VLC 2.0.4
So, yet another release for VLC is around the corner. Why should you care?
Well, first, it shows that the VLC project is still quite alive and that we care about our users, even if we are focusing on 2.1.0.
Then, a bit of stabilization of the 2.0.x branch cannot be bad. :)
For a summary of the most important features, you have:
- Support for Opus codec, including multi-channel and icecast streams,
- Support for MSS1 and MSS2 codecs through DMO on Windows and Linux (this can still be hard to use until 2.1.0).
- Support for Youtube Live Streams,
- Support for BluRays correctly on OSX,
- Karaoke control on OSX interface.
For important fixes, we have also:
- Youtube, Vimeo, Koreus and Soundcloud are back,
- Ogg duration should be fixed in most cases,
- HLS, Dash, HTTPS, MKV and Ogg playback fixes,
- Wallpaper is back on Windows 7 and 8,
- Huge improvements in the OSX interface,
- Lots of fixes in the Qt interface,
- Windows 8 look is now correct,
- Crashes in subtitles, hardware acceleration fixed,
- Web interface improvements,
- Audio devices selections fixes and synchronizations,
- Security issues.
And of course, translations!
VLC for Android Beta 6
At the same time, you might have seen that we have done quite a few VLC for Android releases:
After 0.0.3 and 0.0.4, 2 weeks ago, 0.0.5 and 0.0.6 have been released in the last week.
So, what are the cool things in?
More devices
One of the big issues we have been facing was to support the maximum of devices with only one package.
The first thing was the port of VLC on Android to Intel x86 chips.
Then, we had to work on NEON autodetection, in order to support all Tegra2 tablets and phones directly. A bit hard to do, but, now, our ARMv7 packages work on both NEON and devices without NEON.
Finally, we’ve done quite a few fixes for devices like the Nexus 7, that allocate the memory in a different way than other devices…
More Android support
We have also been working quite hard to fix our behaviour on all android versions, from 2.1 to 4.1.
Android 2.1 is really slow and buggy, but we need to support it while adding the coolest features from 4.0 and 4.1.
A lot of fixes for compatibility went in, notably in 0.0.4 and 0.0.5.
New interface
As you can see in the following screenshot, we have also been working in having a better User Interface and User eXperience on both tablets and phones.
This is long and difficult, and we move step-by-step, but we are going in the right direction.
Performance
In terms of video performance, VLC is still in beta, in debug mode, and therefore slower than it should be.
We are also improving there, but it is not easy, especially with the very limited numbers of devices we have on our hands. We have still quite a few ideas to improve.
In terms of the UI, we are decreasing the CPU and the memory used for snapshots and audio cover arts, so that the UI is smoother. You can see that in 0.0.6 and will see it more in 0.0.7.
Our background audio service is now completely asleep when not used, and is awaken on phone calls, as needed.
Still in beta
Yet, as you might know about it, this is still not perfect, and needs some work, so this is still a beta!