HAL-PC Magazine

Audio and video players have been around for = years.=20 All with varying degrees of success. Now, finally a player with a=20 deceptively simple interface and the most sophisticated range of = features=20 and options as I=92ve seen for both audio and video. For a while = we used=20 WinAmp for MP3s and RealAudio for web sounds and each served its = purpose=20 well, but not completely. Windows Media Player was designed to be = the=20 Swiss army knife of media players, but it was not to be =96 a bit = slow and=20 it didn=92t play several of the better quality formats. ZOOM can = play=20 everything from MP3s to a wide variety of DVD formats with crystal = clear=20 sounds and no degradation of picture quality. In fact, for you = techies, it=20 is a better player than the one shipped with DivX.

Once you have downloaded the ZOOM Radio Pro and associated = CODECs, you=20 are ready to install it. The most complicated question is where? = Don=92t=20 download all the CODECs at once, just the additional ones you = need. Next,=20 use your Windows Update to insure you have the lastest DirectX, = patches,=20 etc. Even without the additional CODECs, you have a better DVD = player than=20 the better known PowerDVD and WinDVD.

Features? Options? ZOOM Player has a ton of configurable = options and an=20 extensive features menu. Sound too much for you? Frankly, that=92s = what I=20 first thought, so I did as usual: I used the program defaults and = never=20 looked back. OK Harold, what=92s the catch? Well, for some formats = you=92ll=20 need to download a CODEC. (A CODEC is a small applet that = translates a=20 particular electronic format into one that can be =93read=94 by = ZOOM - this is=20 common to all players.) You could go to SONIC and for about 20 = bucks=20 download a slew of CODECs, but most are at the ZOOM web site. = However,=20 you=92ll be =93nagged=94 to register your ZOOM Pro (don=92t get = the skinner, but=20 highly functional =93standard=94 ZOOM). This is shareware, not = freeware.

What is amazing is that you get everything in less than one MB. = The=20 configuration menu is easily understood, especially considering = how=20 comprehensive it is. Truthfully, you can customize most anything = from=20 colors, DVD aspect ratios, speaker arrangements (from mono to = 6.1), select=20 DVD chapters, save playlists and types of audio formats.

Zoom player is currently the most versatile = and=20 customizable solution for video and audio for Windows. For Help = you=92ll be=20 sent to their web site. The Inmatrix website has solid = documentation and a=20 very helpful forum =96 typically, response to your question is a = day or so.=20 For a trial download, forums, info and updates go to http://www.inmatrix.com/.

Harold G. Spangler is a HAL-PC member and NASA senior = software=20 consultant. He can be reached at hgsbu54@hal-pc.org. =

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Charles W. Evans is a HAL-PC member and the Magazine=92s = Reviews=20 Editor who can be contacted at reviews@hal-pc.org