Hydrogenaudio Forums > Winamp 5 on the horizon

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nyarlathotep

Jun 28 2003, 17:22

Information found on cd-rw.org:

QUOTE

Winamp 5 on the horizon

Although technically quite advanced and versatile, Nullsoft's Winamp 3 never gained the popularity of it's predecessor, Winamp 2. Winamp 3 was supposed to be as quick as the earlier version, but instead turned out to be quite bloated and slow. Many Winamp 2 users never switched to version 3. Some sticked to the old version while many started using eg. Microsoft's Windows Media Player.

AOL, the online giant which acquired Nullsoft in 1999, has discontinued supporting Winamp 3 Wasabi-plugins. According to the plan announced in March, Winamp 2 and Winamp 3 will merge in Winamp 5 (2+3=5), due out this summer.

It is obviously in AOL's intrest to produce an in-house multimedia application capable of providing an alternative to Windows Media Player, Apple Quicktime, and RealNetworks' RealOne.

Written by Ketola (6/28/2003 06:30)

m0rbidini

Jun 28 2003, 17:26

Huh?

amano

Jun 28 2003, 17:31

that news is many months old. we all know.

winamp 5 will be a fusion of the best features of winamp 2 and winamp3: therefore 2+3=5.

you get it??

Digga

Jun 28 2003, 17:35

Well, I'm one of theese guys who still use the good old winamp 2.
And I don't plan to upgrade the version, unless some new format comes along (as ogg is supported by winamp, erverthings fine...)
Let's see if the new one is as well fast, easy to use, not to complex (but complex enough), and thus is able to take over the aura of glory that hoovers above winamp 2

m0rbidini

Jun 28 2003, 17:47

QUOTE (amano)

that news is many months old. we all know.

winamp 5 will be a fusion of the best features of winamp 2 and winamp3: therefore 2+3=5.

you get it??

Well, I got it... I just read the post in the Winamp forums... I just think this new name reasoning is pretty stupid. OK, it's not official yet... and regarding the fusion of the best features: I'll believe it when I see it...

cya

edit: typo

amano

Jun 28 2003, 18:19

well it's plain simple:

winamp 5 is winamp 2.91 with the addition of a cd ripper plugin (embedded in the cd reader plugin), a cd burning plugin and a general plugin for using winamp 3 skins.

therefore it's full winamp 2 technology with the addition of 3 plugins. use em if you like them, don't install them if not.

AgentMil

Jun 29 2003, 12:30

Still using WinAMP v2.81 at the moment (will test out WinAMP v2.95 when I see it on the WinAMP website), I don't see the need to change to any other version bar someone finding out a serious bug that effects audio quality or the quality of certain functions built into WinAMP. But WinAMP 5 does sound interesting as a all in one media app.

Cheers

AgentMil

sld

Jun 29 2003, 13:28

Well, if there's any features you don't like (for me it's the CD-ripper; I use EAC), you can always unselect it during installation. Winamp is expanding on the modular concept quite well indeed.

GoWaN

Jun 29 2003, 14:43

Ummmh, player with cd ripper, cd burning and skins... what remembers me? :B

JEN

Jun 29 2003, 15:20

My prediction!

WinAMP 5 will be a disaster, so they will then release WinAMP 4

rohangc

Jun 29 2003, 16:32

QUOTE (JEN @ Jun 29 2003 - 02:20 AM)

My prediction!

WinAMP 5 will be a disaster, so they will then release WinAMP 4

Do you have any solid reason for making such an outrageous prediction

? Now, don't get me wrong, but please don't make careless statements like these on this board. HA is the final destination for audiophiles and novices alike. We don't want to mislead anybody here. Thanks-no offence meant.

AgentMil

Jun 29 2003, 17:05

sld (If you were referring to my post): I understand you can select and unselect features/components that you don't need in the WinAMP and foobar for that matter. My point that I was trying to make across is that you don't always need to upgrade to the latest version if you don't really need to, hence the reason why I mentioned serious bug fixes as a reason to upgrade.

Laters

AgentMil

sub_static

Jul 1 2003, 00:38

QUOTE (rohangc @ Jun 29 2003 - 09:32 AM)

Do you have any solid reason for making such an outrageous prediction

I think JEN is referring to the (debatable) failure of Winamp 3 to meet the expectations set for it by the developers (and Nullsoft's subsequent decision to concentrate on 2.x).

When Nullsoft first released Winamp 3, they pushed it as something that would make Winamp 2.x pale in comparison. Development of 2.x seemed to stop after 2.81, as Nullsoft seemed to be pushing 3.x as their general direction for the future. If you fast-forward to today, development on Winamp 3 seems all but abandoned (again, debatable) and 2.x is getting regular updates again.

In other words, Nullsoft heavily promoted Winamp 3 in the beginning, but now appears to be falling back on the previous version. So...

QUOTE (JEN @ Jun 29 2003 - 02:20 AM)

My prediction!

WinAMP 5 will be a disaster, so they will then release WinAMP 4

Edit: To illustrate, I just went to winamp.com and saw the following near the top of the page:

QUOTE

ALMOST AS NEW AS WINAMP 2 Nullsoft Winamp3

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