Software » Video Players » Zoom Player 20.1 / 21 Beta

"*" = New
"+" = Change
"-" = Fix

What's new in Zoom Player v21 beta 1:

New :

* Introducing : Modern UI

Zoom Player's user interface has remained more or less the same over
many years and now it's finally time for a fresh new look.

Gone is the skinned user interface, replaced by a simple frame.
Hovering with the mouse cursor (or pressing the Ctrl+"Space" keyboard
shortcut) now brings up a new Control Overlay, a semi-transparent user
interface that appears over the video area.

I tried to setup the default control overlay layout similar to the
previous skinned layout to make the transition to a new interface as
seamless as possible, but at the same time maintained the option to
easily revert the user interface to the old design.

Since the control overlay replaces both the skin and the control bar,
some of the default settings related to the control bar have been
reset in favor of control overlay features. If these changes are not
suited to your setup, you can easily return to using the control bar
instead.

While designing the new Control Overlay interface, I took your feedback
on Zoom Player's reddit forum and made sure the Control Overlay is the
most customizable media interface ever created.

You can customize nearly everything:
+ Button selection across 4 different button zones.
+ Button sizes for each button zone.
+ Text fonts, colors, sizes and transparency.
+ Volume and Timeline color, size and transparency.
+ Element visibility (button zones, volume bar, widgets, etc).
+ Lots and lots of settings to manage the Control Overlay behavior.

The Control Overlay feature can be customized through the advanced
options dialog under "Interface / Control Overlay".

* The default skin modes have been updated. You can access the new modes
from the right-click context menu or using these keyboard shortcuts:

F3 = No user interface at all, just a floating video window.
F4 = The new default, just a thin frame around the video area.
F5 = Slightly larger frame with a title area and system buttons.
F6 = Charcoal UI using small buttons.
F7 = Full Charcoal UI (the previous default).
F8 = Show bottom bar with more buttons.
F9 = Show bottom bar with more buttons.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when hovering with the mouse (enabled by default).

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when hovering with the mouse even when Zoom Player
is not the active application. This feature is not perfect and can cause
a cosmetic issue where the overlay appears in between Zoom Player's video
window and a window from another application.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when the mouse cursor reaches the screen's bottom
in fullscreen mode.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when the mouse cursor reaches the screen's top
in fullscreen mode.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when performing a forward/backward seek action.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when pausing.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
show the Control Overlay when using fast forward or rewind.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
hide the Control Overlay when idle (3 seconds by default).

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Control Overlay) to automatically
hide the Control Overlay when clicking the video area.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Mouse / Settings) that prevents
the first mouse click on the video area from triggering the assigned
functions if Zoom Player was not the active application. This setting
is enabled by default to allow you to switch to Zoom Player's window
now that the user interface is embedded within the video area.

This setting only ignores the first click in the video area. If you click
the control overlay or other Zoom Player windows, the action is triggered
as expected.

* You can now show/hide the Control Overlay using the Ctrl+"Space"
keyboard shortcut.

* New "Control Overlay" entry adding to the right-click context menu.

* New Setting (Adv. Options / Interface / Mouse / Settings) that disables
Zoom Player from activating any function assigned to a mouse click when
Zoom Player's video area is clicked when Zoom Player is not the active
application, allowing you to switch to Zoom Player without activating
any mouse button assigned function by accident.

This new setting is enabled by default, otherwise switching to Zoom
Player using the modern UI could trigger undesired actions.

* In the previous version, I've added a feature that when you Zoom in
using the mouse wheel, it zooms toward the mouse cursor. I have since
listened to your feedback and made this feature optional. You can
now turn it off under "Advanced Options / Interface / Mouse / Settings".

* New "Create Shortcut" IPTV context-menu option that creates a shortcut
file for the stream you've right-clicked, allowing you to launch
Zoom Player directly into the stream.

* You can now add and stream Xtream Codes TV Shows from IPTV favorites.
If you previously added a TV Show as favorite, you have to recreate
the TV Show favorite for this to work.

* New "/referrer:[url]" command line parameter that specifies a referrer
header when opening a URL from the command line, for example:
zplayer.exe "/referrer:https://website.com" "https://website.com/v.m3u8"

* New "/useragent:[text]" command line parameter that specifies a user-
agent header when opening a URL from the command line, for example:
zplayer.exe "/useragent:SpecialCode" "https://website.com/v.m3u8"

* New "/exaudio:[media]" command line parameter that manually specifies
an external audio file/URL for the currently playing media, for example:
zplayer.exe "http://website.com/steam/video.mp4"
"/exaudio:http://website.com/stream/audio.mp3"
Change :
+ Since the new Overlay Control conflicts with the Hot Corner feature,
Hot Corners have been disabled by default. If you previously used the
Hot Corners feature, you can re-enable it in the advanced options
(make sure to disable the Control Overlay).

+ Maximizing the video window now pops-up any visible Zoom Player windows
such as the Playlist Editor, Equalizer, Media Server Browser, IPTV Player,
etc.

+ The default value for the "Show the Mouse Cursor (pixels)" setting (that
also determines the number of pixels the mouse should move to show the
new Control Overlay interface) has been changed from 2 pixels to 16.
If you've previously set another value, you will need to set it again.

+ The default function assigned to the space key is now "Play / Pause",
replacing the previous default of showing/hiding the control bar.
If you wish to return to the previous default, you can do so from
the advanced options dialog under (Interface / Keyboard).

+ The user interface button hints are now showing the function names
from the translations in combination with any hint text from the skin.
This change will help with translations since the text that is currently
embedded in the skin script is not accessible.

The downside is that using non-default skins may show a double-hint.

+ Scrolling through the play history window should be smoother now.

+ The Control Bar menu entry has been moved under the "Controls" sub-menu.
Fixes :
- The Media Server Browser and Media Library Media Server plugins failed to
show any episode listing for Jellyfin servers.

- Opening a media from the play history window and then as the media was
being loaded quickly reopening the play history window would trigger
a crash.

- Eliminated a bit of flickering (two updates) in the IPTV window's stream
list panel when re-opening the window.

- Clicking the "Media Info" radio button on the information window got
broken and didn't show any information.

- Switching between multiple-playlists now properly stops the currently
playing media.

- When using MadVR or MPC-VR as the video renderer with the no-UI skin
mode (F3 keyboard shortcut), you can now resize the video from the
edges and not only from the corners.

- Hopefully fixed cases where Chinese/Japanese time and date display
would show invalid characters.

- Adding IPTV Xtream Codes movie to the favorites did not show the
movie's description when clicked in the favorites section.

Home Theater PC made Simple
Zoom Player's fullscreen navigation interface is based on a simple 5-Key system (up/down/left/right/select). The 5-key system allows easy access and navigation to such interfaces as Media Library, File Browsing, Playlist, Color Control, Audio Equalizer, Chaptering, Play History and many more. The system's simplicity makes it ideal for users with no previous computer experience.

With Zoom Player, you can instantly Convert any PC into a Home Entertainment Center or Home Theater PC (HTPC) with no requirement for specialized hardware or operating system (Zoom Player runs on every version of Windows).

Utilizing Zoom Player's modular design and flexibility, you can easily design a safe viewing environment, limiting or extending functionality, making it ideal for both children and to the consummate professional.

Forward Thinking
Zoom Player's Install Center will scan your system for missing or outdated components and automatically present you with a list of recommended updates and patches. Using Zoom Player's Install Center technology, you can be sure your system is up to date with the most recent technological innovations without compromising security (all updates are digitally signed) while gaining access to a centralized location, removing the burden of manually searching for the latest updates yourself.

Technology meets Sophistication
Zoom Player installs easily, learning your computer's hardware and software setup. Using the innovative Smart Play technology, Zoom Player employs the ideal "play profile" for every session. This profile comprises the most suitable Audio and Video decoders matched with compatible components - a combination that guarantees a perfect viewing experience, time after time.

A tool for every need
Zoom Player addresses every aspect of DVD and Media control. Zoom Player plays media in every conceivable color composition, display type, playback speed and more. With Zoom Player you can create and manage personalized Media Libraries, virtual Chaptering and Bookmarks, cut and edit scenes with the Scene Cut Editor. Zoom Player employs customizable display characteristics and user defined presets, allows to Remote-Control all menu, navigation and playback functions via wireless (RF) or Infra-Red (IR) Remote Control units, and comes ready with a set of TCP/IP Commands to allow control of Zoom Player via the internet (or any TCP/IP based connection).

Customize, Modify, Reshape as you like
Use Zoom Player's flexible customization options to match your taste. Modify the Graphical User Interface, menus and splash screens. Change operation modes, control options, codec compatibility and many other features. Don't compromise. Make the system meet your EXACT needs.

Shape your desired viewing environment with ease using Zoom Player's modular design and flexibility. Extend or limit functionality as you wish. Personalize the interface, functions and viewing parameters to suit any type of use, any viewer - from a simple, safely monitored, children-friendly viewing tool to a sophisticated, no-limits powerhouse for professionals.

Flavors for All
Zoom Player comes in three flavors: Zoom Player Professional, Zoom Player Premium, and Zoom Player MAX Professional.