windows 8 Playing MKV files in the Windows 8 Video App

[FloatingFatMan]

Besides, converting MKVs to MP4 using HandBrake is pretty easy and painless.

No it isn't. Every time I've tried, it's been lossy and taken bleedin' ages. It should just be a matter of taking the content from one container and putting it in another, but it's almost never that simple.

MS should just bite the bullet and support the other media containers. I'm fed up with a chunk of my anime collection not playing on my 360 because MS are being petty about it.

[The Laughing Man]

No it isn't. Every time I've tried, it's been lossy and taken bleedin' ages. It should just be a matter of taking the content from one container and putting it in another, but it's almost never that simple.

MS should just bite the bullet and support the other media containers. I'm fed up with a chunk of my anime collection not playing on my 360 because MS are being petty about it.

In all honesty its not up to Microsoft to support your hobby. I came to terms with this years ago, Have you tried any of these methods?

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/the_top_transcoding_apps_watching_content_consoles

Ive uses TVersity, seemed to be the best one.

[FloatingFatMan]

In all honesty its not up to Microsoft to support your hobby. I came to terms with this years ago, Have you tried any of these methods?

http://www.maximumpc...ontent_consoles

Ive uses TVersity, seemed to be the best one.

Tried it, never liked it. In the end I resorted to buying a TV that plays pretty much every media format I've come across, including MKV's. I just dump the files to a memory stick and plug it into my TV's USB port. Seeing as MS can't be bothered to make the 360 be what they want to be, a media hub, I'll let my TV do it instead! :p

Next time I replace the TV, I'll get one with wifi as well, so I don't even have to bother copying to USB.

[The Laughing Man]

Tried it, never liked it. In the end I resorted to buying a TV that plays pretty much every media format I've come across, including MKV's. I just dump the files to a memory stick and plug it into my TV's USB port. Seeing as MS can't be bothered to make the 360 be what they want to be, a media hub, I'll let my TV do it instead! :p

Next time I replace the TV, I'll get one with wifi as well, so I don't even have to bother copying to USB.

Ironically my TV can play MKV's lol only some tho :(

[LaP]

Ironically my TV can play MKV's lol only some tho :(

Wont be too long before TV can play about any files and access about any online streaming services via wifi. I can even see bluetooth keyboard support added and a browser. They need to give you reasons to upgrade your TV before it breaks ;) This is where the TVs are heading and imo it's a far better option than a console making lot of noise.

[theyarecomingforyou]

I don't remember any Windows marketing suggesting that pirating videos or playing obscure non-standard video formats would be "easy and painless."

It's that sort of attitude that's exactly the problem - the assumption that anyone using .MKV files must be pirating content. It was the same assumption made about MP3, which is why it took so long for the format to be embraced by the music industry.

Besides, converting MKVs to MP4 using HandBrake is pretty easy and painless.

So the solution is to convert your entire video collection to another format? Brilliant. :rolleyes:

Most TVs and steaming boxes can playback MKV files but Metro can't because of Microsoft's stubbornness and the limitations of Metro. Microsoft needs to stop trying to dictate to consumers what they want and start responding to their needs.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

No it isn't. Every time I've tried, it's been lossy and taken bleedin' ages. It should just be a matter of taking the content from one container and putting it in another, but it's almost never that simple.

MS should just bite the bullet and support the other media containers. I'm fed up with a chunk of my anime collection not playing on my 360 because MS are being petty about it.

Its not "being petty" to not build something that's too low down the priority list to afford investing in. That's just life.

[FloatingFatMan]

Its not "being petty" to not build something that's too low down the priority list to afford investing in. That's just life.

People like Samsung seem to disagree with you. They took the time to build it into their TV's, after all. But hey, if MS don't actually want to be a proper media hub, that's up to them. They've already shown they like to be restrictive by forcing people to have a Gold account for things like Netflix; something many TV's, Bluray players, and cable/satellite/digibox receivers are quite happy to do.

[LaP]

It doesn't matter anyway FFM.

The consoles never had any future as media hub because of the noise and extra cost/space required if you are not a gamer.

Smart TV is where the media hub market is heading. Smart TV are still not there but it's moving fast. The TVs will pretty much become big tablets.

[ctrl_alt_delete]

My problem ?

I don't have any problem. It's just that people lose time writing an essay about why mkv support is not important (it's for pirates, mp4 is better, bla bla) while the simple fact is mkv is a popular file container and a self respecting media player should support it out of the box. End of story.

no, END of YOUR story. and "self respecting media player"? why the hell are you personifying an inanimate virtual object?

No it isn't. Every time I've tried, it's been lossy and taken bleedin' ages. It should just be a matter of taking the content from one container and putting it in another, but it's almost never that simple.

MS should just bite the bullet and support the other media containers. I'm fed up with a chunk of my anime collection not playing on my 360 because MS are being petty about it.

a lot of people have been saying that mkv is used mostly by pirates (with the mkv format its easy to add subtitles/soft subtitles) and I think you just proved a point. I'm sure you didn't buy those anime you downloaded.

[LaP]

why the hell are you personifying an inanimate virtual object?

Maybe because you don't make any sense ? Dunno it's hard to have a logical discussion with someone living on another planet.

Anyway i'm done. I don't see the point of discussing with someone who can't even agree than a proper media player needs to support mkv out of the box.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Its not "being petty" to not build something that's too low down the priority list to afford investing in. That's just life.

I didn't realise Microsoft's resources were stretched that thinly.

[ViperAFK]

Um, no.

I don't remember any Windows marketing suggesting that pirating videos or playing obscure non-standard video formats would be "easy and painless." Besides, converting MKVs to MP4 using HandBrake is pretty easy and painless.

mkv != pirated content. Its a container format. avi and mp4 are also heavily used by pirates, its a ridiculous ad-hominem fallacy to assume anyone playing mkv files has pirated them.

[Nas]

PLEX is your friend. I use it, and it's wonderful... and you don't even have to register!

[George P Global Moderator]

If, and this is still a rumor, they come out with two devices for the next gen Xbox, one the Xbox tv and the other the full gaming console then we could see more formats and containers supported. Or, and I expect this to happen, they extend the apis from windows and windows phone over to the next Xbox and offer a real app store. If that happens then the same media players that we see so far for windows 8 and RT can also find their way on the xbox. At that point we can get 3rd part apps that will play mkv and flac and whatever else you can want.

[theyarecomingforyou]

If, and this is still a rumor, they come out with two devices for the next gen Xbox, one the Xbox tv and the other the full gaming console then we could see more formats and containers supported. Or, and I expect this to happen, they extend the apis from windows and windows phone over to the next Xbox and offer a real app store. If that happens then the same media players that we see so far for windows 8 and RT can also find their way on the xbox. At that point we can get 3rd part apps that will play mkv and flac and whatever else you can want.

Even if Microsoft offers an Xbox TV device it will want users to buy approved content and to maintain its relationship with media producers, so it's unlikely that Microsoft will support MKV or FLAC. This isn't an accidental policy based on a lack of resources.

[George P Global Moderator]

Even if Microsoft offers an Xbox TV device it will want users to buy approved content and to maintain its relationship with media producers, so it's unlikely that Microsoft will support MKV or FLAC. This isn't an accidental policy based on a lack of resources.

Selling content is one thing but if they have an app store as well their still getting a cut from that to. I don't think they get anything out of the controlled apps they put up on the 360 today or the content that goes through them which is why they keep them behind the gold pay wall. That could all change with a store and a 30% cut from apps.

[TPreston]

They don't support OGM aswell for the same reason, No grand conspiracy.

Hell it took them years to support mp4.

[Ravensky]

PLEX - http://www.plexapp.com/

[FloatingFatMan]

a lot of people have been saying that mkv is used mostly by pirates (with the mkv format its easy to add subtitles/soft subtitles) and I think you just proved a point. I'm sure you didn't buy those anime you downloaded.

I own DVD's or Blurays for every anime on my HD. I just prefer them on my HD as it's a much more convenient place AND keeps the kids sticky fingers off my discs.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

The Windows 8 fullscreen VLC Media Player should be coming in the next few weeks, just wait till then. It will also be free so don't pay for any app claiming to be from VLC as one has already had to be removed and tricked folk.

[giantpotato]

No it isn't. Every time I've tried, it's been lossy and taken bleedin' ages. It should just be a matter of taking the content from one container and putting it in another, but it's almost never that simple.

MS should just bite the bullet and support the other media containers. I'm fed up with a chunk of my anime collection not playing on my 360 because MS are being petty about it.

I own DVD's or Blurays for every anime on my HD. I just prefer them on my HD as it's a much more convenient place AND keeps the kids sticky fingers off my discs.

If you own them on disc why are you doing lossy conversion from container to container?

[FloatingFatMan]

If you own them on disc why are you doing lossy conversion from container to container?

Because I don't feel like spending ages re-ripping the bleedin' things? And I'm not doing lossy conversion. I tried that a couple of times to see what kind of job it did, and decided it was crap.

[MasterSasuke]

If you own them on disc why are you doing lossy conversion from container to container?

It's easier and more convenient to keep them in one place. Plus it serves as a backup for redundancy, should anything happen to the discs.

I'll say this much: I pirate and keeps a massive amount of .mkvs, .avis, and .mp4s.

This is true, but I've paid for and own over ¾ of the media in this "collection".

I have BDs, DVDs, VHSs, etc, of many things I've watched over the years, and keep digital copies of most of it, because things in physical media get lost over time.

Sure, one day hard drives will fail, but that's what backups are for.

[giantpotato]

It's easier and more convenient to keep them in one place. Plus it serves as a backup for redundancy, should anything happen to the discs.

I'll say this much: I pirate and keeps a massive amount of .mkvs, .avis, and .mp4s.

This is true, but I've paid for and own over ¾ of the media in this "collection".

I have BDs, DVDs, VHSs, etc, of many things I've watched over the years, and keep digital copies of most of it, because things in physical media get lost over time.

Sure, one day hard drives will fail, but that's what backups are for.

I understand it's more convenient to have movies on HDD, I myself rip my movies to my home server in mp4. What I don't get is people who rip their collection to a format their playback devices don't understand and then complain. People using mkvs either pirated their content or ripped it to a format that can't be played back on their devices. In either case I have no sympathy.