MPlayer for Mac

MPlayer does not work to play WMV streams on the sites I visit. It seems to work on just about every other format I need. The only thing I have found to play WMV streaming files is Flip4Mac plugin for QuickTime. Though I was using VLC, but that broke with the latest version.

MPlayer is improving, but it still doesn't hold a candle to VLC yet. Here's why: If you drag a folder onto Mplayer, it will not automatically start playing the files inside. VLC does. This is really a necessary feature if you have hundreds of organized music or video folders and don't want to open each folder, then manually drag the file(s) into MPlayer, just to make a playlist. There is no way to Save a playlist. VLC can. There are no keyboard shortcuts to skip, go back, shuffle, repeat, or add folder. VLC can do this. If you start playing a song and decide you don't like it, click remove. Watch in amazement while MPlayer removes the song, but decides to keep playing it anyway. This behavior is idiotic. Player freezes and stalls frequently. Ex: 1) Started playing an .avi file in fullscreen, pressed ESC key, MPlayer completely froze my computer. Required a Force Quit to regain control. 2) Hovering your cursor over any menu item while a song is playing will cause the song to stall. Remove the cursor from the menu and the song resumes. 3) MPlayer stalls when more files are being added to the playlist if a file is already playing. Playlist window keeps hiding behind other apps. This is annoying if you're trying to drag items into the playlist from several different windows. Can't play .m4a files. VLC, Songbird, Cog, Play, ToolPlayer all play the same files with no issues. When mixed file types are added to Mplayer, it allows all of the songs to show up on the playlist, but will not play any m4a. Skips to next .mp3 in the playlist. Shortcut For Show/Hide Playlist doesn't work. Player starts playing new files when files are dragged into the playlist. It should continue playing current file and not skip to newly added. VLC behaves correctly when new files are being added. No ability to shuffle playlist. The mini player is still too big -- it should be really mini, like Songbird. Does not respond to media keys on Apple keyboards. To be fair, VLC doesn't either, but Songbird does with this little Addon: http://addons.songbirdnest.com/addon/1408 The good thing about MPlayer is that, like VLC, it uses a fairly small amount of system resources compared to iTunes and Songbird, which are both pigs. The interface is straightforward, if a bit bland. There are too many minuses for me to recommend this app, but hopefully, it will continue to improve. You can't argue with the price.

MPlayer users may also want to try out MPlayer OSX Extended which can be found at http://mplayerosx.sttz.ch/

The fastest player on my computers, be it PPC or Intel.

It hangs if I click mouse on video window while using "Quicktime" video module.