irony is graphics and video are supposed to be a key strength. I have yet to find a semi decent way to deal with MPEG-2 transport streams under OS X while there are at least some crude but useful Windows tools to deal with them.
As for ACELP.NET, releasing an OS X codec would be the responsibility of VoiceAge as it is their technology unless of course someone wants to clean room reverse engineer it and write a codec.
Also, sounds like some have never really seen some of the better 9.0 media. Quality is actually pretty good for some rather compact video files. Sadly all this DRM stuff turns the entire experience into a nightmare and just as how QT can be a terrible experience on Windows (which it really is compared to how excellently it runs under OS X), WMP is still pretty crappy on OS X. Too bad this product is not in the hands of the MacBU team as it would at least be a little bit better. Like others, I just want to be able to play the media without any fuss and unfortunately, we are still getting the short end of the stick. Most folks in the Windows world do not care about QT and are just using what is included in XP which is Windows Media. The tools are also surprisingly easy compared to the morass of getting quality MPEG-4 videos out from the Mac without a bunch of 3rd party apps or resorting to going the ffmpegX route. Cleaner 6 is no help as it puts out damaged MPEG's and constantly crashes (it wastes more time which is sad because it used to be a really good app when Terran Interactive owned it). I guess I use tools on both sides and some of the freeware apps on the Windows side are rather good (we need a Virtual Dub sort of freeware app for OS X). I mention this because the irony is graphics and video are supposed to be a key strength. I have yet to find a semi decent way to deal with MPEG-2 transport streams under OS X while there are at least some crude but useful Windows tools to deal with them.
As for ACELP.NET, releasing an OS X codec would be the responsibility of VoiceAge as it is their technology unless of course someone wants to clean room reverse engineer it and write a codec.
Well, I've installed it and played around for a few hours. I'm semi-impressed.
Performance is still low, very low. Even the sample video chokes on an 867MHz G4 with anything else running.
The skin is annoying, it's not the standard brushed metal and the interface elements are not properly spaced. IMO, skin support should be totally dropped (I said this in WMP 7 too), it would look better and increase performance/reduce resources used.
On the flip side, having a Safari plugin is absolutely top-notch, and we must remember the atrocity that is QuickTime for Windows before fully judging this.
AppleMatt
sidenote: Anyone else noticed a performance drop with Panther and QT 6.4 when playing massive QuickTime (*.mov) files? Previously on Jag the 96MB Matrix Reloaded trailer would play flawlessly full-screen, but now it jumps in all my Panther installations.
Performance is still low, very low. Even the sample video chokes on an 867MHz G4 with anything else running.
The skin is annoying, it's not the standard brushed metal and the interface elements are not properly spaced. IMO, skin support should be totally dropped (I said this in WMP 7 too), it would look better and increase performance/reduce resources used.
On the flip side, having a Safari plugin is absolutely top-notch, and we must remember the atrocity that is QuickTime for Windows before fully judging this.
AppleMatt
sidenote: Anyone else noticed a performance drop with Panther and QT 6.4 when playing massive QuickTime (*.mov) files? Previously on Jag the 96MB Matrix Reloaded trailer would play flawlessly full-screen, but now it jumps in all my Panther installations
.Same test here, WMP quality is terrible (video & Audio).... I have a 4Mbit internet connection and with VLC I can see near DVD quality video without any problems.
Real Player version is smoller for me but a lot better in term of audio and video (also if I double the size).
safari crashes when i try to use WMP!
Hi there-
Safari crashes now when I try to access a page w/embedded windows media files. Anyone else having this problem? (Not that I could play them in the browser before, but this is obviously not the desired behavior.)
I threw out the old version of the player, but (since as already noted the instructions pertained to OS 9) I couldn't find the other files to throw out before installing. Maybe I needed to have done that to get this to work properly? Should I throw it out and re-install?
jf
Hi there-
Safari crashes now when I try to access a page w/embedded windows media files. Anyone else having this problem? (Not that I could play them in the browser before, but this is obviously not the desired behavior.
)I threw out the old version of the player, but (since as already noted the instructions pertained to OS 9) I couldn't find the other files to throw out before installing. Maybe I needed to have done that to get this to work properly? Should I throw it out and re-install?
jf