Posted on 05/06/2012 3:10:12 PM PDT by CedarDave
The upcoming Windows 8 operating system (which you can download and preview now) is dropping the ability to play DVD content.
According to Windows engineering team member Steven Sinofsky (emphasis his), "Windows Media Player will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support. For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray." In other words: If you want to watch that Bridesmaids DVD on your next plane trip, you're going to have to pay extra for software that will let you play it, even if your laptop already has a DVD drive. And don't think getting Blu-ray is an option — you can't play that straight from the box, either.
If you're left scratching your heads, the rationale behind dropping DVD support is simple: It's about the bottom line. Says Sinofsky, "traditional media playback scenarios, optical media, and broadcast TV, require a specialized set of decoders (and hardware) that cost a significant amount in royalties." Windows 8 will allow customers the option to install a Windows Media Center upgrade to allow DVD playback at extra cost, though Microsoft is not saying exactly how high that cost will be.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
http://www.tecca.com/news/2011/06/28/os-windows-xp-market-share/
Because some software won't work with Windows2000?
Won’t Hollywood be surprised when, after making sure no one can access their tripe without paying, there won’t be anyone left who wants to see it.
Ping for tech list.
Windows 8.... Simple .... Don’t purchase it.
“you’re going to have to pay extra for software that will let you play it”
LOL! Free VLC rules the market, he knows it, it would cost nothing to show a little class and acknowledge it.
Hmm, if WMP is optional Windows 8 has at least one big improvement...
Another reason to sick with Windows 7.
Microsoft shoots themselves in the foot again.
I have a couple of old HP printers (including a laser jet that I purchased back in 1996 for use with Windows 95) that work great for me on XP. Windows Vista forced most users of older hardware to abandon perfectly good hardware as drivers were not available. Whether they are available for Windows 7 or upcoming Windows 8, I don’t know but don’t plan to switch until MS pulls the plug on XP.
http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-13632_4-10267151.html
Not really Microsoft’s fault. DVD playback requires royalties for MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital AC-3. Microsoft doesn’t feel like paying those royalties anymore, especially with the rise of streaming video. Users of Windows 8 can buy and install their own DVD players if they want. The VLC player is a free alternative that can handle DVDs.
I have yet to find a media format it won't play. And it's FREE.
“Another reason to sick with Windows 7.
Microsoft shoots themselves in the foot again.”
It costs money to include those DVD codecs, and most people dont watch DVDs on their computers.
If someone wants to play DVDs that badly, then they can go download the codecs or another media player.
Including the ability to play them has never been a standard feature in OSs.
Windows Media Player v. 11 is used with XP but won’t play MP4 videos. Does anyone have a link to an MP4 codec that doesn’t have spyware, malware, or a lot of bloatware codecs that most folks would never use. Just something keeping it simple is what I’m looking for.
Does that mean that you don't want to use VLC Media Player? It plays MP4.
Yep, who needs windows media when we have VLC.
I don’t fault Microsoft, sounds like good business decision not to include an inferior product when you can get a better one for free.
You will just have to use another downloaded program I guess
Exactly!
Won’t have the problem cuz I won’t have Windows 8.
BWAHAHAHA Ever heard of VLC, GOM player or MEDIA PLAYER CLASSIC which is free?
And yes, I have 2 emergency laptops which still have Windows XP, and I enjoy them.
Media Player Classic will also play .rm files, so you don’t need to install the Real Media spyware delivery system on your computer.
I realize it does, but the package includes dozens and dozens of other media and formats that I don't think I have any use for. Just looking for a simple Codec for WMP 11 that will let me play MP-4.
I wondered how long it would take for someone to bring that up.
Personally I don’t mind this. What bothers me is the idiotic phone interface on a desktop computer. Maybe they should bundle a 320 x 480 resolution monitor.
It was only about three years ago that I gave up my Windows 2000 Pro.
What a rock solid OS that was. Nothing ever crashed it. It just plain worked.
This is actually a smart move on their part. A good chunk of the DVDs I’ve put in my computer CAME with their own software. And almost all the DVD playing software out there is better than WMP which was never really designed to handle a media type that had it’s own menus and things. Try to watch a DVD using JUST WMP, you get to that list of vobs and it’s good luck to you. Don’t reinvent the wheel, nobody on the planet has ever bought Windows so they could use WMP to watch DVDs.
Bastards!
Doesn't matter either, all I use now is VLC, but *Bastards* just the same to Microsoft.
I’m still using xp. I’ll upgrade when windows 9 comes out.
I haven’t used the crappy and annoying WMP in over a decade.
Like others have already said, there’s VLC and other software that blows WMP out of the water.
Heck, I’m still using Win98 on a couple of my computers at work. XP on my main computer at work, Vista at home, Win7 on my laptop. My Office version is 2003. I’m sick of the constant upgrades.
LOL!
No Chit!
I have XP on my desktop, but the machine I use most is my laptop, and it has Win2K!
I use that program and like it better than Media Player.
I’m with you; I used Win_XP Pro for years and have WIN-7 Pro now, but I’ll wait until they drop 7 support. Screw MS.
Another vote for VLC...
Freeware that works better than MS media ever did...
Me too. I liked XP less than my previous one. Now I have to go to Bet to fix “hard drive controller error” that blocks my files.
I have a Canon slide converter that works with Windows XP, but will not work with Windows 7. I recently came across a bunch of old slides that I need to convert to JPEGs so I will keep my old Windows XP box until that project is done—at least.
The vast majority of blu-rays are available as a combo pack with a DVD copy, Blu-ray copy and a digital copy, all for about $5 more than a standard DVD. I have digital copies of every movie I’ve bought in the last year, and they were all part of the purchase, most for $20 for the combo pack during the week of release from Target or Amazon.
I have a laptop and a notebook that I want to put Xp on. Any ideas on how to remove System 7 and Vista?
This would be a very, very, very stupid decision by Microsoft.
So what? Aren’t there at least 2 dozen applications...half of them free...that will play DVD content beautifully?
I’ve tried VLC but actually prefer GOM. It seems a much nicer interface and it plays everything.
Interesting. I'll give it a try.
Thanks.
Heck, I’m still using Win98 on a couple of my computers at work. XP on my main computer at work, Vista at home, Win7 on my laptop. My Office version is 2003. I’m sick of the constant upgrades.
VLC Player, Rocks!
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