AppleInsider Staff
Popular multimedia content viewer VLC on Monday received a substantial update with a new-for-iOS 7 UI, an improved library and hooks into Google Drive and Dropbox.
On the surface, VideoLAN's VLC for iOS version 2.2.0 gives the media player a new look with multitouch gestures, a revamped interface and a new startup tutorial. Behind the scenes, the app gets a few key functionality tweaks and additions many users have been waiting for.
The most significant of these changes is Google Drive integration and Dropbox streaming. For Google Drive, content delivery is limited to downloads, while users can both download and stream from Dropbox.
In addition to the cloud-based options, VLC improved stability with local UPnP multimedia servers. The latest release offers support for downloads from UPnP multimedia servers and improved Wi-Fi upload reliability when processing multiple items.
TV show and audio handling was tweaked for shows with over 100 episodes, while a number of new streaming formats were added to the app's supported list, including HTTP live streaming, HTTPS playback and m3u streaming.
VLC for iOS comes in at 24.6MB and can be downloaded for free from the App Store.
Andrew Orr
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14 Comments
I don't feel like VLC is needed these days, especially on a handheld device now that that H.264 video is so common on the internet, but I downloaded (then immediately deleted) the app just in case I ever do come across some old FLV or AVI for some unfathomable reason. PS: Yes I know that FLV and AVI are containers that both can support the H.264 codec but if you know that then you get my point.
I don't feel like VLC is needed these days, especially on a handheld device now that that H.264 video is so common on the internet, but I downloaded (then immediately deleted) the app just in case I ever do come across some old FLV or AVI for some unfathomable reason.
PS: Yes I know that FLV and AVI are containers that both can support the H.264 codec but if you know that then you get my point.
You don't have any mkv files?
I wish there was a neat phrase or something for why MKV sucks.
Like… I don’t know, “Lose Control; Take Command” for switchers.
[quote name="d4NjvRzf" url="/t/161652/vlc-for-ios-gets-google-drive-downloads-dropbox-streaming-in-update#post_2460190"]You don't have any mkv files? [/quote] Me, persoanally, no, but that's because I use iVI to strip and replace MKV containers with M4V.
[quote name="Tallest Skil" url="/t/161652/vlc-for-ios-gets-google-drive-downloads-dropbox-streaming-in-update#post_2460196"] I wish there was a neat phrase or something for why MKV sucks. Like… I don’t know, “Lose Control; Take Command” for switchers. [/quote] MKV is actually a good container compared to MP4. It appears to have all its features and it's easier to utilize them.