To kick things off, we start with number one. Playing MP4 on Mac has never been easier, thanks to Elmedia Player. This app supports a boatload of media file formats ranging from AVI, FLV, SWF, WMV, MOV, MP3, MKV, MP4, and more.
- Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Os
- Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Catalina
- Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Windows 7
- Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Windows 10
Add WMV files into the program by dragging-n-dropping or clicking 'Add File' button 2. Select Mac playable file (mp4, mov, m4v) from 'Profile' drop-down menu as output format. Hit 'Convert' button at the bottom of the screen to start converting WMV. Wmv Player free download - GOM Player, MP4 Player, Adobe Flash Player, and many more programs. Microsoft endorsed WMV player for Mac. If you need to play WMV or WMA files on your Mac, then Flip4Mac is a simple and effective solution. Softonic was given exclusive access to the preview of the 3.0 private beta version of Flip4Mac and now the final version of 3.0 is here.
Though WMV is natively supported by Windows Media Player, you may still need a WMV video player for Mac or Windows. WMV, stands for Windows Media Video, is a compressed video file format developed by Microsoft for Windows-based machines. For easy sharing via the email and internet, WMV are popular among most platforms.
Unfortunately, the pre-installed media player cannot decode WMV videos except Windows. On the other hand, there are a few media players support WMV files. This article will identify and share the best WMV video players available to Mac OS X and Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP.
WMV Players
Part 1: Best cross-platform WMV player: AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player
Today, many people have multiple computers at work place and home that are running different operating systems. If you need a cross-platform WMV player, AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player is the best option, which offers a lot of advanced functionality for playing videos. The software can handle every type of video format you’re likely to come across, including WMV, MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, etc. Aside from playing video files, it also offers supports for audio, as well as Blu-ray and DVD movies. The options for customizing video playback are very impressive.
- • Play WMV video files on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and Mac OS X.
- • Utilize hardware and software acceleration technology to offer smooth video playback.
- • Support almost all video and audio formats in addition to WMV.
- • Let you enjoy 4K and 1080p HD videos without any lagging or quality loss.
- • Optimize and enhance video quality using advanced algorithm.
Anyway, it is the best way to watch WMV videos on your computer.
How to play WMV with the best quality
Step 1: Import WMV videos into the best video player
Download and install AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player on your PC. If you are using a MacBook Pro/Air/iMac, download the Mac version. Then launch it from your desktop and click the Open File button. In the open file dialog, locate the WMV file and open it, then you will be presented the menu interface.
Step 2: Customize WMV playback based on your needo
Select your favorite audio track and subtitle, and then hit the Play icon at bottom to start play the WMV file. You have several ways to control the playback. The quick control icons can be found at the bottom, as well as you can use hotkeys. If you want to reset advanced settings related to video and audio, go to the Video and Audio menu on the top ribbon.
Part 2: 4 best WMV players for Mac
Top 1: VLC Media Player
Key features:
- • Support almost all video formats, including WMV, AVI, MKV, MP4, etc.
- • Lightweight and use little memory and process power when playback WMV.
- • Play online WMV videos from websites through video addresses and URL.
- • Compatible with Windows 10/8/7, Mac OS X, iOS and Android devices.
- • Open source and totally free of charge without ads, spyware or virus.
Top 2: Elmedia Player
Key features:
- • Decode popular media formats including WMV, FLV, SWF, AVI, and more.
- • Play WMV video files on Mac OS X without converting or transcoding.
- • Download online unprotected WMV videos from websites through the internet.
- • Create playlists and manage your favorite movies on Mac computers simply.
- • Include many bonus tools, such as making snapshot while playing videos and full screen mode.
Top 3: Movist
Key features:
- • Support a large number of video and audio formats, like WMV, MOV, MP4, etc.
- • Work well on most devices running Mac operating systems.
- • Pack a concise interface that lets you to find what you want quickly and simply.
- • Allow you to adjust video saturation, brightness, contrast, playback speed, subtitles and other custom options.
- • Based on FFmpeg and QuickTime codecs, so free to download and use.
Top 4: MPlayerX
Key features:
- • Support almost any video formats including WMV, AVI, MP4, MKV, etc.
- • Play both local videos and online media files for free.
- • Recognize the video files on your hard drive and decode them using the best codecs.
- • Let you enjoy WMV videos on Mac OS X with no additional plugins or codecs.
- • Pack a straight interface with extensive functionalities and available to both average people and advanced users.
Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Os
Part 3: Top 4 WMV players for Windows
Top 1: Windows Media Player
Key features:
- • Pre-installed on any Windows operating systems and free of charge.
- • Lightweight and not require a lot of space on your desktop.
- • Able to play WMV video files on Windows 10/8/7 without extra plugins or codecs.
- • Support both playback of local video and audio files as well as online streaming.
- • Integrate full keyboard-based operation.
Top 2: MPC-HC
Key features:
- • Open source and available to most video and audio formats, such as WMV, MP4, AVI, etc.
- • Extremely lightweight and no ads, spyware or toolbars.
- • Offer basic option custom options to adjust volume and other parameters.
- • Work well on any Windows machines including old computer back from 2000.
- • Get updates and support from the official website for free.
Top 3: GOM Media Player
Key features:
- • Capable of playing audio and video formats like WMV, AVI, MKV, MOV, and more.
- • Incorporate multiple enhanced functionalities and settings.
- • Pack a friendly interface and easy to navigate and use.
- • Free to download and use if you do not mind the popups and ads.
- • Let you watch online videos while downloading.
Top 4: DivX
Key features:
- • Play your favorite videos encoded in WMV, MKV, MP4, AVI, etc.
- • Support video resolution up to 4K and full 1080p HD.
- • Cast any video files from computer to HDTV or smart TV.
- • Convert WMV video files to another format for playing on PC or mobile.
- • Offer both a free version and a pro version to meet different need.
Part 4: FAQs of WMV Player
What is a WMV file?
Microsoft developed WMV (Windows Media Video) as a digital video format that works natively with Windows Media Player and other Microsoft applications.
Can VLC play WMV videos?
WMV file format can be easily played on Windows operating system using VLC media player.
How can I play WMV files in Chrome?
Google Chrome will not automatically play WMV files as this requires Windows Media Player, which is not a default plug-in within the Chrome browser. You use VLC to play a WMV file in Chrome. Make sure that you have installed VLC with all plugins/extensions. Then, go to Google Web Store and type “chrome://plugins”. You will receive a notification “VLC Web Plugin” that means you have successfully installed VLC Media Player plugin for Chrome.
Conclusion
This post has shared top 9 WMV video players for Windows and Mac users to enjoy video files on their computers. WMV is a popular video format; however, QuickTime and most media players on Mac cannot decode WMV files. Moreover, multi-device users expect to get a cross-platform WMV player. Therefore, we identified the best media players compatible with WMV format based on the lab testing and hundreds of users' report. We hope that our sharing are helpful to you.
| Developer(s) | Telestream, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | December 6, 2004; 16 years ago[1][2] |
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | macOS |
| Platform | x86, x64 |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Multimedia framework, plug-in, media player |
| License | |
| Website | www.telestream.net/flip4mac/overview.htm |
Flip4Mac from Telestream, Inc. is a digital media software for the macOS operating system. It is particularly known for being the only QuickTime component for macOS that supports Windows Media Video.
Features[edit]
Telestream previously offered a free standalone player also known as Flip Player while charging for their Pro and Studio features until the release of v3.3 on May 1, 2014 when they began charging for Flip4Mac Player[4] (plug-in and standalone player combined).[5]
There are four versions of Flip4Mac Player:[6]
- Flip4Mac Player ($9.99)
Play Windows Media files (.wma and .wmv) directly in QuickTime applications and view Windows Media content on the Internet using a web browser
- Flip4Mac Player Pro ($29)
Adds the ability to import WMV and WMA files for editing and conversion to QuickTime formats or iOS devices
- Flip4Mac Studio ($49)
Includes all the features of Player Pro, and adds the ability to create standard definition (up to 768 x 576) WMV files using preset templates and custom encoding profiles
- Flip4Mac Studio Pro HD ($179)
Includes all the features of Studio, and adds two-pass HD (up to 1920 x 1080), VBR encoding and pro audio features Help! i need to incorporate my small business.
Technical specifications[edit]
Below is the following technical specifications for Flip4Mac Player:[7]
Codec support
| Supported audio codecs | Play and import | Export |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Media Audio 9 Professional | ||
| Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless | ||
| Windows Media Audio 9 Standard | ||
| Windows Media Audio 7/8 | ||
| Microsoft G.726 | ||
| Microsoft IMA ADPCM | ||
| Microsoft ADPCM | ||
| Supported video codecs | Play and import | Export |
| Windows Media Video 9 Advanced (WMVA) — Broadcast Profile | ||
| Windows Video Codec 1 (WVC1) | ||
| Windows Media Video 9 Standard (WMV3) | ||
| Windows Media Video 8 (WMV2) | ||
| Windows Media Video 7 (WMV1) | ||
| ISO MPEG-4 V1.1 (M4S2) | ||
| ISO MPEG-4 V1.0 (MP4S) | ||
| Microsoft MPEG-4 V3 (MP43) | ||
| Microsoft MPEG-4 V2 (MP42) | ||
| Microsoft Motion JPEG (MJPG) | ||
| Supported file formats | Play and import | Export |
| Advanced Systems Format (ASF) | ||
| Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) | ||
| Audio/Video Interleaved (AVI) — WMV media wrapped in AVI file format |
- *NOTE: Exporting WMV9 Advanced and WMA Professional and Lossless is supported only by Flip4Mac Studio Pro HD
Network stream protocols
| Stream type | Name | Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | ||
| HLS |
Frame sizes available for export
| 4:3 | Studio | Studio Pro HD |
|---|---|---|
| 160 x 120 | ||
| 240 x 180 | ||
| 320 x 240 | ||
| 384 x 288 | ||
| 480 x 360 | ||
| 640 x 480 | ||
| 768 x 576 | ||
| 960 x 720 | ||
| 1280 x 1080 | ||
| 4:3 CCIR | Studio | Studio Pro HD |
| 720 x 480 | ||
| 720 x 575 | ||
| 16:9 | Studio | Studio Pro HD |
| 320 x 180 | ||
| 640 x 360 | ||
| 960 x 540 | ||
| 1280 x 720 | ||
| 1920 x 1080 |
System requirements[edit]
In order to run Flip4Mac, you need to meet the following specifications:[3]
- Intel-based Mac
- Mac OS X Snow Leopard or later
- *NOTE: Please note if running on Snow Leopard, you need to update to 10.6.8 via Apple Software Update.
Windows Media Components for QuickTime[edit]
Windows Media Components for QuickTime allow free transparent playback of the most common Windows Media Video and Windows Media Audio formats on macOS inside QuickTime applications and web browsers.
On January 12, 2006, Microsoft discontinued the Macintosh version of Windows Media Player and began distributing Flip4Mac Player for free[8][9][10][11][12] until May 1, 2014 when Telestream began charging for Flip4Mac Player.[4] Microsoft's website refers the product as Windows Media Components for QuickTime while Telestream just refers to Flip4Mac.[13]
Windows Media[edit]
Advanced Stream Redirector[edit]
Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) file format is a type of Extensible Markup Language (XML) metafile designed to store a playlist of Windows Media files for a multimedia presentation. Flip4Mac currently supports the following MIME types:[14]
video/x-ms-wmv | audio/x-ms-wma |
video/x-ms-wm | video/x-ms-asf |
video/x-ms-wvx | video/x-ms-wmx |
audio/x-ms-wax | video/x-ms-asx |
Advanced Systems Format[edit]
Advanced Systems Format (ASF) is Microsoft's proprietary digital audio/digital videocontainer format, especially meant for streaming media.
Windows Media Audio[edit]
Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Catalina
Windows Media Audio (WMA) is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. The name can be used to refer to its audio file format or its audio codecs.
Windows Media Digital Rights Management[edit]
Flip4Mac is unable to play content that has been protected using digital rights management.[15]
Windows Media Video[edit]
Windows Media Video (WMV) is a video data compression technology developed by Microsoft.
Version history[edit]
- Flip4Mac 2.1 was released on July 2006 with support for Intel-based Macs.[16]
- Flip4Mac 3.0 was released on September 2012 with support for 64-bit improvements as well as Gatekeeper. It also includes Flip Player, a new multi-format video player with the ability to play the most common Windows Media formats.[17][18]
- Flip4Mac 3.1 was released on February 2013 with support for the third generation MacBook Pros, MacBooks (relaunched version of the original MacBook line), and iMacs with Retina display. It also includes the ability to export videos to iTunes from Flip Player.[19][20]
- Flip4Mac 3.2 was released on May 2013 with support for dramatically improved load time for ASF (.wmv, .wma, .wm, .wmp, .asf, etc.) file formats.[21][22][23]
- Flip4Mac 3.3 was released on May 2014 with several minor 3.3.X updates with 3.3.7 being the latest update. Several updates include re-supporting Mac OS X Snow Leopard[3] (after the support being removed in 3.0), and natively supporting OS X Yosemite (10.10)[3] and OS X El Capitan (10.11).
- The software is no longer supported higher than OS X El Capitan (10.11).[24] As a replacement Telestream advises users to try their Switch4Player software.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Telestream Flip4Mac brings Windows Media encoding to the Mac' by Telestream (December 6, 2004) – Wayback Machine
- ^'Telestream Flip4Mac offers WMV encoding on Mac' by Brad Cook (December 6, 2004) – Macworld
- ^ abcdFlip4Mac v3.3.7 release notes – Telestream
- ^ abWhy is Telestream charging for Flip4Mac Player? – Telestream
- ^Flip4Mac versus Flip Player – Vimeo
- ^Flip4Mac's overview – Telestream
- ^Flip4Mac's technical specifications – Telestream
- ^'Microsoft quietly ditches WMP for Mac' by Ed Oswald (January 11, 2006) – BetaNews
- ^'Windows Media content goes Mac OS X' by Digital Trends Staff (January 11, 2006) – Digital Trends
- ^'Microsoft confirms: WMP for Mac dead' by Nate Mook (January 12, 2006) – BetaNews
- ^'Music stops for Mac Windows Media Player' by Ina Fried (January 12, 2006) – c|net
- ^'Microsoft bails on Windows Media Player for Mac' by Jim Dalrymple (January 14, 2006) – Macworld
- ^Windows Media Components for QuickTime – Microsoft
- ^Flip4Mac's technical specifications – Advanced Stream Redirector (ASX) support – Telestream
- ^Flip4Mac v3.3 User Guide – Telestream
- ^'Flip4Mac 2.1 adds Intel Mac support' by Jim Dalrymple (July 28, 2006) – Macworld
- ^'Telestream releases Flip4Mac 3.0 including new multi-format video player' (September 2012) – Digital Production Buzz
- ^Flip4Mac v3.0 release notes – Telestream
- ^'Flip4Mac 3.1 released with Retina display support and iTunes export' (February 23, 2013) – iClarified
- ^Flip4Mac v3.1 release notes – Telestream
- ^'Flip4Mac 3.2 brings dramatically improved load times for WMV and ASF video' (May 2, 2013) – iClarified
- ^'Flip4Mac 3.2 brings dramatically improved load times for WMV and ASF video' (May 2, 2013) – iHash
- ^Flip4Mac v3.2 release notes – Telestream
- ^Is Flip4Mac supported on OS X El Capitan? – Telestream
Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Windows 7
Further reading[edit]
Flip4Mac has been mentioned in the following books:
- Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, OS X Yosemite Edition (ISBN978-1-4919-4718-0)
External links[edit]
- Flip4Mac – official site
Microsoft Wmv Player For Mac Windows 10