With the notable limitations and complexity of most video players = today, you=20 might consider downloading third-party software that is powerful and = versatile=20 enough to provide you all the services you need. If you are looking for = a smart=20 and practical solution, there=E2=80=99s definitely a great reason why = Zoom Player has=20 been dubbed =E2=80=9Cthe Swiss army knife of media players.=E2=80=9D = Inmatrix Media Solutions,=20 the company that distributes Zoom Player, describes it as the smartest, = most=20 flexible, and most customizable media player for Windows PC. = Interestingly, it=20 does everything you would expect from a standard media player while = successfully=20 incorporating a great number of unique features. Let=E2=80=99s take a = deeper look at=20 this software and see what else Zoom Player has to offer.
How Does Zoom Player Work?
Thanks to its =E2=80=9CSmart Play=E2=80=9D technology, Zoom Player = supports a large number of=20 media formats without any hassle. Simply download the Zoom Player = installer from=20 Inmatrix=E2=80=99s=20 official webpage to get started. Zoom Player comes with a built-in = =E2=80=9CInstall=20 Center=E2=80=9D that is designed to help users easily install important = system=20 components that are required for media playback. This means that instead = of you=20 having to worry about the missing codecs, the Install Center will = automatically=20 detect the required components for you. It even helps you by indicating=20 important updates.
Appearance-wise, the software comes with a user-friendly interface = that you=20 can easily navigate and explore. Once launched, Zoom Player will start = in Media=20 Mode by default. Similar to the standard media player interface, Zoom = Player=20 features all the basic media controls (Play/Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, = Skip,=20 Stop, etc.) at the bottom of the screen. To open and play a media file, = you can=20 either open it directly from the Zoom Player app or use the = =E2=80=9COpen With=E2=80=9D function=20 in Windows File Explorer. The main menu, on the other hand, can be = accessed by=20 right-clicking the main window. This will display all the available = options that=20 you can use to take full control of your media player and enhance your = overall=20 viewing experience.
Supported Media Formats
Zoom Player is probably best known for its flexibility. It supports = numerous=20 media formats and is also loaded with many tools that you can easily use = to run=20 various media. From the most common formats to many of the most advanced = ones,=20 Zoom Player is flexible enough to run them all seamlessly. With the = proper=20 configuration, you can even stream media to your TV or PC monitor and = turn your=20 device into a home entertainment center.
Thanks to Zoom Player=E2=80=99s unique Install Center feature, you no = longer need to=20 find any missing components on your PC, and you don=E2=80=99t have to = stress yourself=20 out looking for a reliable source for them online.
With the Install Center, the software can quickly scan your system to = locate=20 any missing or outdated media components. It will automatically present = you with=20 an installation list of recommended updates.
Aside from a wide range of video formats (DVD, Blu-ray, WebM, DivX, = AVI, FLV,=20 3GP, OGG, MPEG, WMV, and VCD, to name a few), Zoom Player is also = compatible=20 with a huge list of audio formats (such as MP3, WMA, ALAC, and DTS), = Interactive=20 Formats (HTML, SWF, and more), and even image formats (like JPEG, PNG, = GIF, and=20 BMP). The software can even play the content of your favorite YouTube = channels=20 and other popular streaming websites.
Interactive Media Library
The Media Library in Zoom Player has many interactive purposes. It = mainly=20 serves as a library or a repository for all your media content. Using = the Media=20 Library Path Editor, you can input source paths and collect all the = playable=20 support media from a specific destination. (This could be a folder on = your hard=20 drive or a URL from your favorite media streaming platform.) Once = collected, the=20 media content will be sorted into different categories, including = Featured=20 Videos, Media Scanner, Windows Music Library, and Windows Picture = Library. You=20 can also create your own category for quick and easy access.
It is also worth mentioning that Zoom Player offers many different = viewing=20 and listening options. From the default Media Mode, you can switch to = DVD Mode,=20 which comes with different DVD Playback methods. Zoom Player is capable = of using=20 DVD decoders from various vendors, which allows you to pick and choose = the best=20 decoder suited for your PC. There=E2=80=99s even a Smart Playback method = that=20 automatically identifies the right video and audio decoder for your = system.
Media Scanner and Media Scraping Features
The Media Scanner is one of the most important tools offered by Zoom = Player.=20 There=E2=80=99s no need for you to navigate your file explorer to search = for playable=20 supported media; instead, the Media Scanner tool scans your entire = computer for=20 media files. After collecting all the data, the software will display = all the=20 folders that contain playable media. You can browse through each folder = and add=20 them to any existing media library category (or create a new one if=20 necessary).
The Media Scraping feature is another useful tool that allows you to = scrape=20 details or data from the web to get more information about specific = media=20 content. Zoom Player can scan your media library and automatically = download any=20 relevant information that supports the file. This could include cover = images and=20 various metadata, like ratings, casts, synopses, IMDb information, and = more. The=20 information will be collected from various reliable online databases. = This=20 method, however, may not always provide accurate details, especially = when=20 folders and file names are not properly labeled.
Powerful Online Streaming Function
If you are an avid fan of certain YouTube channels, you can also use = Zoom=20 Player as a streaming platform. Provided that you are connected to the = Internet,=20 you can easily open streaming links from YouTube. Simply access your = Media=20 Library Category Editor (right-click Context Menu > Open Interface = > Media=20 Library Category Editor) and create a new category. There are three=20 YouTube-related category types to choose from: YouTube Channel (input = the=20 specific URL of a YouTube channel), YouTube Search (input the keyword = you want=20 to search, and the system will provide you the curated content), and = YouTube=20 Trending (provides curated trending content based on a chosen = geographical=20 location).
If you want to stream music, you can do so by using the Media Scanner = tool=20 and collecting all the playable audio files from your computer. In = addition to=20 that, Zoom Player offers a powerful Playlist Editor tool that allows you = to sort=20 and curate files based on categories. You can also take advantage of the = Streaming feature, which enables you to stream live from different radio = stations. These stations are carefully sorted into different genres, = from=20 Classical music to New Age and Pop. You can also include your favorite = radio=20 station in your Media Library for easy access.
Other Noteworthy Features
Customizable and Downloadable Skins = =E2=80=93 To make your=20 media player more visually appealing, Zoom Player allows you to choose = your=20 preferred skin. There are pre-made themes available, but you can also = pick your=20 preferred color scheme from the Skin Selector page. You can also = download and=20 install skins from the Inmatrix skin repository.
Subtitles =E2=80=93 For movies and other = media without=20 subtitles, you can easily download the right subtitles using the Zoom = Player=20 Download option. Rather than you having to search for the right codecs = online,=20 Zoom Player will display the list of available subtitles for your = media.
Equalizer =E2=80=93 For better audio = quality, users can=20 take advantage of the Equalizer and adjust the audio settings based on = their=20 preferences.
Video Editing =E2=80=93 Another surprising = feature of this=20 software is its video editing capability. It comes with a Scene Cut = Editor that=20 allows you to dynamically edit the way media content is played without = changing=20 the source file.
Pricing
Zoom Player offers a 30-day free trial for new users to evaluate the = software=20 and embrace its amazing features. Once the trial period is over, you = will have=20 the option to subscribe to the annual plan, which starts at $29.95. = Inmatrix=20 Media Solutions also offers a Lifetime license, which is currently = priced at=20 $79.95. Additionally, Inmatrix offers extra products that you can use = with Zoom=20 Player to improve your overall user experience. These include ZP Remote, = Zoom=20 Player 4K, Zoom Commander, Zoom Presenter, and more.
The Verdict
Zoom Player is indeed a powerful media player that comes with an = abundance of=20 useful features that will take your entertainment to another level. = It=E2=80=99s a=20 flexible and versatile media player that supports a large number of = media=20 formats, including the most advanced ones. Furthermore, the software is = equipped=20 with an Install Center that makes everything hassle-free, as it = automatically=20 detects the missing components that your system needs to run all the = media=20 content smoothly.
To top it all off, Zoom Player=E2=80=99s Media Library feature = provides you with a=20 very organized platform that comes with carefully curated content. The = media=20 player can also serve as a streaming platform for your favorite YouTube = channels=20 and radio stations. Overall, Zoom Player offers a complete package that = makes it=20 an excellent alternative to your PC=E2=80=99s default media players. = Calling Zoom Player=20 the Swiss army knife of media players is surely not a bold claim after = all.
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