Windows Media Player 11 on Windows Vista
Michael Krax
it seems there is currently no proper plugin support for Windows Media
Player 11 on Windows Vista.
The "out-of-the-box" installation of Vista and Firefox 2 (and Opera) does
not work like they do on Windows XP, which seems to be because the required
plugin DDLs are not shipping with Windows Vista.
Since this is a pretty large problem (at least for me as a member of a
webcasting company *g*) it would be great to get an "official" statement on
this from Mozilla and if/how you are working with Microsoft on this. I am
pretty sure this didn't just slipped through unnoticed, it has probably been
an "on purpose" decision from one of the involved parties - so please shed
some light on this.
Regards,
Michael
Related Bugzilla entry: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=342323
Shadow2531
> Hello,
>
> it seems there is currently no proper plugin support for Windows Media
> Player 11 on Windows Vista.
>
> The "out-of-the-box" installation of Vista and Firefox 2 (and Opera) does
> not work like they do on Windows XP, which seems to be because the required
> plugin DDLs are not shipping with Windows Vista.
Looked at the report.
Besides the CNN site problems mentioned, are you just saying that
npds.zip, npdsplay.dll and npwmsdrm.dll are missing from the WMP
directory?
Unless you use the FF WMP activex plugin, FF needs npdsplay.dll to
embed the WMP controls. Whether those files are installed by WMP11 or
not, you should always get the latest version from
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/version64/plugin.aspx>.
(noembed/Object element markup should always provide that link as a
fallback and perhaps even with pluginspage.)
Is FF having a problem detecting npdsplay.dll on Vista? (It wasn't
clear in the report.)
Anyway, you'll notice that MS hasn't updated the netscape WMP plugin
in a long time, but it's all FF (and Opera) have.
Further (and off-topic, but important), sometime in WMP11 beta 2,
WMP11 broke compatibility with npdsplay.dll . See
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/community/newsgroups/WindowsMedia/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsmedia&mid=f4f130b4-d959-4bbf-918e-229042342eb9>
It looks like it's just luck that WMP11 and npdsplay work together at
all. It's only a matter of time before it totally breaks. When that
happens, FF will have to rely on the FF WMP activeX plugin completely.
Someone needs to code up a new, npruntime-based plugin that hosts WMPs
controls. It doesn't seem like there's much hope in MS updating their
netscape plugin.
When possible, sites should quit using WMP.
--
burnout426
Michael Krax
yes, currently i am pointing out that Windows Media Player 11 ships without
the required Netscape style plugins on Windows Vista.
We also experienced the height/aspect ratio problems you refrenced to. We
opened a support case with Microsoft and they are working on it, although we
are still working on providing a good business case to raise it in priority.
Anyway, at least they are aware there is a problem with WMP 11 and plugins
on top of the already messed situation with lack of scripting support.
Windows Media is somewhat unreplaceable for a few business cases (e.g.
multicast streaming in corporate LANs) - more for company politics reasons
than technology reasons (getting a technology change approved by TechOps can
take couple months depending on the size of the company). Many corporate
clients just expect Windows Media, although lot's of alternatives are
available.
Anyway, my suggestions would be that we create some kind of "Upgrade
Information" on the Mozilla homepage so that corporate users know what to
expect when Upgrading to Windows Vista and/or Windows Media Player 11. I
know this should also be done by Microsoft (and i am working on it) but the
more "official" information is available the better for all users.
It is just much more easier to convince a client that a technical problem is
"for real" (in other words not a problem on application level but on the
operation system / media player level) if there is an official looking
knowledge base entry or information article somewhere. It would also prevent
users thinking this is a problem on Mozilla's site - if we make the
situation better understandbale it is more likely we ever get an updated WMP
plugin.
It would be also great to get some information what is the best way to get
Windows Media + Firefox going on Windows Vista with some kinf of manual
workaround - i found a few tutorials ranging from using the Windows Media
Player 6.4 downloads up to coyping DLLs over from WinXP or Windows 2000.
Michael
"Shadow2531" <shado...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:mailman.189.1170677064...@lists.mozilla.org...