Flip4Mac WMV
Current Version: 2.2.0.49R (May 20, 2008)
Flip4Mac WMV (also described by Microsoft as "Windows Media Components for QuickTime by Flip4Mac"), enables you to play Windows Media files (.asf, .asx, .wma, and .wmv) directly in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content using your Web browser. Flip4Mac WMV has been highly optimized for Power Mac G4 and G5 computers and supports playback of high-definition Windows Media video files. The components work quite a bit more smoothly than the dedicated Windows Media Player software - offering not just smoother playback, but much greater levels of customization and control - and are highly recommended.
Note: As of January 12, 2006, Microsoft has officialy stopped development of Windows Media Player software for the Mac. Versions 2.0 and later of Flip4Mac are now provided free of charge, and the software is distributed (and essentially endorsed) by Microsoft as well. Therefore, the future of Windows Media on the Mac lies in these Flip4Mac components. Luckily, they are very good indeed.
By purchasing an upgrade for Flip4Mac, you can import Windows Media files for editing and create Windows Media files for distribution.
Flip4Mac WMV supports the following audio and video codecs:
- Windows Media Audio 9
- Windows Media Audio 9 Professional
- Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless
- ISO MPEG Layer 3 (MP3)
- Microsoft G.726
- Microsoft IMA ADPCM
- Microsoft G.711 aLaw
- Microsoft G.711 uLaw
- Microsoft ADPCM
- Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile
- Windows Media Video 9
- Windows Media Video 8
- Windows Media Video 7
- ISO MPEG-4, versions 1.0 and 1.1
- Microsoft MPEG-4, versions 2 and 3
- Microsoft Motion JPEG
While version 2.2.0.49R fixes a 100% CPU issue with QuickTime 7.4 and Safari, version 2.2.0.49 added/changed the following:
- Added JavaScript support to the browser plugins
- Added support for URL Stream Scripting
- Improved ASX handling
- Improved support for MMS servers and live streams
- Improved compatibility with many different web sites
- Removed the user enabled "Create Streaming Movies" preference
- Added support for manual Deactivation/Reactivation
- Fixed potential security issue where an attacker could potentially cause a security issue by deliberately malforming WMV files.
- Exporter: Significant encoding speed improvements for Intel Mac
- Exporter: Improved video quality when encoding 2-pass VBR
Flip4Mac WMV requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 / 10.4 or later, as well as QuickTime 6.5.1 / 7.1.2 or later.
User Reviews
[2.1] "Easy to install and it does exactly what it says it will - allows you to watch WMV movies in QuickTime, either in the QT standalone player or in your web browser. This is MUCH better than the old, never updated, clunky Microsoft Windows Media Player for Mac. The only downside that drags it down for me is that on older G3 Macs playing the WMV clips is more CPU intensive, and you will need a reasonably fast Mac to watch them. Other than that, this is great software. Shame on Microsoft for making such a useless player and then killing support. But kudos to Telestream for coming up with an alternative that integrates with QT and does it very smartly."
—Jamie Kahn Genet, August 12, 2006
Submit another review!
to download the Mac OS X 10.3.9+ (Universal) version (2.2.0.49R).
Beta version 2.2.1.7 is available (August 1, 2008), adding/changing the following:
- Player: Improved WMV playback in Safari
- Player: Improved Safari and Camino compatibility
- Player: Fixed miscellaneous crashes
- Importer: Fixed security issues reported by Drew Yao of Apple Product Security
- Exporter: Improved output results when using DV .mov source in Studio and Silverlight
- Exporter: Fixed Flip4Mac Studio "Parameter out of range" issue
- Exporter: Fixed transition rendering issue when using Flip4Mac 2.2 with Final Cut Express
Also See . . .
Can't find what you're looking for? Try a search:
Also, if you have an older Mac, be sure to check out the "Classic" applications page for more options.
Finally, take a look at ALEMIA if you think you know that name of an application, but aren't quite sure.
Also Consider . . .
These are applications that are newer and of potential interest, but which I haven't yet selected for permanent inclusion. Have a look, and let me know if you think they deserve to be part of the permanent collection!