Excellent Free Media Player VLC Gets Substantial Cross-Platform Update

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Last updated by v.laurie on 28. February 2015 - 01:14

VLC media player is one of Gizmo’s top choices in its category and is my own favorite. VideoLAN has just released  version 2.2.0 for Windows, Mac, and Linux and there are quite a few new or improved features. There are also major cross-platform updates with releases for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Here is a list of new features from the VideoLAN press release.

  • VLC automatically detects rotated  videos and rotates them using hardware acceleration (on compatible  platforms).
  • This is supported for MP4/MOV, MKV and raw H264.
  • Resume playback  where you left off. Supported on all the mobile versions of VLC for  quite some time, it is now available on the desktop.
  • Vastly improved support for UltraHD video codecs like VP9 and H265, including encoding.
  • New  hardware acceleration mechanism, GPU 0-copy decoding, faster and  implementations for Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi. (Other OSes will  have it in 3.0.0)
  • Extensions: supported since a long time, we now feature an in-app downloader for the desktop, like Firefox
  • Subtitles downloading extension
  • Compatibility with a very large number of unusual codecs
  • Vastly improved compatibility for problematic files in Ogg, MP4, and WMV.
  • Support for Digital Cinema Package to play native movie theater formats.
  • Experimental support of Interactive Menus of BluRays: BD-J
  • On OS X, we've updated the interface for Yosemite compatibility.
  • On Android, we rewrote most of the UI to match Google Material Design.
  • This is the first public beta releases for Windows Phone, Windows RT and Android TV.
  • It is also the first non-beta release on Android.

For some reason the update function on my previously installed Windows version of VLC could not find the new version. However, I downloaded the new version and it installed as an upgrade with no problems. Download links for various platforms are on this VideoLAN page.

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Comments

Last Fall, I started having problems with VLC. On playback, video would freeze but audio would continue. I tried everything I could find to fix it, but after a frustrating few weeks, I switched to Potplayer and haven't had any issues since.

Thanks to v.laurie and techsupportalert- my go-to site for any software needs (including Potplayer!).

The Windows V2.1.5 64bit (Rincewind) does not find an update.

I think this may be due to there not, as yet, being an updated issued the 64 bit Windows environment.. Can someone confirm this for me please? Tanks in advance.

Does the same with 32 bit Windows 7.

Thanks much v.laurie,

I found this page, a list of files and which I don't understand what I am do do with them to update my VLC. Do I need download some or all and what do I do with them once I get them onto my computer? Thanks much.

Download the vlc-2.2.0-win64.exe file and run it. It should install as an update to your existing version of VLC. However, some people prefer in general to first uninstall older versions before installing a new one and that is another option. In any event, back up your system first before installing any new software.

Had an issue with "resume play back" ...... having issues with the new "in-app downloader for Firefox".... I have been using Light Alloy media player and it's very good so I will stick with it... you can try it out and see for yourself here >>>>> http://www.light-alloy.ru/ <<<<<

Hi budchekov...

Light Alloy has been verified with Virus Total and does not have any malware. It's clean of OpenCandy as well. No info is collect by Light Alloy so it is safe concerning privacy...

Thanks MC and jorgeem,good enough for me, installed, I play...:)

I am in agreement. Earlier I was using VLC and even though I had no issues with VLC, on recommendation I tried Light alloy. I am now sticking to LA and I am really happy. LA is truly an excellent free software.

Regards.

P P Chaukimath

Further, it would be nice if GIZMO reviewed LA and I am sure it will find its way in the Best free Media Player category.

Regards.
P P Chaukimath

Great idea.... GIZMO should review Light Alloy Media Player. It certainly is an excellent media player and videos load extremely fast, I would say more like instantly. It's actually my default media player. Have yet to say anything negative... It's that good. Like P P Chaukimath mentioned, it will be in the top 3 Best Media Players.... enjoy ...

I will do that after I've finished with updating Best Free Download Manager category. The last time I reviewed the Best Free Media Player category, Light Alloy was restricted freeware with a commercial version available which didn't impress me. It's been a long time since. Guess it's time to go back.

Hi George.J...
Please do so and check the latest version of Light Alloy. Fast, nice GUI and no adware...

Internet radio is buggy in Light Alloy. Win7x32.

I'm assuming that you having issues with Internet radio in Alloy Light because of your OS, Wins 7-32. You can go to forums at Light Alloy and look for a solution. This is the forum >>> http://www.light-alloy.ru/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=scrukjiekobbcshms8vm... <<<

I have not checked the memory but setting up file association causes an error; Resume playback has problems going by comment in the VLC forum it seems widespread also you only get a limited reduce the size of its object. For the time being, I will stick to MPC-HC.
These two functions were available on older version but were turned off. *Resume playback where you left off. *Subtitles downloading extension The big issue though is memory, VLC took a lot of memory; I wonder if they fixed that? Thanks I will check it out.