Media Player was a media player originally included in Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions and a slightly updated version was included with Windows 3.1x. Media Player received a facelift with Video for Windows, with an OLE2 version provided with the runtime software. This version forms the basis for the 32-bit version included with Windows 95 and Windows NT.

From Windows 95 onwards, Media Player took the same version number as Windows itself. Thus in the original version of Windows 95 it reports itself as 4.00.950, in Windows 2000 it is 5.0.* and in Windows XP it is version 5.1.*, where * refers to the build number.

As of Windows 98, Media Player was rendered obsolete, Windows Media Player being the replacement. Media Player is still included in Windows XP; however, it is no longer included as of Windows Vista.

Features

Unlike its replacement, Media Player allows one to choose which MCI device to send the file to. Media Player can be used to embed music or video in a document, as it supports OLE.

Criticism

Media Player did not show video in its own window. Video would either be fullscreen or in a separate window, with the filename as the title. The only exception was when the video was viewed via OLE, in which case it is displayed within the application.

The version of Media Player included in Windows 3.x is compatible with most versions of Windows; however, it does not recognize certain recent file types.

Versions

Media Player playing a video

1991		Media Player 3.0 in Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions
1992		Media Player 3.1 in Windows 3.1
1992		Media Player 3.15 in Windows 3.1 with Video for Windows installed
1995		Media Player 4.0 in Windows 95
1999		Media Player 5.0 in Windows 2000
2004		Media Player 5.1 in Windows XP

cs:Media Player pt:Microsoft Media Player