Why Windows Media Player is Crap

Prelude: I've read this back and this article does not represent the "every day" DoggyDude. This is a pressure release rant which I enjoyed writing just to get out some of the frustrations caused by poor product design. Please read it taken with a grain of salt, but enjoy, hope you might relate.

---

I am SO sick of Windows Media Player!

Heres the shortlist of reasons:

1. DRM Bullshit,
2. Atrocious interface
3. Spyware Mentality
4. Bloat

I think i'll just list some of its failings:

1) Cannot control Brightness/Contrast on all Media (Especially annoying when watching DVD's).
2) The ability to control the video stream is dependant on the media (how stupid is that, its all Video! If its not streaming of a server you damb well should always be in control).
3) One watches a Movie, exits the player to do something else (say a call comes in), one reloads media player and press play again. What do you expect to happen? I certainly don't %*£&$ expect it to play my b**ody music library from a random location when I don't have shuffle enabled).
4) How many £"(%*& executables does a media player need! Not "$%*(&£ 3 thats for sure (wmplayer.exe, mfpmp.exe, wmpnscfg.exe).

Yes. I know what they are all reportedly for:

wmplayer.exe - Main Application
mfpmp.exe - Media Foundation protected Pipeline (DRM?)
wmpnscfg.exe - Network Sharing Component

If I want network sharing i'll $£&(£"&$ enable Network Sharing.. don't force me to have it loaded! If you have to have DRM £"*($& integrate it already! or at least put it in a £*(%!@ DLL.

5) Stupid interface (which is never in the right place at the right time)... what the "£%(@ kind of stupid tabs are:

• Now Playing,
• Library,
• Rip,
• Burn,
• Sync and
• Media Guide!

Where is the design? Where was the thought? A clue, NONE!

I loaded the £"$*(% player, I KNOW what is playing, i'm listening to or waching it (well I would expect to be). Library? If I wanted a £"$(&* libarary i'd use a database! >.<. I just want to play my media (I didn't want a Media Library, and even if I did, i'd want it to be an addin). Rip? Rip! Stop !"£%@ trying to be cool, your supposed to be a professional company Microsoft! Use something normal like Copy, Duplicate, Replicate or something (If I wanted to use something "cool" i'd buy a £%(&*ing iPod or a Mac). I want easy to use, I want purpose, I want well designed (in short, I want traditional Microsoft product). Burn? Are we trying to commit arson? NO! Write to CD, Save... Output to CD.. even if you have to use burn. Why the heck is is jumbled in with all those other different options?

6) No matter what options you configure for Windows Media Player it always trys to interact with the internet! Always! >.<. If your not running either a decient software firewall or a hardware one you would never know its reporting on you. I can't say I know what its reporting, but it IS reporting (often). Whatever it is reporting, there is NO reason or excuse for it.

I'm in a very bad mood with Media Player!

Imagine loading Notepad and it offering you script editing, Visual Basic, OCR, text sharing, mobile notes and sticky notes... then imagine that when you load it, it has a menu system like "Banner, Swat, Text List, Mobile Comments, Visual Basic".. what the HELL! You would never load it, but because Media Player is "integrated" I use the damn thing. Clearly, i'm a fool for doing this, but that makes whoever layed out Media Player clearly a moron.

Why not have the main tabs:

• Audio,
• Video,
• Live,
• Network,
• Manage

Then have sub-tabs

Audio:

Sounds,
Music

Video:

Videos (Clips),
Movies

Live:

Tv,
Radio,
On Demand,
Service

Network (leading to the same menus without network option):

Streaming Media

Manage:

Just opens up the right folder view, configured as desired... with maybe a side pane so when u click on a file you can lookup its details and store it nearby (or linked to the file).

Its not hard! You've done the hard part, now make it good.

 
ps. Thanks for all the comments :) and its fine to vent, feel free.. I feel your pains!