Review
Developed by Microsoft, Windows Media Player is multimedia software developed to play media content. With this latest download version, this is a more coordinated platform. It allows for the reproduction and synchronization of pictures, movies and music to mobile devices through its Remote Media Streaming technology. All you have to do is plug your device in to your PC and choose the files from your media libraries to transfer.
Windows Media Player 12 Features. New features of Windows Media Player 12 include: Burn, split and reproduce your own CDs. It’s a simple program. Effortlessly play your audio or video files. It includes options such as reverse, fast-forward or even the option to add bookmarks to a file. Based on the information, you are unable to play and rip certain discs like HDCD using Windows Media Player 12(WMP). Since WMP 9, it has been possible to decode and play HDCD enabled CDs. This issue occurs if the file extension like HDCD is not a supported by Windows Media Player 12.
Windows Media Player 12 is available for Windows 7 and Windows 8, introducing many Windows 8 innovations. For example, creating playlists is much easier with this application thanks to improvements to its search engine. When you find the lists you are searching for, drag-and-drop them into the Windows program and your music compilation will begin.
Advanced functions
Windows Media Player 12 Addons
This application offers tools to copy and record audio discs, so you only have to choose the data you want and place it on the CD. Burning your collection on your CD takes just a few moments. You can also extract music from CDs, while with its online connection, Windows Media Player has library updates providing you with new information about albums.
It offers a friendly environment and an improved system for connecting to external devices
Thumbnail taskbar. The latest version has added a simplified Windows player that offers a friendly and intuitive experience. Users can choose between the classic or new setup, where principal menu tools (play, previous and next, and the buttons to access to the library and insert media information) are rearranged, and it offers many themes and skins to customize its appearance.
There are also many add-ons to enhance your audio experience, such as listening to different Internet radio stations. Moreover, video and audio can be customized for decibels levels, brightness, rates, saturation, and contrast, among other options. This program doesn’t include natural codecs, but you need to get special codecs to play a file, you can get them for free online.
Windows Media Player 12 Features
New features of Windows Media Player 12 include:
- Burn, split and reproduce your own CDs
- It’s a simple program. Effortlessly play your audio or video files
- It includes options such as reverse, fast-forward or even the option to add bookmarks to a file
- Shortcuts. It offers the option to control actions through the keyboard
- Organize your library. Arrange your files based on the singer, style, album or release date
- Quick Access Panel. The main window includes a button to efficiently search your library
- Many visualization options, such as Battery, Alchemy, Waves and Bars
- Supports many video formats, such as MOV, MP4 or 3GP
- Modify its appearance. Customize the color interface and different skin modes
- Construct your own ActiveX button on the Internet
- Option to add additional programs such as effects, masks and views
If you require further information about this software before you download it, feel free to visit the author’s website
System Requirements
The minimum system requirements to download and install this program are:
- Operating System: Windows 7 or better
- Processor: Intel Pentium II 233 MHz
- RAM: 64 MB
- HDD Space: 200 MB of free space
Conclusion
Windows Media Player, also known by the acronym WMP, is evolving with the market. With this latest version, it offers a friendly, well organized and searchable environment with improved connectivity for external devices.
- It supports many digital file formats
- Improved internal search engine
- Integrates online functions
- Provides sync options
- It only works with the latest Windows versions
Windows Media Player has been part of Windows operating system for a long time but it’s not the default media player in Windows 10. Groove Music Player is set as the default audio player in Windows 10 whereas the new Films & TV app is the default video player.
Microsoft has not really updated Windows Media Player post the release of Windows 7 back in 2009. In fact, it has lost a couple of handy features such as the support for DVD playback. There are tens of better media players out there for Windows 10 and most users have stopped using Windows Media Player.
Windows Media Player 12 for Windows 10
Although Windows Media Player is offered with Windows 10 Home and Pro editions of Windows 10, Windows Media Player is not present in Windows 10 N and KN editions.
Not all users running N and KN editions of Windows 10 want to install and use Windows Media Player but since many other features relay on Windows Media files, it’s important to install and keep Windows Media Player. The PDF viewer in Microsoft Edge doesn’t work without Windows Media Player and Windows Media files, for instance.
If you’re using Windows 10 N or KN edition and want Windows Media Player, you need to download and install Media Feature Pack for N and KN editions of Windows 10.
The Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N and KN editions installs Windows Media Player 12 and some other apps such Groove Music, Video, Skype, and Voice Recorder.
After downloading the Media Feature Pack setup file, run the same by double-clicking on it, and then follow the straight-forward on-screen directions.
Microsoft Windows Media Player 12
What all features included in the Media Feature Pack?
Windows Media Player 12 Download
By installing the Media Feature Pack, you get Windows Media Player, Windows Media Format, Groove Music, Skype, Video, Voice Recorder, support for different audio and video formats and Media Player ActiveX control.
Please note that the Media Feature Pack is only for N and KN editions and doesn’t work on other editions of Windows 10.
How to set Windows Media Player as the default media player in Windows 10 guide might also be of interest to you.