| It is possible to play Windows Media Video files (also | | | | X. |
| known as wmv files) on a Mac. OS X does not come | | | | To re-associate a Windows Media file with QuickTime |
| with any software that can play wmv files, but there | | | | Player: |
| is software you can download to get the job done. | | | | 1. Hold down the control key and click the file icon to |
| Three of the most common choices for playing wmv | | | | display the shortcut menu. |
| videos on a Mac are: Windows Media Player for Mac, | | | | 2. Choose Open with > WMV Player. |
| Flip4Mac, and VLC. | | | | The WMV Player application changes the file |
| Windows Media Player for Mac | | | | association and then opens the file with QuickTime |
| Windows Media Player is available for Apple Macintosh | | | | Player. For?convenience you can add the WMV Player |
| computers. Microsoft no longer maintains or supports | | | | application to your dock. Then, to re-associate a |
| their WMP for Mac software, but they still provide it | | | | Windows Media?file simply drag and drop it onto the |
| for you to download. You can download the | | | | WMV Player icon. |
| software at Microsoft’s website. | | | | |
| When you go to the Windows Media Player 9 for | | | | One caveat of Flip4Mac is that it cannot play WMV |
| Mac download page, you’ll be given a choice | | | | video that uses Windows Media digital rights |
| between a .bin file and a .hqx file. If you have an | | | | management, so some videos may not be viewable |
| older Mac, you should download the .hqx file. If you | | | | even though you’ve installed Flip4Mac |
| don’t, then it doesn’t really matter. Just | | | | VLC media player |
| make sure you get the English version. | | | | VLC is a media player like QuickTime and Windows |
| | | | | Media Player. Many view VLC is a good alternative to |
| System Requirements | | | | the these traditional media players because VLC is |
| - 1. Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later | | | | available for many different operating systems and is |
| - 2. Mac OS X 10.2 or later recommended | | | | an open source software project that is supported |
| - 3. 450MHz PowerPC G3 processor or higher | | | | by many dedicated programmers across the world. |
| recommended | | | | Until recently, only experimental versions of VLC for |
| - 4. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 for Mac, America | | | | Mac OS X could play WMV videos, but no longer. |
| Online for Mac OS X, Netscape 7.1, MSN for Mac OS | | | | VLC for Mac OS X now supports WMV video. You |
| X version 2.0, or Apple Safari 1.0 | | | | can download VLC from the VLC media player for |
| Flip4Mac | | | | Mac OS X download page. |
| Since Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows | | | | There are three types of downloads on this page: |
| Media Player for Mac, they have made the Flip4Mac | | | | "Universal Binary", "Intel Package", and "PowerPC |
| program available in its wake. Flip4Mac is a program | | | | Package". The Universal Binary should work on any |
| offered by Microsoft and Telestream that gives | | | | Mac, the Intel Package is meant for newer |
| Quicktime the power to play WMV videos. You can | | | | Intel-powered Macs, and the PowerPC Package is |
| download Flip4Mac from Microsoft’s website. | | | | meant for older Macs that use the PowerPC |
| With Flip4Mac WMV installed, Windows Media files are | | | | processor. If you are unsure of whether you’ve |
| associated with QuickTime. Opening a | | | | got an Intel Mac or a PowerPC Mac, use the |
| Windows?Media file from the Finder should | | | | Universal Binary Package. |
| automatically launch the QuickTime Player application. | | | | Once downloaded, double click on the dmg file, wait |
| You can determine if?the file association is correct by | | | | for a Finder window to open, and then drag the VLC |
| examining the file icon: A Windows Media file that is | | | | icon to your "Applications" folder. |
| properly associated will display a QuickTime document | | | | |
| similar to?the one shown here. | | | | In addition, VLC media Player supports audio and |
| A Windows Media file that displays this type of icon | | | | video formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, |
| is not associated with QuickTime. Opening?this file will | | | | ogg, ...) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming |
| launch Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS | | | | protocols. |