Major Upgrades and New Features

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 37 views

Introduction

VLC media player has been a staple in the world of video and audio playback for years, offering a wide range of features and support for various formats. With its latest version, VLC 2.0, the team behind the player has made significant improvements, making it an even more powerful and user-friendly tool. In this article, we will delve into the new features and improvements of VLC 2.0, and explore what makes it one of the best media players available for free.

Major Upgrades and New Features

The major new feature that the latest version of VLC Media Player has to boast is the re-written output core and modules. This internal program machinery has been slightly honed down, now supporting subpicture blending in GPU. Put in layman's terms, it means that the subtitles or extra camera angles coming alongside a video can now be blended right into the picture within the player, presumably spicing it up with the hardware acceleration.

This feature is particularly useful for users who want to create videos with subtitles or additional camera angles. For example, if you're trying to post a video of a hilarious moment in your favorite French TV series to YouTube or whatever, and there are only English subtitles available with no voice-over in sight, you can use the player's own recording capabilities to cut the needed fragment right out of the video on your computer. In that case, the only way to get the subtitles displayed in the posted video is to 'blend the subpicture'. This is a nice feature that can enhance the overall viewing experience.

Support for Lossless Audio in .mkv Format

The .mkv format fans have also something to rejoice at: the new VLC media player version now correctly supports the lossless format audio for the .mkv videos. What it boils down to, is that now you can pack an HD video into a Matroska file and enjoy the high-quality sound along with the nice picture. This is a significant improvement, as it allows users to enjoy high-quality audio and video in a single file.

Experimental Blu-Ray Disk Support and Video Outputs

Among other Windows version features that a non-professional user can comprehend without delving deep into Wikipedia or Google are the experimental Blu-Ray disk support ('experimental' presumably meaning that it tends to fail here and there) and a bunch of new video outputs and quality-improving video filters for Windows 7. These features are a welcome addition to the player, and demonstrate the team's commitment to improving the overall user experience.

Usability and Portability

However, it is not gold that glitters. Even though the new VLC features contribute to the overall player's usability, they are actually nothing to write home about. In fact, there is a whole lot of other media players that have been featuring something like this for ages. The only excuse for VideoLAN presenting these changes as the highlights of the new versions is that the VLC media Player is actually an open-source project, focusing largely on portability.

And for a program of its kind, it plays its part perfectly: it can be by far not so sophisticated as its commercial counterparts, but it is still one of the best media players you can get for free. This is a significant advantage, as it allows users to enjoy high-quality video and audio playback without having to pay a premium.

Conclusion

In conclusion, VLC 2.0 is a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a range of new features and improvements that enhance the overall user experience. While it may not be the most sophisticated media player available, it is still one of the best options for those looking for a free and open-source solution. With its support for lossless audio in .mkv format, experimental Blu-Ray disk support, and new video outputs and quality-improving video filters, VLC 2.0 is a must-have for any media enthusiast.

System Requirements

To run VLC 2.0, you will need a computer with the following specifications:

Operating System: Windows 7 or later
Processor: 1.5 GHz or faster
Memory: 1 GB or more
Graphics: DirectX 9 or later
Sound: DirectX 9 or later

Download and Installation

To download and install VLC 2.0, follow these steps:

Go to the VLC website and click on the download link.
Select the version of VLC that matches your operating system.
Click on the download button to start the download process.
Once the download is complete, run the installation file and follow the prompts to install VLC.
Once the installation is complete, launch VLC and start enjoying your favorite videos and music.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while using VLC 2.0, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Check the VLC website for any known issues or updates.
Ensure that your computer meets the system requirements.
Try reinstalling VLC.
Check for any conflicts with other software or hardware.

Conclusion

Q: What is VLC Media Player?

A: VLC Media Player is a free and open-source media player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats, including MP3, MP4, AVI, and more.

Q: What are the system requirements for VLC Media Player?

A: To run VLC Media Player, you will need a computer with the following specifications:

Operating System: Windows 7 or later
Processor: 1.5 GHz or faster
Memory: 1 GB or more
Graphics: DirectX 9 or later
Sound: DirectX 9 or later

Q: How do I download and install VLC Media Player?

A: To download and install VLC Media Player, follow these steps:

Go to the VLC website and click on the download link.
Select the version of VLC that matches your operating system.
Click on the download button to start the download process.
Once the download is complete, run the installation file and follow the prompts to install VLC.
Once the installation is complete, launch VLC and start enjoying your favorite videos and music.

Q: What are the benefits of using VLC Media Player?

A: VLC Media Player offers a range of benefits, including:

Support for a wide range of audio and video formats
Ability to play back high-definition video
Support for subtitles and closed captions
Ability to record and save video and audio
Support for streaming media

Q: Can I customize the appearance of VLC Media Player?

A: Yes, you can customize the appearance of VLC Media Player by using skins and themes. VLC Media Player comes with a range of pre-installed skins and themes, and you can also download additional skins and themes from the VLC website.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with VLC Media Player?

A: If you encounter any issues with VLC Media Player, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Check the VLC website for any known issues or updates.
Ensure that your computer meets the system requirements.
Try reinstalling VLC.
Check for any conflicts with other software or hardware.

Q: Is VLC Media Player safe to use?

A: Yes, VLC Media Player is safe to use. It is a free and open-source media player that is widely used and trusted by millions of users around the world.

Q: Can I use VLC Media Player on a Mac or Linux computer?

A: Yes, you can use VLC Media Player on a Mac or Linux computer. VLC Media Player is available for download on the VLC website, and it can be installed on Mac and Linux computers.

Q: How do I update VLC Media Player?

A: To update VLC Media Player, follow these steps:

Launch VLC Media Player.
Click on the "Help" menu.
Select "Check for updates".
Follow the prompts to download and install the latest version of VLC Media Player.

Q: Can I use VLC Media Player to stream media?

A: Yes, you can use VLC Media Player to stream media. VLC Media Player supports a range of streaming protocols, including HTTP, RTSP, and more.

Q: How do I record video and audio with VLC Media Player?

A: To record video and audio with VLC Media Player, follow these steps:

Launch VLC Media Player.
Select the video or audio file you want to record.
Click on the "Media" menu.
Select "Record".
Follow the prompts to set up the recording settings.
Click on the "Start" button to begin recording.

Q: Can I use VLC Media Player to play back 3D video?

A: Yes, you can use VLC Media Player to play back 3D video. VLC Media Player supports a range of 3D video formats, including SBS (Side-by-Side) and TB (Top-and-Bottom).

Q: How do I customize the keyboard shortcuts in VLC Media Player?

A: To customize the keyboard shortcuts in VLC Media Player, follow these steps:

Launch VLC Media Player.
Click on the "Tools" menu.
Select "Preferences".
Click on the "Hotkeys" tab.
Select the keyboard shortcut you want to customize.
Click on the "Edit" button to change the shortcut.

Q: Can I use VLC Media Player to play back audio files?

A: Yes, you can use VLC Media Player to play back audio files. VLC Media Player supports a wide range of audio formats, including MP3, WAV, and more.

Q: How do I convert audio files with VLC Media Player?

A: To convert audio files with VLC Media Player, follow these steps:

Launch VLC Media Player.
Select the audio file you want to convert.
Click on the "Media" menu.
Select "Convert/Save".
Follow the prompts to set up the conversion settings.
Click on the "Start" button to begin the conversion process.