VideoLAN Client (VLC)

The VideoLAN Client Homepage: http://videolan.org/vlc/

Download (Windows): here

Download (Mac OS X): here

What is VLC?

VideoLAN Client is an open-source, spyware-free application for playing movie files. It is an alternative to QuickTime and Windows Media Player that should be able to replace those two. VLC also offers support for subtitles and a few of the more esoteric video file formats.

Unfortunately, VLC does not offer support for the Real media types (RealAudio and RealVideo).

Why should I use VLC?

Bullets!

• It's free
• It's completely spyware/adware/malware free. No adds, no annoying popups asking you to "register"--nada.
• VLC can play just about any kind of video file out there. Ever tried to open a movie file only to find that you just get sound but no video? Chances are that VLC can play it just fine. The problem is that you're missing a codec, and VLC comes prepackaged will all the commonly used ones.
• VLC has a much smaller "footprint" than other media players, meaning that it hogs fewer system resources.
• VLC supports useful things like subtitle tracks (either embedded in the movie file or from an external file) and multiple audio tracks (e.g. English/French/Spanish).

VLC does have one drawback, however: it's still being developed and is not yet a "finished" product. It works fine, but has a few idiosyncrasies that take a little getting used to.

How do I use VLC?

Once installing it (see above), you should be able to open it and then use it to play any video file. If you like it a lot (which you just might because it's nifty!), then you should keep reading to discover how to make it the default program for opening video files.

How do I make video files open automatically in VLC?

Windows and OS X have what are called filetype associations which tell them what program should open what kind of file. For example, Windows knows that it should open all .doc files with Microsoft Word. In order to make certain video files (such as .avi's, .mpeg's, etc.) open in VLC instead of Windows Media Player you need to change those filetype associations.

PC | Mac

PC

1). If you haven't installed VLC yet

When you're installing VLC there will be a section where you have the option of setting File type associations. Select those that you want to open with VLC (.avi, .mpeg, etc.).

2). If you've already installed VLC

Open up Explorer by going to

• Start > My Computer

Then go to

• Tools > Folder Options > File Types tab

Scroll through the long list to find the file type you want to change (in our case it would be AVI ). Click the Change... button and select VLC (or whatever program you desire) from the list. Make sure the Always use the selected program to open files of this kind checkbox is checked.

Alternately, you can simply find a file of the type you want to change the association of and right-click it. Select Open With... from the menu that appears and select VLC from the list. Again, make sure the Always use the selected program to open files of this kind checkbox is checked.

Mac

In the new window that appears, click the arrow next to Open with.

The drop-down menu will show what program is currently set to open the file. Click on the program and the tab should expand, showing several more programs and select VLC. If VLC is not there, then select Other... and find VLC in the Applications folder.

After selecting VLC, the program icon will change and VLC will now be the default program. If you want to make all files of the same type open with VLC, then click the Change All... button beneath the application tab.

Skinning VLC - Making it look just how you want!

VLC, like Winamp, is skinnable. This means that you can replace the default look-and-feel of the program using a "skin" file. A number of skins can be found here. Once you've downloaded the skin, open VLC, press CTRL-S, and then select the skin you downloaded.

Links

• VLC homepage