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VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

videolan.org

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Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#11

Post by aes256 »

megaman821 wrote: post #7
aes256 wrote: post #4

1) It's 2012 and we still need third party software to watch videos? I understand VLC does other stuff, but the reason most people use and install it is just to watch videos; 2) This seems like an awful lot of money, not to mention the precedent it sets, just to craft an interface for what is, ultimately, a transient 'design language'. Metro is ugly and a UX nightmare. It will be replaced with something completely ne…

1) Since there are a multitude of codecs, profiles, and containers to encode and deliver videos in, yes. 2) That is all your opinion with no facts to back it up. It is extremely unlikely that Metro is going anywhere at this point.

If a non-profit can keep on top of all the different codecs, profiles and containers, why can't Microsoft? By all means leave the bleeding edge professional codecs to third party software, but most people only use VLC to play rudimentary formats (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, FLV, etc.)

This functionality really ought to be built into the OS these days.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#12

Post by Osmium »

aes256 wrote: post #4

1) It's 2012 and we still need third party software to watch videos? I understand VLC does other stuff, but the reason most people use and install it is just to watch videos; 2) This seems like an awful lot of money, not to mention the precedent it sets, just to craft an interface for what is, ultimately, a transient 'design language'. Metro is ugly and a UX nightmare. It will be replaced with something completely ne…

You can blame the patent situation for this. There's too much risk for a big player (Microsoft, Apple) to bundle support for fringe codecs and container formats. VLC can get away with this because they're not a big enough target to be worth suing; they don't have enough money.

Sadly, it's also the patent situation that's responsible for the proliferation of codecs in the first place. Companies wouldn't feel the need to make their own (or their own custom containers) if they didn't have to worry about patent issues.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#13

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

aes256 wrote: post #8
NathanKP wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With regard to point #1 I generally find VLC to be much more forgiving than the generic video players built into Windows or Mac OS X. VLC will often play damaged video files and all sorts of random, slightly corrupted files found on file sharing sites, etc. With regard to point #2 it is more than just a new interface look for VLC. It will require extensive rewriting to work within the Windows sandbox using appropriat…

1) Oh absolutely, I don't dispute VLC remains useful. I just think it's a shame that we still need VLC. To most of its users, VLC is "that thing that my friend told me I'd need to install to play these videos because for some reason Windows can't play them on its own" 2) I'm more worried about the precedent this sets. Is VLC going to need new cash injections every time Microsoft change the rules of the Windows Store,…

>the next major release of Windows will undoubtedly break everything all over again.

Not really. Windows 8 hasn't broken anything (although there have been UI changes and some apps have a few bugs that have cropped up). Rather, they have introduced, for the first time in two decades (literally), a completely new foundation on which to build apps. That foundation won't be swept away in Windows 9, and I expect it will mean less things break, not more.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#14

Post by etix »

aes256 wrote: post #11
megaman821 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Since there are a multitude of codecs, profiles, and containers to encode and deliver videos in, yes. 2) That is all your opinion with no facts to back it up. It is extremely unlikely that Metro is going anywhere at this point.

If a non-profit can keep on top of all the different codecs, profiles and containers, why can't Microsoft? By all means leave the bleeding edge professional codecs to third party software, but most people only use VLC to play rudimentary formats (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, FLV, etc.) This functionality really ought to be built into the OS these days.

Did you see that Microsoft is doing exactly the opposite these days by removing the DVD capabilities from Windows 8?

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#15

Post by mortenjorck »

I'm really glad they're looking to hire some design expertise, but I hope they scope it right – graphic design will definitely help, but that UX is going to have to be rethought as well if they want to truly take advantage of the design language and make a great Win8 app.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#16

Post by jiggy2011 »

mrchess wrote: post #3

I used VLC since I was a kid to watch my "backed-up" videos in the days where codecs were rampant and confusing. Now that I have some income, it feels good to give back. Here's to the next generation of VLC!

I love VLC for that too, whenever I see someone farting around with WMP trying to get something to play I always just link them to the VLC download page. Haven't found a problem that this hasn't solved yet.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#17

Post by drivebyacct2 »

aes256 wrote: post #8
NathanKP wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With regard to point #1 I generally find VLC to be much more forgiving than the generic video players built into Windows or Mac OS X. VLC will often play damaged video files and all sorts of random, slightly corrupted files found on file sharing sites, etc. With regard to point #2 it is more than just a new interface look for VLC. It will require extensive rewriting to work within the Windows sandbox using appropriat…

1) Oh absolutely, I don't dispute VLC remains useful. I just think it's a shame that we still need VLC. To most of its users, VLC is "that thing that my friend told me I'd need to install to play these videos because for some reason Windows can't play them on its own" 2) I'm more worried about the precedent this sets. Is VLC going to need new cash injections every time Microsoft change the rules of the Windows Store,…

>I'm more worried about the precedent this sets. Is VLC going to need new cash injections every time Microsoft change the rules of the Windows Store, or release updates to Windows 8 that break the app? As I say, the next major release of Windows will undoubtedly break everything all over again.

The FUD is so strong I don't even know where to begin. It doesn't jive with common sense, history or the rumors regarding the future of Windows.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#18

Post by isani »

"VLC for Windows 8 might not be applicable for the store."

And that's a major problem. Without distribution on the Windows Store, this thing isn't going to see any kind of mass adoption. I'd be wary about funding until they work out whether their code and licenses pass the Store certification requirements.

Re: VLC for the new Windows 8 User Experience fundraiser

#19

Post by rmrfrmrf »

If you'll remember, Rémi Denis-Courmont made such a big stink about keeping VLC out of walled gardens that Apple was forced to remove it from the App Store. So my question is: why does VLC suddenly WANT to be in a walled garden now that Windows is following suit?
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