Amarok 2.0 is Ready
Some of you will remember my post a little while back about favorite music players. For most people on Linux, Amarok rules hands down. In fact, Amarok has gained a reputation as ‘the player' and made a lot of Windows users sit up and take notice, myself included.
The developers at Amarok have been working hard over the months to put forth a new version of the software. The result is Amarok 2.0. The new version is radically different from the previous version and includes a whole new bunch of features.
Amarok doesn't just have a new look, it also has a new interface. Another new addition is the PopUp Dropper, which lets you add files to a playlist, copy them to an attached device or edit tags, all using simple drag and drop. Apart from that, you can also extract tags from filenames as well as integrate your online music into the player including Last.fm, Jamendo, Magnatunes, etc.
The biggest thing of note is that this version of Amarok is the key to getting this player to work with other OS' like Windows and Mac. Since only alpha versions are being released presently, you can still only download the source code. However, one developer has already managed to build a test Windows version and it works fine.
I expect to see Windows binaries within a short time and I can't wait to finally try out this player. Currently, I'm using Winamp 2. What about you? Do you already use Amarok? If not, are you planning on trying it? What do you like best about this player? Let me know in the comments.
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Wow… 40mb! Thanks for the alternative recommendation (have read enough ‘foobar’ and the one beginning with x ‘recommendations’) but I guess the file size is a little off-putting! I’ll stick with my old old Winamp installation
Winamp forever ^^
audacious is a nice player for linux which is a little smaller, based on xmms (winamp 2x clone)
As for windows, Im split between foobar2000, winamp 5 (in classic skin mode), or winamp 2.9x (modern is sluggish, even on new pc’s), and last but not least, xmplay. All nice lightweight but good players.
Can’t wait till Amarok comes out for Windows, just can’t wait.
Hi Cheryl!
Amarok is cool but the download size keeps me away from it. I use Gnome and installing Amarok means 40 mb download. Banshee is better, It is only 2 mb and looks like Amarok. Exaile and Listen are nice too. Though Rhythmbox fits for most.
Did you read about Mr Shuttleworth’s demand for prettier Linux as compared to Macs? I love Gnome’s simplicity.
Here is the article. Do read it.
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/07/23/ubuntu-founder-mark-shuttleworth-we-can-surpass-apple-in-two-ye/1#c13327645
I’m using foobar2000, and I must say it rulez. It rules for my needs since I can’t tag (what’s the meaning of tags written in kanji when you can’t read them?) and I can still search on filename/foldername thanks to the quick search plugin. And the advanced controls plugin, which put controls in the system tray, fills my other special need. I don’t ask anything more, except for the batch replay gain.
amarok, in the other side, looks very complete, but very big too. the lightweigth foobar will suit me probably better.
I’ll try it out when it’s easy to install on Windows. I doubt it will convert me from Foobar, though.
I believe the best music player (audio) for windows is foobar2000. it is awesome.
for video i use a combination of gom player, vlc, and media player classic with k-lite codac pack. i use gom player because i like the interface a bit more than vlc, and like vlc it supports practically all video formats. and then mpc mostly to play mkv files, since the subtitles dont show up well in gom or vlc.