Quicktime Player so limited to videos it can play

simonvee · May 19, 2015

Hi,

QuickTime player is the default video player for OSX in the same way Windows Media Player (WMP) is for windows. Why can't QuickTIme play FLV, WMV and Avi? I do not know about playing FLV in WMP, but WMP can definitely play WMV and Avi.

Why is the default media player for Mac (i.e. QuickTime) so limited? I have VLC installed which in my opinion is the best player out there but I was just wondering why does Mac leave us with Quicktime that cannot play many video formats? It's not very media friendly for an operating system dedicated to media production.

cradom · May 19, 2015

The reason WMP can play WMV and AVI is because they're basically Windows formats.
Quicktime plays .mov among others which are Macintosh formats. And of course .flv is Flash, which Quicktime can play (sort of).
If you want to play WMV and/or AVI in Quicktime you need Perian (which is no longer supported Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime® components) and Flip4Mac (Play Windows Media on your Mac &#x7c Telestream Flip4Mac &#x7c Overview).
Personally I think you're better off with VLC.

simonvee · May 19, 2015

Insightful information.

Although, it is possible for Apple to customize QuickTime to play all formats of videos right? If not, they can create another media player compatible with all video formats inherent within OSX. That would make more business sense wouldn't it?

cradom · May 19, 2015

Not really because other people/companies own copyrights to the other formats.
Apple may not want to pay royalties/licenses to incorporate these formats into Quicktime.

simonvee · May 19, 2015

Oh good one. I didn't think of that

MightyGem · May 19, 2015

Apple may not want to pay royalties/licenses to incorporate these formats into Quicktime.

So, do the developers of Perian and MPEGStreamclip, etc, pay royalties?

Rogerwp · May 19, 2015

simonvee said:
Hi,

QuickTime player is the default video player for OSX in the same way Windows Media Player (WMP) is for windows. Why can't QuickTIme play FLV, WMV and Avi? I do not know about playing FLV in WMP, but WMP can definitely play WMV and Avi.

Why is the default media player for Mac (i.e. QuickTime) so limited? I have VLC installed which in my opinion is the best player out there but I was just wondering why does Mac leave us with Quicktime that cannot play many video formats? It's not very media friendly for an operating system dedicated to media production.

Here you go. VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!
this is the best out there.
Go to you tube and search for pc classes on line by David A Cox he does both but is really good at MAC i learned a lot from him. That is where i got the link and he explains why its better he does not just put it up there. Also for Macs consider downloading Adwaremedic not only does he recommend it but so does Apple i spoke to them this morning. I hope this helps.

cradom · May 19, 2015

MightyGem said:
So, do the developers of Perian and MPEGStreamclip, etc, pay royalties?

Not necessarily royalties so much as license to use it.

MightyGem · May 21, 2015

Thanks.