Windows Media Player Archives

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

Download TubeMate YouTube Downloader for Windows and Android, APK

TubeMate is a tool for curating a library of video files, allowing users to add video URLs via drag-and-drop or by pasting links. It features a user-friendly interface with three tabs: Download, Convert, and Tasks, enabling users to manage downloads and convert files. TubeMate can download entire playlists with a single link and uses multi-threaded connections for efficient downloading, supporting various video qualities up to 8K and formats including MP4, MP3, AVI, WAV, and WMV. Users can extract audio, trim videos, and preview quality during downloads with its built-in media player. The software includes organizational tools for managing content and is regularly updated for compatibility with evolving streaming technologies. TubeMate is available for Windows and Android devices.

Winsage

March 16, 2025

7 forgotten Windows apps that somehow still exist

WinAmp, foobar2000, and RealPlayer were once essential media players but have seen a decline in popularity due to improvements in Windows Media Player and the rise of streaming services. Foobar2000 and RealPlayer still appeal to a niche audience. Napster, originally a peer-to-peer file sharing service, has transformed into a legitimate music streaming service after facing legal challenges. TeamSpeak, once favored in the gaming community for voice chat, has been overshadowed by Discord but remains operational with ongoing updates. Netscape Navigator was a leading web browser that declined with the rise of Internet Explorer and was discontinued in 2008, but has been reintroduced as a Chromium-based browser by AOL. WordPerfect was a dominant word processing software in the late 80s and early 90s but lost market share to Microsoft Word; it continues to exist as an office suite. WinZip, once the preferred file compression tool, has seen its relevance decline due to native ZIP support in Windows and free alternatives like 7-Zip; it is now owned by Corel. WindowBlinds, a customization tool for Windows, has been updated for Windows 11 but lacks the popularity it once had, reflecting a trend towards less customizable operating systems.

Tech Optimizer

March 6, 2025

All about CCI’s Dismissal of Antitrust Plaint against Microsoft

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) concluded its examination of a complaint against Microsoft regarding the bundling of antivirus software with its Windows operating system. The CCI found that users can choose antivirus solutions beyond Microsoft Defender and that there was no substantial evidence of market foreclosure in the antivirus sector. The complaint alleged that Microsoft forces OEMs to include Microsoft Security Essentials, limiting competition for third-party antivirus vendors. Microsoft has bundled Microsoft Defender with Windows since 2015 and argued that it aligns with industry standards. The CCI determined that Microsoft holds a dominant position in the antivirus software market for Windows OS in India but found no coercion compelling users to use both products together. The CCI also noted that multiple antivirus vendors continue to operate in the market without significant barriers. The case highlighted issues of consumer inertia and the implications of default settings in digital markets, suggesting that pre-installed options may restrict consumer choice.

Winsage

March 1, 2025

Microsoft just turned 50 — Here are the 5 most impactful products it’s ever made

Microsoft is celebrating 50 years of innovation in the technology sector this April. MS-DOS, acquired by Microsoft in 1981, was the precursor to modern graphical operating systems. Windows 95, released in 1995, introduced features like the Start menu and taskbar, requiring a minimum of an Intel 386DS CPU, 4 MB of RAM, and over 50 MB of hard drive space. Microsoft Office 95, launched in 1995, bundled Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, becoming a cornerstone of productivity software. DirectX, launched in 1995, became integral to gaming development, with Doom 95 being the first DirectX game. Microsoft Azure, launched in 2008, has grown to over 600 services and commands a 20% share of the cloud market as of the third quarter of 2024.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

7 ancient apps you can still use in Windows 11

Disk Cleanup, introduced in Windows 98, helps users reclaim disk space by removing system restore points, temporary files, and remnants from outdated Windows Updates. Windows Media Player, which debuted with Windows 3.0, remains available in Windows 11 and is used for playing DVDs and organizing music collections. The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985 and provides access to legacy tools, although Microsoft encourages users to use the modern Settings app. Character Map, introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992, allows users to access every glyph in installed fonts and is useful for inserting specialized characters. Notepad, a staple since 1983, has received updates including spell check and rich formatting options in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has evolved to include features like screen recording and OCR-powered text extraction. WinZip, a third-party compression tool that debuted in 1991, remains popular for managing ZIP files and continues to function on Windows 11.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

100+ run commands that can help you work efficiently on Windows

Windows 11 and 10 provide run commands that streamline workflow by allowing quick access to various system tools, applications, settings, and diagnostic features. Administrative Tools: - compmgmt.msc: Opens Computer Management. - devmgmt.msc: Launches Device Manager. - diskmgmt.msc: Opens Disk Management. - services.msc: Manages background services. - eventvwr.msc: Opens Event Viewer. - secpol.msc: Opens Local Security Policy. - regedit: Opens Registry Editor. - taskschd.msc: Opens Task Scheduler. - gpedit.msc: Opens Group Policy Editor (Pro & Enterprise). System Diagnostics and Troubleshooting: - msinfo32: Opens System Information. - dxdiag: Launches DirectX Diagnostic Tool. - verifier: Opens Driver Verifier Manager. - resmon: Opens Resource Monitor. - perfmon: Opens Performance Monitor. - mdsched: Runs Windows Memory Diagnostic. - msdt: Opens Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool. - dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth: Repairs Windows image. - sfc /scannow: Scans and repairs system files. - chkdsk: Runs Check Disk. - winver: Checks Windows version. - cleanmgr: Opens Disk Cleanup. File and Storage Management: - cleanmgr: Launches Disk Cleanup. - dfrgui: Opens Disk Defragmenter. - chkdsk: Checks and repairs disk errors. - diskpart: Opens Disk Partition utility. - onedrive: Opens OneDrive folder. - shell:AppsFolder: Opens all apps folder. - wab: Opens Windows contacts folder. - explorer: Opens File Explorer. - recent: Opens recent files and folders. - documents: Opens Documents folder. - downloads: Opens Downloads folder. - favorites: Opens Favorites folder. - pictures: Opens Pictures folder. - videos: Opens Videos folder. - %AppData%: Opens App Data folder. - debug: Accesses Debug folder. - backup: Opens backup folder. - %systemdrive%: Opens system drive. Security and Maintenance: - firewall.cpl: Opens Windows Defender Firewall. - wf.msc: Launches Firewall with advanced security. - ms-settings:windowsdefender: Opens Windows Security. - sigverif: Verifies file signatures. - verifier: Checks driver integrity. - msconfig: Opens System Configuration. - sfc /scannow: Runs system file checker. - dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth: Repairs Windows image. Launching Apps: - notepad: Opens Notepad. - calc: Launches Calculator. - snippingtool: Opens Snipping Tool. - mspaint: Opens Microsoft Paint. - winword: Starts Microsoft Word. - excel: Opens Microsoft Excel. - chrome: Launches Google Chrome. - msedge: Opens Microsoft Edge. - control: Opens Control Panel. - explorer: Opens File Explorer. - powerpnt: Opens Microsoft PowerPoint. - firefox: Opens Mozilla Firefox. - wmplayer: Opens Windows Media Player. - msra: Opens Windows Remote Assistance. - outlook: Opens Microsoft Outlook. Navigating Settings: - ms-settings: Opens main Settings app. - ms-settings:network: Opens network & internet settings. - ms-settings:display: Opens display settings. - ms-settings:personalization: Opens personalization settings. - ms-settings:windowsupdate: Opens Windows Update settings. - ms-settings:privacy: Opens Privacy settings. - ms-settings:bluetooth: Opens Bluetooth settings. - ms-settings:devices: Opens Devices settings. - ms-settings:system: Opens System settings. - ms-settings:accounts: Opens Accounts settings. - ms-settings:timeandlanguage: Opens Time & Language settings. - ms-settings:gaming: Opens Gaming settings. - ms-settings:region: Opens Region settings. - ms-settings:optionalfeatures: Opens Optional Features settings. - ms-settings:storage: Opens Storage settings. - ms-settings:notifications: Opens Notifications settings. - ms-settings:taskbar: Opens Taskbar settings. - ms-settings:start: Opens Start Menu settings. - ms-settings:lockscreen: Opens Lock Screen settings. Network and Connectivity: - ncpa.cpl: Opens Network Connections. - ipconfig: Displays IP configuration. - ping: Tests network connectivity. - control netconnections: Opens Network and Sharing Center. - ms-settings:network-wifi: Opens Wi-Fi settings. - ms-settings:datausage: View data usage. - ms-settings:network-vpn: Manage VPN. - ms-settings:network-proxy: Configures proxy settings. Display and Appearance: - desk.cpl: Opens Display Settings. - control color: Customizes window colors. - dpiscaling: Opens display scaling settings. - ms-settings:personalization: Opens Personalization settings. - ms-settings:themes: Changes desktop themes. - ms-settings:display-advanced: Adjusts advanced display settings. Accessibility: - magnify: Opens Magnifier. - narrator: Launches Narrator. - osk: Opens on-screen keyboard. - utilman: Opens Ease of Access Center. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-display: Opens display accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-cursor: Opens cursor accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-mouse: Opens mouse accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-keyboard: Opens keyboard accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator: Opens narrator accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-magnifier: Opens magnifier accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-colorfilter: Opens color filter accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-highcontrast: Opens high contrast accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-closedcaptioning: Opens closed captioning accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-audio: Opens audio accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-eyecontrol: Opens eye control accessibility settings. - ms-settings:easeofaccess-mousepointer: Opens mouse pointer accessibility settings. Power Management: - powercfg.cpl: Opens Power Options. - ms-settings:powersleep: Adjusts power and sleep settings. - powercfg /batteryreport: Generates a battery report. - powercfg /energy: Creates an energy efficiency report. - powercfg /hibernate: Enables or disables hibernation. - powercfg /deviceenablewake: Enables a device to wake the computer. - powercfg /devicedisablewake: Disables a device from waking the computer.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away

- Process Lasso is a powerful alternative to Task Manager, offering features like dynamic CPU adjustments and SmartTrim memory management. - Notepad++ is a text editor that supports multiple programming languages, syntax highlighting, and includes macros and plugins. - 7-Zip is a file compression tool that handles various formats and allows users to split, merge, and encrypt files. - Everything is a search tool that quickly finds files and folders, scanning both names and document contents. - Audacity is a multitrack digital audio workstation for recording audio, supporting various formats and real-time effects. - Flow Launcher allows users to launch files, folders, applications, and websites without using the Start menu. - VLC Media Player plays a wide range of audio and video file formats and offers features like file conversion and live stream recording.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

Upgrade Your Windows 11 Experience with These 10 Free Alternatives to thew Standard Apps

- ImageGlass is a fast and versatile replacement for the default Photos app, supporting various image formats and basic editing tools. - Files App is a modern alternative to File Explorer with features like split tabs, compact views, and smooth navigation. - LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that provides alternatives to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. - GIMP is a powerful, open-source image editing tool with advanced features like layer management and color correction. - ShareX, Lightshot, PicPick, and SnipPaste are enhanced screenshot tools offering features like screen recording, annotations, and workflow automation. - ScreenBox is a VLC-based media player with robust format support and a sleek design. - Nora is a modern audio player with dynamic controls, playlist management, and an equalizer. - PDF Gear offers advanced PDF features like annotation, editing, and built-in OCR. - Zen Browser is a privacy-focused web browser built on Firefox, emphasizing security and customization. - Fluid Cast is a dedicated podcast app with offline downloads and progress tracking. - Qalculate! is a versatile calculator supporting basic and complex calculations, while SpeedCrunch is a keyboard-focused calculator for quick calculations.

Winsage

February 12, 2025

8 Old Windows Apps That Are Still Around in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes several classic applications that remain relevant and functional for users: - Notepad: A simple text editor for quick note-taking and code editing. - Paint: A basic graphics editor for quick sketches and image editing. - Calculator: An evolved multifunctional application that includes scientific and graphing capabilities. - Windows Media Player: A reliable option for playing local media files. - WordPad: A formatted text editing experience between Notepad and full-fledged word processors. - Snipping Tool: A utility for capturing screenshots easily. - Task Manager: A tool for monitoring system performance and troubleshooting issues. - Control Panel: A powerful tool for advanced system management options.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Microsoft explains why it’s deprecating legacy features on Windows 11 like WordPad

Microsoft is evolving Windows 11 by introducing new features and deprecating certain legacy applications and tools, particularly in the Windows 11 24H2 release. The company aims to modernize the operating system and reallocate resources towards new developments. Deprecation serves as a preliminary warning to users rather than an immediate removal of features. Recently, WordPad was announced for deprecation and will be removed with the Windows 11 24H2 release on October 1, 2024, while other applications like Paint 3D have been deprecated but remain available. Deprecated products will still receive support until their official retirement, although they will not undergo active development. Other recently deprecated features include Suggested Actions and legacy DRM services associated with Windows Media Player, with uncertain timelines for their removal.