The newest version of the time-tested VLC media player has arrived carrying some stonking new features.
VideoLAN has launched VLC 3.0 across Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS and Android, as well as Android TV and Apple TV.
The update, which is three years in the making (the last major version was in 2015), is headlined by Chromecast support, which is hugely significant.
This means media formats that Chromecast is unable to natively support can be re-encoded in real time.
Chromecast support is available via the Playback menu. If you select Renderer, you’ll see your Chromecast device(s) listed. Selecting the device will stream the file.
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VideoLAN is also laying the groundwork for a forthcoming VR version with 3.0 offering support for 360-degree video and 3D audio. There’s also support for up to 8K video and HDR 10.
The free software also promises to go a little bit easier on your processors, thanks to the addition of hardware decoding. The group demonstrates 4K video at 48fps running on a Samsung Galaxy S8 working very well indeed, for example.
Thanks to its ability to play practically any file format, VLC has been a massive favourite since the early internet days, back when we were all illicitly downloading all manner of ridiculous P2P files.
Best of all, it’s still free and available now.
As well as the wide range of formats, it also supports practically endless versions too. You can use VLC 3.0 even if you’re using an Android Gingerbread phone or Windows XP.
You can see the full list of VLC 3.0 features and download the new player freely here.
You can also download a few quid to the voluntary group who’ve been striving to bring this update to you for the last few years.
Have you taken the new VLC for a spin yet? Share your feedback @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
