What is it?
Windows Media player is a media library and player application created by Microsoft that is used for viewing images or playing video and audio on computers. While editions of Windows Media Player were developed for Macs, it is primarily used on computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. Windows Media Player can also copy music to compact discs, purchase or rent music from online stores, synchronize content with a mobile device, and burn recordable discs. The most recent version of Windows Media Player is Windows Media Player 12, which was released in July of 2009.
How to
To start Windows Media Player, click the Start button, select All Programs, and then choose Windows Media Player. There are two modes you can toggle between: Now Playing mode and Player Library. There is a toggle button in the lower-right corner of the screen. In the Player Library, you can organize your digital media collection. You can choose a category, such as videos, pictures, or music, and organize each category by a certain set of credentials. In the Now Playing mode, you can see videos or DVDs or what music is playing. To build a media library, you can include folders in the libraries from external devices or from other locations on your computer. The tabs at the top right of Windows Media Player make it easier for you to focus on specific tasks, such as syncing playlists, burning custom songs to a CD, or creating playlists. If you are having difficulties using Windows Media Player, you can try using the troubleshooter to automatically search for and fix some common problems.
Why do it?
Windows Media Player comes standard with all Microsoft Windows operating systems. The shuffle and loop functions are two popular features. The shuffle button allows you to listen to the tracks on your playlist in a random order, while the loop function lets you play one song repeatedly or an entire playlist repeatedly. Windows Media Player also does not have a playlist limit. You can add hundreds of hours of movies or songs, provided you have enough space on your computer. Windows Media Player also allows you to burn CDs, purchase music from online stores, and synchronize your playlists with your mobile device. Every update is free to install, which makes it one of the better music playing devices available for no cost.
Risks
Windows Media Player is relatively safe to use, although there was a security breach in 2009 that allowed attacks to install programs or create new accounts on a user’s computer. This was fixed in a critical update in September of that year.
For parents who allow their kids to use Windows Media Player, it is important to monitor their activity. If the online stores are linked to your credit card, your kids may be spending hundreds of dollars on songs and movies without your knowledge. It is best to use a password or input your credit card information each time you make a purchase to prevent this from happening.
