Major Update of Winamp coming soon..........
Saturday, September 22, 2007 by Leo the Lion | Discussion: iTunes
Some of you may have noticed there have been several beta releases of Winamp recently and it's a sign of some good things to come. Here is an interesting 'apetizer' from last100.com.
quote...........Winamp goes where iTunes doesn't dare !!!!
Winamp, that staple of media players, will soon turn 10! And its not letting it pass without a bang. On the 10th of October at 10:10am, Winamp 5.5 (PC-only) will be released sporting two new and potentially controversial features: support for mp3 blogs and the ability to stream your music collection over the Internet (a Beta version is available here).
Cashing in on the growing popularity of mp3 blogs, and the lack of tools to take advantage of them, Winamp’s Media Monitor can be used in conjunction with the software’s built-in browser to access any mp3s linked to on a blog page, presented as a playlist or even downloaded to your library. Winamp also includes handy links to a dozen or so music blogs to get you started.
The second major new feature is the Winamp Remote. This acts like a local media server, cataloging your tracks and videos and then enabling you to access them from another device, including other PCs running Winamp or via a web browser, various mobile devices, and game consoles (Playstation 3, XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii).
However, unlike iTunes, sharing isn’t restricted to devices on the local network, and instead you can also share your music over the Internet. To make this relatively simple, Winamp prompts you to send an email (or SMS text message) to a friend to let them access your playlists from their computer (they’ll need to create a free account to verify their identity, but only once). In this regard, Winamp Remote makes iTunes’ network sharing features seem rather puny and inflexible.
Also new to version 5.5 is the "Bento" skin. This is a move away from Winamp’s traditional multi-windowed interface (the default skin), which can be confusing and cluttered at times. Instead, the new skin only has one window which is more in keeping with other media management software.
The rest of Winamp performs as you’d expect it. It is still a very good media player; responsive, highly customisable, able to cope with many formats and yet still has a low demand on system resources. It will synchronise with a number of portable media players, including iPods*, making it a potential replacement for iTunes or Windows Media Player. Obviously, its still a beta version so there are some niggles with the program — it locked the interface for the duration of one track, although it had worked fine previously, and there are a couple of error messages when you close the program.
Winamp continues to evolve, and the new and bold features are a worthy update in which to mark the application’s tenth anniversary.
Unquote..........
Interesting developements on this great piece of software
quote...........Winamp goes where iTunes doesn't dare !!!!
Winamp, that staple of media players, will soon turn 10! And its not letting it pass without a bang. On the 10th of October at 10:10am, Winamp 5.5 (PC-only) will be released sporting two new and potentially controversial features: support for mp3 blogs and the ability to stream your music collection over the Internet (a Beta version is available here).
Cashing in on the growing popularity of mp3 blogs, and the lack of tools to take advantage of them, Winamp’s Media Monitor can be used in conjunction with the software’s built-in browser to access any mp3s linked to on a blog page, presented as a playlist or even downloaded to your library. Winamp also includes handy links to a dozen or so music blogs to get you started.
The second major new feature is the Winamp Remote. This acts like a local media server, cataloging your tracks and videos and then enabling you to access them from another device, including other PCs running Winamp or via a web browser, various mobile devices, and game consoles (Playstation 3, XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii).
However, unlike iTunes, sharing isn’t restricted to devices on the local network, and instead you can also share your music over the Internet. To make this relatively simple, Winamp prompts you to send an email (or SMS text message) to a friend to let them access your playlists from their computer (they’ll need to create a free account to verify their identity, but only once). In this regard, Winamp Remote makes iTunes’ network sharing features seem rather puny and inflexible.
Also new to version 5.5 is the "Bento" skin. This is a move away from Winamp’s traditional multi-windowed interface (the default skin), which can be confusing and cluttered at times. Instead, the new skin only has one window which is more in keeping with other media management software.
The rest of Winamp performs as you’d expect it. It is still a very good media player; responsive, highly customisable, able to cope with many formats and yet still has a low demand on system resources. It will synchronise with a number of portable media players, including iPods*, making it a potential replacement for iTunes or Windows Media Player. Obviously, its still a beta version so there are some niggles with the program — it locked the interface for the duration of one track, although it had worked fine previously, and there are a couple of error messages when you close the program.
Winamp continues to evolve, and the new and bold features are a worthy update in which to mark the application’s tenth anniversary.
Unquote..........
Interesting developements on this great piece of software
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Excalpius
Reply #2 Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:23 PM
Reply #2 Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:23 PM
Then Jafo needs to join the rest of us in this century.
Modern skins with the 5.x series rocks.
Modern skins with the 5.x series rocks.
starkers
Reply #3 Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:05 AM
What! And have him here in his bear skin, with club in hand and beating his chest: "C'mere... c'mere!!!!" (Trogladite...Jimmy Castor Bunch)
Ditto.
Reply #3 Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:05 AM
Then Jafo needs to join the rest of us in this century.
What! And have him here in his bear skin, with club in hand and beating his chest: "C'mere... c'mere!!!!" (Trogladite...Jimmy Castor Bunch)
Modern skins with the 5.x series rocks.
Ditto.
MySecret
Reply #4 Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:13 AM
Reply #4 Sunday, September 23, 2007 7:13 AM
Thanks for the info Leo,
& Ditto again
Modern skins with the 5.x series rocks.
Ditto.
Ditto.
& Ditto again
Fairyy~
Reply #5 Sunday, September 23, 2007 9:20 AM
As long as it plays my music it can look like the default classic - it sits on my task bar 12 hours a day anyway. So I'll be in the old fogy seats with Jafo.
But...still interesting info
Reply #5 Sunday, September 23, 2007 9:20 AM
Jafo is happily still using 2.9x ....and has no interest in anything from 3 and beyond.
As long as it plays my music it can look like the default classic - it sits on my task bar 12 hours a day anyway. So I'll be in the old fogy seats with Jafo.
But...still interesting info
Leo the Lion
Reply #6 Sunday, September 23, 2007 11:52 AM
Reply #6 Sunday, September 23, 2007 11:52 AM
Yep, there are are still quite a few people around like Jafo who prefer using the 2 or 3 series. If all you want is a simple skinable player then why change? It's all well and good having all the additional 'bits and pieces' but why change up if you are not going to use them?
KeithMacDonald
Reply #7 Sunday, September 23, 2007 1:31 PM
Reply #7 Sunday, September 23, 2007 1:31 PM
Alright maybe they fixed the crappy FPS on low end computers in Videos... I have to use DivX for all my Videos (no complaint, it makes the Videos look sharper because of some crazily kewl algorithm*)(*Wow did I just say that?)
I like the Sync on the Net thing, no longer to I have to bring my iPod
. (When alpha version goes out, anyways)
I like the Sync on the Net thing, no longer to I have to bring my iPod
. (When alpha version goes out, anyways)
REDstyler
Reply #8 Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:25 PM
Reply #8 Sunday, September 23, 2007 3:25 PM
I like the tab idea, and the fact that it's a Single UI. The Color Schemes are also nice to have... I have been a fan of Winamp for years - and love the fact that it's gettin better and better each release!
I have been a fan of Winamp for years - and love the fact that it's gettin better and better each release!
someone31988
Reply #9 Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:29 PM
Reply #9 Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:29 PM
But will it organize folders on my computer according to metadata tags? That's one feature I practically cannot live without nowadays and is the reason why I stay with MediaMonkey. The version 3 betas are awesome. It's like having the best features of iTunes, Winamp, and WMP11 in one program and it syncs with my iPod.
REDstyler
Reply #10 Monday, September 24, 2007 3:39 PM
Reply #10 Monday, September 24, 2007 3:39 PM
In my opinion Winamp is the best, becuase it really does everything. All you have to do is get the extensions to do the major stuff. It reads iPods and similar devices. The only thing that really irritates me is that it doesn't read MP4 video. When I get the extension to do it, it chows my RAM like you can't believe.
I still believe Winamp is great - and it will always remain the worlds best media player.
I still believe Winamp is great - and it will always remain the worlds best media player.
sleepydawg
Reply #11 Monday, September 24, 2007 3:59 PM
Reply #11 Monday, September 24, 2007 3:59 PM
I checked out the Beta. Pretty cool. Still Its to much player for me. All I need is something that plays music, fast and easy. Gonna keep it on my computer anyways. 
Fairyy~
Reply #12 Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:31 AM
Which is why I use Foobar2000
Windowblinds skins it and its easy to highlight all the songs in a folder and drag an drop right into the player window. No muss - no fuss. You can edit the tags and if your really clever you can edit the strings inside the preferences to only add what you want.
But I also use winamp ..
Reply #12 Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:31 AM
I checked out the Beta. Pretty cool. Still Its to much player for me. All I need is something that plays music, fast and easy. Gonna keep it on my computer anyways.
Which is why I use Foobar2000
Windowblinds skins it and its easy to highlight all the songs in a folder and drag an drop right into the player window. No muss - no fuss. You can edit the tags and if your really clever you can edit the strings inside the preferences to only add what you want.
But I also use winamp ..
starkers
Reply #13 Thursday, October 4, 2007 6:20 AM
Reply #13 Thursday, October 4, 2007 6:20 AM
Whoa, Leo, trying it right now and it's bloody fantastic....both sound-wise and features. I could yet find this replacing WMP as my 1st choice media player. Yeah, I know, I'm slow on the uptake, but thanks a bunch for the heads up.
starkers
Reply #14 Thursday, October 4, 2007 6:26 AM
Reply #14 Thursday, October 4, 2007 6:26 AM
oops, double post....and NO, I did NOT hit submit twice....darned site's playing silly buggers again. 
Leo the Lion
Reply #15 Friday, October 5, 2007 2:33 AM
No problem, mate. I've tried out most media players in my time and for some reason I find the audio play back on Winamp the best around by far
Reply #15 Friday, October 5, 2007 2:33 AM
Whoa, Leo, trying it right now and it's bloody fantastic....both sound-wise and features. I could yet find this replacing WMP as my 1st choice media player. Yeah, I know, I'm slow on the uptake, but thanks a bunch for the heads up.
No problem, mate. I've tried out most media players in my time and for some reason I find the audio play back on Winamp the best around by far
starkers
Reply #16 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:19 PM
I've always liked the sound quality of Winamp, but most often found the GUI a bit fiddly and awkward on larger resolutions (eyesight not the best any more). Until now that is, the default skin with this new version is great even at 1280 x 1076.
Reply #16 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:19 PM
I've tried out most media players in my time and for some reason I find the audio play back on Winamp the best around by far
I've always liked the sound quality of Winamp, but most often found the GUI a bit fiddly and awkward on larger resolutions (eyesight not the best any more). Until now that is, the default skin with this new version is great even at 1280 x 1076.
Leo the Lion
Reply #17 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:31 PM
Reply #17 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:31 PM
Yep, for me sound quality is everything and Winamp just blows everything else away, IMO. The new version looks really good and a lot of work has gone into it so far and there's a lot of feedback been sent to the developers who are going to have their work cut out to get the final version released next Wednesday I think a lot of people were concerned when they were taken over by AOL some time back but it seems everything is going well and it will be interesting to see how the skinning community view the new skin when the final version is released
I think a lot of people were concerned when they were taken over by AOL some time back but it seems everything is going well and it will be interesting to see how the skinning community view the new skin when the final version is released
starkers
Reply #18 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:01 PM
I don't care who owns it, so long as the product is sound and I don't have to deal with AOL hype/advertizing, etc. Both of those conditions are present and correct, and have been for a while now, so I'm more than happy with the current beta and look forward to the final version next week. Roll on Wednesday
Reply #18 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:01 PM
I think a lot of people were concerned when they were taken over by AOL some time back
I don't care who owns it, so long as the product is sound and I don't have to deal with AOL hype/advertizing, etc. Both of those conditions are present and correct, and have been for a while now, so I'm more than happy with the current beta and look forward to the final version next week. Roll on Wednesday
Frogboy
Reply #19 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:17 PM
Reply #19 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:17 PM
The challenge I think will be getting people off of iTunes. These features of Winamp sound great. But I buy my music via iTunes which means it's in their format. Sure, I could burn CDs and then rip them but that's a pain so I end up just using iTunes. I suspect I'm not alone in that.
Leo the Lion
Reply #20 Saturday, October 6, 2007 3:00 AM
Reply #20 Saturday, October 6, 2007 3:00 AM
Brad, you make a fair point.
As a matter of interest I have been trying out a new media player called JetAudio which is becoming popular with others in the skinning community. I must say I like it a lot.
WWW Link
and here is a review by on CNET/Download.com. Very Highly rated by both Staff and Users.
WWW Link
As a matter of interest I have been trying out a new media player called JetAudio which is becoming popular with others in the skinning community. I must say I like it a lot.
WWW Link
and here is a review by on CNET/Download.com. Very Highly rated by both Staff and Users.
WWW Link
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Reply #1 Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:41 PM