VLC is the most popular open source media player. Since the last decade and a half, we have virtually taken the VLC player for granted, especially since it comes with the ability to play literally any video format. That apart, the VLC scores brownie points when it comes to customization and the ability to add newer codecs. VLC has now released a new update for the free player and this version 3.0 brings onboard some pretty interesting features. We have curated some of the interesting new features that VLC 3.0 is offering.
360-Degree Video Playback
Last year, YouTube announced the support for 360-degree videos and this was followed by a couple of web browsers who did the same. However, it was anything but a pain to watch 360-degree videos locally. Until now, you either had to use proprietary software that is bundled along with the 360-degree camera or instead directly upload it to sites like Facebook and YouTube.
Thanks to the 3.0 update, VLC Player will natively play 360-degree videos at full resolution. This not only makes the entire immersive video experience better but will also help users share the videos with their friends and families without worrying about the interoperability.
VLC Chromecast Stream support
Well, this has to be one of my personal favorites. Until now, I used to use third-party apps (sometimes even Chrome Browser) for streaming local content to Chromecast. The third party apps sometimes struggle when it comes to casting high-resolution content. With the VLC 3.0, anyone can simply cast the local content to the Chromecast without the need for HDMI cables. The only caveat though is that the feature is currently supported only for Windows and Android devices, macOS folks will perhaps need to wait a bit.
HDR Videos Support
Let us begin with a primer on HDR or High Dynamic Range. We have already seen the HDR mode doing wonders when it comes to smartphone photography, and lately the same has been extended to TV/Video viewing as well. The HDR mode helps in enhancing the contrast ratio and also reproduce colors more accurately. In other words, the HDR videos look much “real”. VLC 3.0 supports the latest HDR 10 provided that your hardware supports the format. With Netflix and other major streaming services offering their shows in HDR, the content availability shouldn’t be a problem.
Improved 4K and 8K video playback
Love watching movies and shows in 4K or 8K resolution? Well, VLC 3.0 has just gotten better when it comes to supporting high resolutions. With the update in place, the VLC player now supports hardware acceleration for 4K and 8K videos. What this really means is that unlike before the media player can rely on the processing prowess of your smartphone chip rather than just relying on the software algorithms.
Support on more platforms including Android Auto
VLC for Android will now support platforms like Chromebook, DeX by Samsung and also Android Auto. For instance, on Android Auto, the playback can be controlled with the help of an intuitive UI or even by voice commands. Yet another nifty feature is that the VLC on Android Oreo will let users delete video files on the internal memory.
Have you tried out all the exciting new features already? Do let us know about your experience in the comment section below.
Source:VLC
