Microsoft wants Windows users to use Movies & TV app instead of Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player (WMP) has almost become an integral part of many Windows users since the 2000s. It is still used by many people to play music and movies. However, Microsoft wants its users to move on from the legendary Windows Media Player and instead use its more modern Movies & TV app.
According to a screenshot shared by Reddit user Noam_ha, Microsoft is popping up a message when opening Windows Media Player that asks the users if they want to open the file in the Movies and TV app.
The pop-up message advertises the main features of the app, which is better compatibility with modern video formats such as MKV, .MPEG, Ultra HD (4K) and more, better battery life, a mini-view, and support for 360-degree video on PC or a Windows Mixed Reality device.
Although for Microsoft, the Movies & TV app maybe the preferred platform for video playback, the application has a horrible user interface and modest functionality. Further, options such as Play Speed settings or queuing videos or streaming a video from an online source, are available in the Windows Media Player but is missing in the Movies & TV app.
The default Windows Media Player has since long ceased to receive significant improvements from the time Microsoft launched its Windows 7 based alternative, Movies & TV app.
It’s not clear as to why Microsoft is advertising the Movies & TV application when Windows Media Player is enabled in Windows 10. But one can assume that Microsoft is looking to pull down its curtains on the venerable Windows Media Player in the near future.
What do you think about the Movies & TV app? Do let us know in the comments mentioned below.
Microsoft, in my long experience, has been trying to replace WMP. I think the first hoorah was Zune Player software, (and possibly Windows Media Edition). That software was very annoying, as it was missing some fundamental functionality that was always in WMP, but had a very good look and feels. When they finally got the functionality of the platform stabilized, and it was 85% up to WMP in terms of function, it was dropped. Then there was Xbox music, as an attempt to merge the 2 hardware platforms, XBOX and the computer together, which was another failed attempt. Finally, Groove which like the others fell waist side. We do have Microsoft Movies and TV, which I think was simply re-coding from Windows Media Edition platform, but even that is limited. I think that Microsoft has failed in trying to consistently bring a software product that would be useful to mobile devices and in turn, has failed with its own come to market with its own Zune products. Although WMP doesn’t have a mobile component to it, it has been working consistently with windows based tablets and laptops. With that said, for those of us with a vast number of media files, WMP has been and still is the most consistently manageable product in terms of media consumption management software. I think they should work on the shell, oh and remember “Windows Media Edition”, this was awesome as well as it allowed computer makers to develop console based machines that played and provided a user interface to manage and view owned media content. I am simply not certain why they don’t simply upgrade WMP, but now that I say that loud and given the track record. I would say it’s a good idea that they leave WMP alone and continue to work in the lab on developing the next best media consumption management software.