I’m sure everybody has happened across a video file that they couldn’t play on their Mac because it was just unsupported. In the past, the only workaround was to install the player applications for formats such as Real, Windows Media Player, and occasionally additional video codecs (coder/decoders) such as DIVX, 3ivx, etc.

This year (as Allen previously mentioned) saw the introduction of Flip4Mac’s WMV codec, a free decoder for Microsoft’s Windows Media Video format.

One of the biggest advantages of Apple’s QuickTimes software is the ability to extend its supported formats through the addition of various “Components”. Previously, one had to go hunt down the various QuickTime Component versions of the DIVX, 3ivx, and other codecs.

However, those days are over. Perian has been released and is:

a free plugin that enables QuickTime to play almost every popular video format.

With emphasis on the “almost”. You still need Flip4Mac WMV and RealPlayer, but we’re finally down to three!

[via Daring Fireball]
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  • SkiziksMarch 13, 2007 at 5:25 pm

    all i get when trying to download is an error message that the file is damaged and cannot be repaired.

  • Rene' LandryMarch 13, 2007 at 8:24 pm

    Download link file

  • JimmyMarch 14, 2007 at 8:15 am

    @Skiziks – I’ve just downloaded the file myself and it works fine.

  • ChazMarch 14, 2007 at 10:33 am

    Wow, thanks a billz!! This one’s a winner, I just forwarded it to all my recently (and stubborn) Mac user friends. 4serious, my biggest pet peeve is mac peeps NOT using shortcuts, helloy get with it geniuses – also printed a copy out for the office at fredflare.com (all mac users!). UR a hero!

  • BethMarch 14, 2007 at 10:58 am

    Good grief Charlie Brown!! All I had to do was click: Keyboard Shortcuts Sheet [PDF] and it downloaded just fine! And I don’t even know what I’m doing!! If my husband only knew why my computer always needs his help. I’m always using the wrong keys or going where I don’t belong. OOPS!! Anyway, thanks for the shortcuts!

  • Linda SwanssonMarch 15, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    OS X short cuts
    Download opened, but margins
    are wrong and can’t read the messages.

  • get pdfMarch 16, 2007 at 4:30 pm

    Thank You

  • Bob ShusterMarch 16, 2007 at 4:47 pm

    Where is the link to the PDF?!?

  • Marcel FavettaMarch 16, 2007 at 4:56 pm

    “get shortcuts,”

  • Valda LewisMarch 16, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    Yes, where IS the link? Im just seeing the PNG image file only

  • JimmyMarch 16, 2007 at 5:02 pm

    Hello all,

    Please READ the blog entry, specifically Update #2…

    Thanks…

  • Tony LopezMarch 16, 2007 at 5:23 pm

    Sorry, but I don’t see a link for the OS X Keyboard Shortcuts on your webpage. Could you E-mail me a copy. Thanks very much……Tony

  • MaryEllen Cranstn-BennettMarch 16, 2007 at 6:33 pm

    get shotcuts

  • Mo HammadMarch 16, 2007 at 6:55 pm

    “get shortcuts,”

  • Jo OrmesherMarch 16, 2007 at 7:21 pm

    Machine wouldn’t play – please can you send shortcuts ?
    Thnx

  • Arden M. GrayMarch 16, 2007 at 7:46 pm

    Sorry, but I don’t see a link for the OS X Keyboard Shortcuts on your webpage. Could you E-mail me a copy. Thanks very much…

  • john kurtzMarch 16, 2007 at 8:11 pm

    I also see not link to download pdf for OSX shortcuts on your webpage

  • eric WeissMarch 16, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    get shortcuts

  • BobbieMarch 16, 2007 at 8:36 pm

    I sure looked all over for the download link and couldn’t find it. Please email me the keyboard shortcuts. thanks

  • FlarbMarch 16, 2007 at 8:54 pm

    hahahahahahahahaha!!!

  • charles ScottMarch 16, 2007 at 9:00 pm

    Please e-mail the short cuts

  • EugeneMarch 16, 2007 at 11:07 pm

    Please send short cuts.
    Thanks,
    Eugene

  • Thomas CasselmanMarch 17, 2007 at 12:53 am

    I too could not find the download link. When I tried Control + select title, there was no obvious way to download. Please e-mail me
    the appropriate .pdf file.

    Thanks,

    Tom Casselman
    cassco@c-fourth.com

  • Oscar ManningMarch 17, 2007 at 10:03 am

    Please send email of shortcuts. I can’t access them.

  • Jan TylerMarch 17, 2007 at 10:14 am

    Get shortcuts

  • Roy HoustonMarch 17, 2007 at 10:39 am

    Get Shortcuts

  • Bob FreemanMarch 17, 2007 at 11:12 am

    Still no obvious way to d/l…

  • Dana CollinsMarch 17, 2007 at 1:21 pm

    Hello,
    I too had difficulty with the download. The title’s “link” does nothing but refresh the web page. Doing a “right click-download linked file” does the same. I went ahead and emailed the generous author, but perhaps the webmaster needs to re-test the link on some older Macs (G4, etc.) if they have not yet done this.
    Thak you all.
    -Dana

  • Clarence AuvilleMarch 17, 2007 at 8:58 pm

    send me shortcuts I can not download links

  • Linda MarkinMarch 18, 2007 at 7:41 am

    No link on my blog either. Please email the shortcuts to me. Thanks – L.

  • Roy KochMarch 18, 2007 at 10:25 am

    I cant find the keyboard shortcuts pdf as well I cant find the place to right click on the link. Even when I look at page source I cant find any PDF link.

  • tim BrentMarch 18, 2007 at 12:34 pm

    keyboard shortcuts

  • warren GoldbergMarch 18, 2007 at 12:37 pm

    get shortcuts

  • John R. HartMarch 18, 2007 at 10:00 pm

    “get shortcuts”

  • Willard LeeMarch 19, 2007 at 5:48 am

    “GET SHORTCUTS”O4TOW

  • Thomas HayesMarch 19, 2007 at 11:42 am

    When I get OS X this will be useful.

  • michele WyzgaMarch 19, 2007 at 3:03 pm

    get shortcuts…thanks!

  • jackson MarlandMarch 23, 2007 at 10:23 pm

    Please send me the shortcuts-the kink won’t open

  • Christian JoffsonMarch 25, 2007 at 4:26 pm

    get shortcuts

  • Vince MinnellaMarch 26, 2007 at 12:15 pm

    Can’t find the “get shortcuts” link in spite of running with the latest & greatest (i.e. 20” Intel iMac w.10.4.9)

  • DonnaMarch 26, 2007 at 3:17 pm

    get shortcuts

  • Roy HoustonApril 1, 2007 at 11:21 am

    Still have not recieved email shortcuts

  • Lauren HansonApril 7, 2007 at 9:42 pm

    Hey man, My Safari couldn’t find the os x shortcuts with both hands and a flashlight! You gotta send me that PDF Thanks!Lauren_hanson@windstream.net

  • Donna LewisApril 10, 2007 at 3:37 am

    get shortcuts

  • John M. RogersApril 24, 2007 at 3:46 pm

    shortcuts, please

  • Joe RibarJune 19, 2007 at 5:18 pm

    get shortcuts

  • elena TheanneJuly 16, 2007 at 10:26 am

    hi ya

    can you please send me the shortcuts pdf?

    thanks

    Elena