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No More Windows Media Player For Mac

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft has ceased production of the Windows Media Player for Mac OS X. Although older Mac versions of the Player are still available on the company’s website, updated Mac users are now forwarded to a third party site to download a Windows Media-compatible component called “Flip4Mac.”

Developed by Nevada City, Calif.-based Telestream, the software enables Apple’s proprietary QuickTime Player to play Windows Media files.

Although Microsoft does not offer Windows Media Player 10 for the Mac, version 9 and version 7.1 for older operating systems are still available.

No word yet from Microsoft as to why the decision was made to cease production, but early reviews of Flip4Mac published on several Mac enthusiast websites have been less than favorable, despite proclamations by Microsoft representatives that the new components would work seamlessly with QuickTime.

“Consumers and content professionals are demanding great ways to view Windows Media content on the Macintosh using the platform and tools they know,” Kevin Unangst, director of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft, said. “The Windows Media Components for QuickTime, powered by Telestream’s Flip4Mac technology, provide this important capability and live up to Telestream’s reputation for outstanding media solutions.”

Nonetheless, reports from BetaNews, among others, said Flip4Mac consistently caused the latest QuickTime player to crash. Flip4Mac also provides browser playback support, and users of Apple’s Safari browser reported similar issues.

Telestream’s website announced Thursday afternoon that a patch was in development to correct the problem and would be available soon via Microsoft.com.

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