Video players

1. Media player classic V 6.4.9.1
   Media Player Classic is the perfect substitute for Windows Media Player. Aestetically is identical to version 6.4 and has the same lightness in terms of RAM occupation, but it has much more usefull functions. Features: with 'right' and 'left' keys it's possible to go forward/backward of one single frame; with 'Ctrl + right'/'left' it's possible to skip one predefinite quantity of frames; with 'Ctrl + up' it's possible to change faster the speed of reproduction; it's possible to visualize with media player QuickTime and RealMedia movies (but that programs must be installed); in full screen modality it's possible to show a scroll bar putting the mouse in the lower portion of the screen; in full screen it's possible to do the redimension images and adopt a cinema format or a TV format; it work as a DVD player too; keys are completely customizable; it can show subtitles.
   
   
   Download link: http://www.freecodecs.net/fc/mplayerc_20081210.zip (1.98 MB)
   Official site: http://www.free-codecs.com



2. QuickTime V 7.6
   After 10 years and with millions of users worldwide, Apple's QuickTime player still provides one of the best solutions for digital media. Whether you're watching streaming movie trailers online or diving headlong into QuickTime as a creation platform, you'll find little to quibble about in this veteran player.
   
   Its few quirks are quickly offset by the elegant Apple interface and the top-notch audio/video playback quality. QuickTime 7 comes in two varieties. The free standard player handles popular audio, graphic, and video formats, including the much-ballyhooed H.264 and MPEG-4. Also, for $29.95, you can upgrade to the content-creation-friendly Pro version, which adds features such as full-screen playback, easy editing, H.264/MPEG-4 production, and the ability to save movies from the Web.
   
   MPEG-2 support is available, but at an additional cost of $19.95.High-definition content looks impressive with the new H.264 codec, but hardly better than with similar offerings from Microsoft. The stylish transport controls and the friendly layout work well. Inclusion of the autoupdate and automatic-network-detection features make getting started and staying current easy. Overall, QuickTime 7 continues to be a must-have for anyone surfing the Web or looking to experience the best in digital media.
   
   
   Download link: http://appldnld.apple.com/content.info.apple.com/QuickTime/QuickTimeInstaller.exe (20.86 MB)
   Official site: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/



3. Winamp Media Player V 5.552
   Winamp is a free multimedia player made by Nullsoft. It supports numerous audio and video formats. It also plays streamed video and audio content, both live and recorded, authored worldwide. It has an extremely customizable media library, and allows you to rip and burn your favorite music CDs. Winamp has thousands of skins and plug-ins that allow you to change the look-and-feel of the player, as well as add new features. The player also has access to thousands of free songs, videos and online radio stations from SHOUTcast Radio and AOL Radio with XM. Version 5.552 has improved iPod Sync Support and new iTunesLibrary Import.
   
   
   Download link: http://download.nullsoft.com/winamp/client/winamp5552_full_emusic-7plus_en-us.exe (9.4 MB)
   Official site: http://www.winamp.com



4. Windows media player V 11
   Windows Media Player (WMP) 11--which debuted at CES earlier this year and features a visually appealing interface, as well as impressive features and performance--is Microsoft's best jukebox to date. Not that it was a grand feat to improve upon a generally disappointing string of versions, including the somewhat awkward version 10.
   
   Rather than dumbing down the GUI, Microsoft has smartened it up with wise design decisions that open up the desktop without eliminating the powerful features within. For example, the playback controls (at the bottom) are now glossy and inviting, and they include repeat and shuffle options. Additionally, the back and forward navigation buttons (upper-left corner) ensure that you'll never get lost. However, the revamped menu buttons have the most significant impact on the interface. Boiled down to five choices--Now Playing, Library, Rip, Bun, and Sync--each button has its own sub-button that opens up a slew of useful menu items. So when you activate the split menu for Rip, you'll get options to adjust format, bit rate, and so on.
   
   You can simply click the Library split button to get to the video or photo libraries, which have their own dedicated set of nav-pane options. The main browser window has also been radically altered: no more boring, anonymous text on a dark background. Instead, you get a colorful album-art-driven view of music, thumbnail views of photos, and screenshot thumbs of their video files, all on a light-colored background. This not only makes it easier to locate and manage files but also gives the player some much-needed personality.
   
   
   Download link: http://download.microsoft.com/download/wmp11-windowsxp-x86-enu.exe (24.55 MB)
   Official site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/default.aspx



5. KMPlayer V 2.9.4.1434
   KMPlayer is an excellent video and audio player which can play a large amount of formats such as VCD, DVD, AVI, MPEG-1/2/4, WMV, RealMedia, and QuickTime among others. It handles subtitles and allows you to capture screenshots. You can set audio and video effects, slow down or increase playback speed, select parts of a video as favorites, and many more. KMPlayer is completely customizable thanks to a wide selection of skins and color schemes, and the configuration options are extensive. KMPlayer is a flexible, free and practical media player.
   
   The application has a small desktop footprint and its minimalist interface, somewhat akin to the original Winamp 5, means that access and playback are quick and hassle-free. Like Winamp, the interface is fully skinable, and there are some nice aesthetic touches, such as the changing of colour on the player with every new track. There are all sorts of options to help you pimp your player, such as visualizations, plug-ins and playback options, but the beauty of KMPlayer is that these are turned on at your request rather than being forced upon you at the outset.
   
   The application handles both audio and video, and supports a wide range of different formats, meaning that once installed, you should never need to touch another player. Video playback is particularly impressive thanks to the range of processing tools available that allow you to sharpen, change picture properties, apply filters and even make video captures from within the program.
   
   
   Download link: http://cdn.pandora.tv/KMP/Download/beta/The_KMPlayer_1434.exe (11.93 MB)
   Official site: http://kmplayer.kde.org