[Windows]

MPlayer WW is an open source player that supports dozens of multimedia formats. It not only handles almost any video format, it also has a nice selection of skins to make it fit your tastes. Below is what the default skin looks like.

To get started using MPlayer WW, you will have to download a zip file from the home page, then extract the files onto your computer. You can start MPlayer by double clicking the mplayer.exe file.

Since this is portable, you could create a shortcut to the program and place it on your desktop. That would make it easy to access when needed.

However, a better alternative is to create file type associations to your favorite media file types. This will allow you to double click a media file and open it automatically with MPlayer. To associate file types in MPlayer, right click on the program’s title bar and select the preferences as shown next.

Click the Associatetab and you’ll be able to set associations by adding check marks next to the ones you want.

Once you have a movie running in MPlayer, you can control playback using the visible controls at the bottom. There are also plenty of keyboard shortcuts which you’ll find under the Input tab in the Preferences.

MPlayer has a few other features that only true video geeks will appreciate. The most important fact about MPlayer is that it does it’s job very well with no problems.

Download MPlayer WW

Note: Check out these other free media players.

Techie Buzz Verdict:

MPlayer WW allows you to easily play many different types of video files. A few of its best features are that it’s open source, light weight and portable. Although it’s not as fully featured as some of the bigger, more popular media players, it deserves a thumbs up.

Techie Buzz Rating: 4/5 (Excellent)