All articles tagged with #media player
The article highlights five essential apps for enhancing the Apple TV experience, including Infuse for media playback, Spotify for music and podcasts, Letterboxd for movie tracking, Asphalt 8 for gaming, and Moonlight for game streaming, emphasizing their features and benefits for users.
The article highlights five essential free Windows applications—Brave browser, VLC Media Player, ShareX, WPS Office, and Todoist—that enhance user experience by improving privacy, media management, screenshot editing, office productivity, and task organization, respectively, emphasizing their reliability and value for efficient workflow.
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 24H2 will no longer include the AC-3 codec, also known as Dolby Digital, in its native apps. This change means that users will not be able to play AC-3 encoded audio files using Windows' built-in media players, although third-party apps like VLC and MPV will still support the codec. Some devices may still come with the AC-3 codec if preinstalled by the manufacturer. This move aligns with the industry's shift away from the AC-3 codec, which debuted in the 90s.
Spotify has introduced a new miniplayer for its desktop app, allowing Premium subscribers to switch between video and audio-only formats and resize the player to better fit their desktop layout.
Google has updated the Cast control notifications for Android devices, integrating them into the Android media player instead of appearing as a regular notification. The Cast controls now appear in Quick Settings, with a generic icon and the device playing audio/video noted in the corner and center of the screen. The updated design includes a play/pause button, timeline scrubber, mute/unmute option, and an option to end the Cast session. The update is available with version 23.44.14 of Google Play services.
Android 14 introduces a convenient one-tap shortcut for muting audio in the output switcher, allowing users to easily mute and unmute their devices with a simple tap on the speaker icon. This feature is absent in Android 13, where muting requires sliding the volume bar all the way down. The media player in Android 14 also includes new visual elements such as a wave animation when playing/pausing, suggesting potential redesigns in the future.
Amazon is currently offering the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for just $30, nearly half off its original price. The device supports various streaming services, multiple HDR formats, and Dolby Atmos audio. It also provides robust Alexa smart home support, including live picture-in-picture for video doorbells. While there are other streaming devices to consider, such as Roku Streaming Stick 4K or Google Chromecast, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers strong functionality at a budget-friendly price.