Apple’s Flagship Media Player
QuickTime is an extensible media player developed by Apple Inc. This multimedia application lets you play videos stored in your hard drives as well as stream content by simply supplying the URL of the video source. The app can play just about any media file and format as long as you install several codecs.
The Good
When you think of a media player, you will probably think of VLC. And who could blame you? The app is arguably the most widely used video player today. However, QuickTime can give this popular app a run for its money.
The first thing you will love about the QuickTime app is the fact that it does not only play videos saved in your hard drives. It allows you to play an online video without the need to download them. You only need to provide the video URL, and the app will play it for you, as long as the video in the URL destination is in a supported format. The app even allows users to stream live feeds in the same manner. With this, you no longer need to use large internet data to download your videos.
Another thing that users will appreciate about QuickTime is its plug-in support. There 11 plug-ins available for the software that can extend its capabilities. From basic codec packs and audio visualizers to apps that let you view and interact with 3D objects rather than play a movie, QuickTime has a variety of extensions that could provide you a better experience.
Additionally, QuickTime player allows users to record what’s occurring in their Mac’s screen with ease. The app also allows customized screen recording through trimming, rotating, splitting, or combining video clips. But perhaps what users will love most about the app is its ability to upload QuickTime movies to social networking and video sharing websites like Youtube, Facebook, and Vimeo.
Users may think that working around QuickTime is difficult, but the app adheres to familiar media player layout that we’re all used to.
The Bad
QuickTime is the default movie player for Mac, and it comes bundled with it. Some versions of the app only run in Mac operating systems. So, if you are using non-Mac OS, you might want to try VLC or another cross-platform media player.
Another thing you might want to consider before using the app is its limited functionality. As you browse the app, you will notice that there are features labeled as Pros, which are inaccessible if you are only using the free version. Among those functions is the ability to loop a section of a video, trim a movie, and combine movies.
Additionally, while the app supports a lot of video formats, it does not cover all of it. So, if you attempt to play a video in a format that is not natively supported, such as AVI, the app will direct you to a web page and prompt you to download the codec which will allow you to play the said video format.
These additional plug-ins are perhaps the cause behind why the app uses more resources than most media players. In fact, QuickTime needs an average of 15 percent more CPU cycles to play an HD movie. More so, unlike VLC, the app does not automatically play the video when opened. However, this is only the default option that can be changed in the software’s settings.
The Verdict
Bottom line, QuickTime is a good app if you run a Mac operating system. The app comes bundled in the device, so you don’t have to download and installed it. More so, it can play a wide variety of video formats and even allows you to stream media content from various online sources. However, if you want to enjoy a good movie without worrying if the media player supports it, you might want to try other media players.
Just launch QuickTime Player, and there’s no telling where you’re likely to land. The Player may whisk you to the Moon or perhaps to an exotic location on this planet. Take you on a virtual field trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Or treat you to the latest news, movie trailers, music videos, HBO series or PBS specials.
QuickTime 7 Player takes advantage of the latest video compression technology. It’s called H.264, and it’s an important new industry standard that’s quickly garnered widespread support. Chosen as the industry-standard codec for 3GPP (mobile multimedia), MPEG-4 HD-DVD and Blu-ray, H.264 represents the next generation of video for everything from mobile multimedia to high-definition playback.
Ultra-efficient, the H.264 codec compresses video tightly — resulting in much smaller files — without sacrificing any quality. So you can watch video of astonishing quality — crisp, clear and brilliantly saturated — in a window up to four times the size you are currently used to seeing. You also have the option of using the Player’s new audio playback controls. With them, you can easily adjust volume, balance, bass or treble response till your heart’s content.
The new QuickTime 7 Player not only delivers startling quality, but it’s easier to use than ever. It requires no set up for content that streams over the network. Instead, QuickTime 7 Player automatically determines your system’s connection speed and chooses the highest quality stream for the amount of bandwidth you have available. And if you ever lose a connection while watching streaming video, QuickTime 7 Player automatically reconnects. Now, that’s convenience.
