MP3 jukebox software

[undyingking]

What software do you use on your XP PC (if you have one, and do so) to play MP3s?

Do you recommend / disrecommend it?

I've been using Windows Media Player out of laziness default, but it's pretty crashy on my system, so probably about time I changed. In the past I've used RealPlayer and not much liked it, but that was many years ago so it might be better now...

I'm only interested in playing MP3s, not other media or stuff. None of my stuff is DRMed. And I'm not bothered about skins, whizzy animations, or other chrome. Or being able to rip / burn / tag / anything other than play.

And I have quite a lot of files (which may have something to do wth the crashiness), so good capabilities to sort / select / navigate are important.

Comments

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

I use WinAmp, which Just Works for me (and my music library is probably of comparable size to, if not bigger than, yours)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd forgotten that, I used to use WinAmp even manyer years ago and now can't remember why I stopped.

Does it keep track of how many times you've played a particular file?

(About 13,000 files atm.)

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

I don't know if maybe the paid-for version does; the free one doesn't. (12800 and change, though some of those are short spoken-word bits of audio book)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Ooh, even the free version seems to, in the History.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

It does? Well, there you go ;)

[sesquipedality.livejournal.com]

I use Cowon JetAudio. It's designed for use with their MP3 players, but is free and works fine standalone. The occasional ad on startup though.

[sesquipedality.livejournal.com]

I find it marginally less annoying/more useful than Winamp, though I couldn't for the life of me say why.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Ah, cool, I shall look into that.

[al-fruitbat.livejournal.com]

I'm probably going to lose geek points, but I use iTunes by choice. Simple, clean interface, good playlist management, good tune sorting etc.

I've heard it can be a resource hog - but it's never bothered me even while using it while playing games. I do use relatively meaty desktops all the time though.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I am kind of irrationally prejudiced against iTunes. But I should try and get over that.

[example22.livejournal.com]

I've got quite a lot of files (19500-ish), and I find iTunes works (it pains me to say that, but it's true). It installs loads of always-running services, and can be a resource hog, but searching/sorting/streaming is dead easy.

Of course, I've just bought an iPod, half the computers in this flat are Macs, and the wireless network is Airport, so I'm really just going with the flow...

Windows Media Player was OK for me, but a bit cranky at times. Creative MediaSource 5 was horrible, and I'm glad to be rid of it. RealPlayer is also awful, still.

[t--m--i.livejournal.com]

musikcube

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I don't know that one. Are you generally happy with it, are there any features you would like that it lacks?

[metame.livejournal.com]

I use foobar. It's OK, and certainly not trying to take over my system's resources or anything like that.

But it's not very high on features and I really only went to it cos I read a couple of reviews when I decided I didn't like Windows Media Player any more.

I'll probably try out whatever gets most votes here...

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, it does look kind of basic. But I'll give it a go and see.

[smiorgan.livejournal.com]

Not tried it, but Songbird (http://www.songbirdnest.com/) is supposedly itunes-like and mozilla based. I assume it's cross platform.

Itunes works for me, but I only use it to manage stuff on my ipod, which it does very well

When the KDE4 port for windows is complete Amarok will be available too. Linux geeks say it's the dog's balls, I have no idea what it actually does or how it does it.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Songbird looks interesting, I'll give that a trial I think!