Windows Media Player for Mac OS

WMP9 for OS X is not the world's best product. I think Microsoft has released WMP10 and WMP11 since it was released, but only for Windows.

Anyway, you'll want to use the Flip4Mac libraries instead of the actual Microsoft media player; I don't know if this is Universal yet though.

Hi neno,

If it is saying that, then you probably don't have it installed. Did you look in your Applications folder to see if its there? Did you click on the player to open it and see if it is installed?

This question is asked almost every other day. Here is the reply I gave the other day....

You need to install Stuffit in order to install WMP.......

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/20954

Here is the Mac version of WMP.......

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10758

> WMP is not Universal, so it cannot run through Safari unless the browser is in PowerPC mode

Sorry you're wrong.

WMV Player version 2.1.0.24 IS Universal Binary
The QuickTime Components of the same package are version 2.1.0.33 and also Universal Binary

Anyone:
Regarding the new release of F4M, I am currently using the beta intel version. If I want to download the new version, must I first uninstall the beta version? Also, what does the new release do that the beta does not? The beta I have seems to work ok. Many thanks

I downloaded F4M and it works fine when playing videos on cnn.com

However, how does one play video clips on msnbc.com?

It says I need to download WIndows Media Player 9 or 10. I though F4M played all windows media type files, perhaps I am missing something. Thanks

dv

thanks for the info.
that kind of blows...

is there no workaround?. As large as a news organization that MSNBC is, you would think they would be more Mac friendly. I have heard that Windows Media Player is no longer compatible on Macs anyway. So I guess there is no recourse?

d

The MS of MSNBC is Microsoft of course.

You'd think that since MS is at least hosting Flip4Mac on their server they'd want people to play the video on the MSNBC site.

One can hope that as Flip4Mac continues to improve compatibility they'll conquer this issue.

Here's a bit of the javascript calling the video. It's inscrutable.

javascript:msnvDwd('00','7de0cd3e-486a-4072-9476-92357f3126b6','us','hotvideo medpicks','','msnbc','','3677250','Watch%20the%20headlines')

Hi, I took the liberty of writing MSN technical support regarding their lack of video playing support for Mac Users on both MSN and MSNBC. Here is their response which is basically saying that if you are a Mac user, don't bother!
*******************************************************
Thank you for writing to MSN Entertainment Technical Support.

I understand that you want to play MSN Video on your Macintosh computer. I know how important this service is to you and I apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused.

Certain streamed content on the MSN Entertainment site is not compatible with the Macintosh operating system or Netscape. This content includes the following media:

- Music
- Radio
- Video clips

I have forwarded your concern to MSN Entertainment Product Development Team that carefully reviews this and will take it into consideration for future design of MSN Video as we continue to develop new styles and offer more features to our customers.

You are a valuable customer to MSN and we are glad to give you consistent and effective service.

Sincerely,
MSN Entertainment Technical Support

The issues with MSN and MSNBC have nothing to do with content. It's likely their back end coding.

DRM WMV files won't play on a Mac but on sites that use that I'd get an appropriate message. Macs also can't play WMV9 Advanced Profile (yet) but that's also not the issue in this case.

CNN works on the Mac so there's no reason why MSNBC could work on the Mac with proper back end coding.

Although Flip4Mac has had issues with Comedy Channel it seems whenever they make a change the Flip4Mac folks fix it in the next release.

MSNBC and MSN CHOSE to use coding that is unfriendly to the Mac.

This article was in Maxfixit today................

Late-Breakers
Flip4Mac 2.1.0.33 (#2): Still doesn't work with Windows Media DRM files
The new Universal Binary edition of Flip4Mac -- allows you to play Windows Media files (.wma and .wmv) in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content on the Internet using a web browser -- still does not function properly with Windows Media DRM-protected files, resulting in the inability to view some embedded media content.

This includes content from the MLB.com Web site and others.

MacFixIt reader Dave writes:

"I was excited about the new release of the Universal Binary for Flip4Mac plugin; and since they promised they took their time to make everything work. I was confident to install it. However, it does not operate correctly on the MLB.com website with any browser. The pic was super clear--but the controls have rendering issues. I uninstalled it and went back to using media player. The uninstaller worked very well. Back to normal. Running a MacBook Pro with Mac OS X 10.4.7."

We have not determined whether or not Telestream plans to introduce DRM-playback functionality in a forthcoming release of Flip4Mac.

Talk about WAY OFF BASE. Microsoft LICENSES DRM and CHOOSES NOT to license on the Mac. Flip4Mac can't do anything about DRM unless Microsoft licenses it.

This article was in Maxfixit today................

Late-Breakers
lip4Mac 2.1.0.33 (#2): Still doesn't work with
Windows Media DRM files
The new Universal Binary edition of Flip4Mac --
allows you to play Windows Media files (.wma and
.wmv) in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media
content on the Internet using a web browser -- still
does not function properly with Windows Media
DRM-protected files, resulting in the inability to
view some embedded media content.

This includes content from the MLB.com Web site and
others.

MacFixIt reader Dave writes:

"I was excited about the new release of the Universal
Binary for Flip4Mac plugin; and since they promised
they took their time to make everything work. I was
confident to install it. However, it does not operate
correctly on the MLB.com website with any browser.
The pic was super clear--but the controls have
rendering issues. I uninstalled it and went back to
using media player. The uninstaller worked very well.
Back to normal. Running a MacBook Pro with Mac OS X
10.4.7."

We have not determined whether or not Telestream
plans to introduce DRM-playback functionality in a
forthcoming release of Flip4Mac.

Hi Peter:
What are these files "Windows Media DRM-protected files"? What "DRM" stands for?
I am planning to install this "Flip4Mac 2.1". Incase, if it doest not work, MacFixIt reader, Dave says he had uninstalled it. How do you uninstall it? Is there a Plugin or app file in app or utilities folder to drag it to trash? or is there any unistaller program to uninstall it?

Appreciate your speedy reply. Thanks. ramar

Not Peter but this might help.

DRM - Digital Rights Management. Copy Protection of sorts. In this case DRM files won't play on Mac at all since Microsoft won't allow it to be licensed or otherwise used on the Mac.

Since support for Window Media Player for the Mac has been dropped by Microsoft, Flip4Mac is a MUST HAVE. It comes with an uninstaller but it also has a preference setting to disable the plugin without uninstalling.

Flip4Mac is a plugin which works inside Quicktime and Safari and Firefox.

Hi Peter:
What are these files "Windows Media DRM-protected
files"? What "DRM" stands for?
I am planning to install this "Flip4Mac 2.1".
Incase, if it doest not work, MacFixIt reader, Dave
says he had uninstalled it. How do you uninstall
it? Is there a Plugin or app file in app or
utilities folder to drag it to trash? or is there
any unistaller program to uninstall it?

Appreciate your speedy reply. Thanks. ramar

Hi Craig:
Please correct me if I am wrong: If one installs "flip4mac" sofware, the plugin is installed. Will there be a icon or an application file for this software and an uninstaller file in the application folder? Do you have to activate the plugin before you use the web site to play the "wma" or "wmv" files? or it is not necessary to do that once it is installed? To uninstall, do you activate the "uninstall" file or the icon in the application folder?

As per Dave, in the Maxfixit, he says he uninstalled and went back to using media player. Does the Microsoft WM player handle DRM files to play? If so why you are saying that Flip4Mac is a "MUST HAVE"? Why not install the Microsoft WM player instead of Flip4Mac?

If one wants to install Microsoft WM player, what is latest version available for Mac? and where can I get it from and install it?

Appreciate yours or other's suggestions regarding this matter. Thanks.