Programs

In terms of file compatibility, Windows Media Player 12 is by far the most ecumenical to date. Where Microsoft once tacitly shunned third-party file types - such as Apple’s Quicktime (.MOV) and DivX - it now supports an impressive number of file types out of the box. Still, avid media enthusiasts will occasionally come across a video file type that Windows Media Player 12 can’t handle natively. Luckily, all you’ll need to for the small fraction of video formats that Microsoft chose not to support from the get go, is a handy codec pack. This tutorial will show you how to install the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, which enables support for virtually every video file type under the sun.

Here at 7 Tutorials, we’ve been slowly but steadily covering all of the features that Windows Media Player 12 brings to Windows 7 users. Windows Media Player has long been a favorite bundled application for organizing, ripping, burning and, of course, playing music, videos and more. Over the years, Windows Media Player has evolved, expanding in complexity and features while simultaneously streamlining its interface towards a more intuitive user experience. In our opinion, Windows Media Player 12 is the best iteration of this long running media library and playback program. After delving into our tutorials, guides and articles below and learning the ins and outs of Windows Media Player 12, we’ll think you’ll agree.

Winamp, iTunes, Doubletwist, Songbird - the list of freeware media library and playback options for Windows 7 users goes on and on. But in spite of the glut of alternatives, Windows Media Player 12 remains a decent default media player in its own right. Sure, there are a few usability features missing, but nothing absolutely critical. And that's what makes Windows Media Player Plus! from BM Productions such a hot download. It reintroduces some of the ease of use from earlier Windows Media Player versions and adds some other tweaks that correct some of the shortcomings of Windows Media Player 12 that, while not exactly deal breakers, may have steered you away initially. With Windows Media Player Plus!, Windows Media Player 12 makes a lot more sense to more users.

XPS files or XML Paper Specification files, are Microsoft's direct competitor to Adobe's PDF format. XPS Viewer is the tool used to view XPS files, similar to Adobe Reader. While XPS might not be as popular as PDF, it is used by certain people. For those of you who use it, I've decided to show what are the main qualities of the XPS format, how to create one and how to work with the XPS Viewer, which is available in all versions of Windows 7.