Windows Media in QuickTime. Flip4Mac Works. Again.

updated  - You want to play Windows Media (WMV) files on your Mac? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Microsoft hasn’t updated their Media Player for the Mac in years. Now they won’t have to. Get your free WMV player for QuickTime.

If you read Mac360 regularly, you know I love freebies. It’s not Friday but this is worth an announcement. Windows Media Player for Mac is dead.

I’m not yet sure if that’s good or bad, but the interim solution is priced right.

Last year Flip4Mac was introduced. It allowed Windows Media files to be played inside QuickTime.

While Microsoft’s own Windows Media Player for Mac was free, it also hadn’t been updated since Anna Nicole was the size of Shamu, and many users were reporting problems.

Flip4Mac provided a solution. Of course, it cost money. Microsoft decided to stop their already non-existent effort on a media player for the Mac in favor of a deal with Flip4Mac.

“Nevada City, Calif., January 10, 2006 – Telestream, the media encoding specialists, today announced an agreement by which Microsoft will now distribute Windows Media® Components for QuickTime.”

“Powered by Telestream’s Flip4MacTM technology, the Windows Media components enable Mac OS X users to play Windows Media video and audio directly within the familiar QuickTime Player.”

“The components are now available as a free-of-charge download from Microsoft’s website at (click here).

What that means is that you can view Windows Media files in QuickTime and Safari (as part of the QuickTime plugin). Once or twice before a crash.

Flip4Mac says it best (make sure you update to the latest free version; 2.0.1—fewer crashes):

“The Windows Media® Components for QuickTime add Windows Media playback support to the QuickTime Player and Safari web browser. Once installed, it allows Mac users to view Windows Media video and audio content from within their existing QuickTime applications. It also provides the first solution for full playback of high definition Windows Media on a Mac.”

That’s pretty much what I said, right? An earlier version had difficulty with Apple’s new QuickTime, now at 7.0.4. Flip4Mac responded quickly (much faster than Microsoft), and the newer version works better..

Why is this important? Because much of the computer media world (audio and video) is still Windows. QuickTime may be superior (insert your arguments below) in quality, but not ubiquity. Yet.

I just wish Flip4Mac worked at well as QuickTime. Did I mention that it’s free? Oh, this also looks like Microsoft has given up on another Mac product. What’s next? Internet Explorer? No, wait. That happened already. What’s next? Microsoft Office?

I downloaded the Flip4Mac version 2 installer. Here’s what it says:

“Welcome to the Flip4Mac WMV installer. You will be guided through the steps necessary to install these QuickTime™ components.”

“Flip4Mac WMV allows you to play, import and export Windows Media® files from most QuickTime applications including QuickTime Player, iMovie and Final Cut Pro.”

“Flip4Mac WMV also includes an Internet plug-in that plays Windows Media streams within Safari and other web browsers (click “Customize” during installation to enable or disable the web browser support).”

“Windows Media playback is always enabled, other features are available in trial mode until you purchase an upgrade. Select Flip4Mac WMV in the System Preferences to purchase or activate a serial number.”

Uh oh. Serial number? After telling me I needed one, it didn’t ask for one, and I didn’t give it one. The installer eventually asks you to restart all applications that use Flip4Mac (like Safari).

Once installed, Flip4Mac leaves a folder in your Applications directory called “Flip4Mac.” Inside is an application called “WMV Player.” Double click it and you get QuickTime player.

I double-clicked a Windows Media file I’d saved in my Movies folder, and it played fine. When the file finished, it crashed. Just like on Windows. Your mileage may vary. Mine didn’t until the Flip4Mac folks updated to version 2.0.1. Now we’re working OK.

Tera Patricks
Glad to see the Flip4Mac folks update a problem so quickly. I’ve tried it and it’s working fine now. Even on Firefox.

Jack D. Miller
I am finding more and more videos on the net require Windows Media Player. Maybe this will be a decent solution for Mac users.

Bambi Hambi
Looks like a good deal. I got it to work fine on some WMV movies, not on others.