VLC 0.9.2 will play any video, ever

VLC Media Player has just released version 0.9.2. We don’t often cover incremental software updates, but I wanted to spotlight VLC for those of you who aren’t aware of this fantastic, lightweight, media player. If you’ve got it already, then feel free to move on to the next article. If not, then here’s why you need VLC in your life.

Compatibility
First of all, VLC will play just about anything you can throw at it. FLV. Ogg. Codecced-up AVI files. Just about anything – including stuff that ol’ Windows Media Player won’t recognise because it’s damaged in some way.

Portability
The install file is only 13.8MB. The perfect size to chuck onto a memory stick and keep in your bag for when your parents’ aging PC won’t play your badass skateboarding video. That includes all codecs and everything you’ll need. Ever. It also opens in about a microsecond – no waiting hours for Windows Media Player to start up.

Features
Beyond playing every video ever, VLC will also transcode videos and songs for you from one format to another. No watermark, no limitations, nothing. The quality isn’t as *perfect* as paid-for software, but it’ll do most non-professional tasks with ease.

Open-source
It’s free, and open-source, meaning that anyone can take the source code and modify it to do whatever they want it to. Even if you’ve got no coding knowledge yourself, don’t disregard this fact. Open-source software is, and always will be, free and unlimited to use.

Conclusions
Try it out, right now, with a file you’ve had difficulty opening in the past. It’ll eat through it with no problems. If you don’t have one handy, then download it anyway and keep it around for the next time that happens. Their site’s getting a little battered at the moment thanks to Digg, so if you’re having trouble then try again in a bit.

VLC Media Player (via Digg)

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