14 DAY TRIAL // VideoLAN has announced plans to roll out a major new update for users of VLC for iOS today, in an attempt to build up some hype around this ceremonious upgrade.
The VLC developers are mum regarding the new features, stating only, “Today, a new major release for VLC on iOS...”
They undoubtedly want to create some awareness regarding the update. The current version is 2.1.3, so they could either roll out VLC for iOS 2.1.4, VLC for iOS 2.1.5, VLC for iOS 2.2, or even VLC for iOS 3.0, depending on how VideoLAN designates “major” releases on Apple’s mobiles.
Available as a free download from iTunes, VLC for iOS is an iPhone/iPad port of the free VLC media player that we’ve all come to appreciate on desktop computers.
The software is capable of handling a wide range of video formats without conversion, and integrates with Dropbox to allow users to fetch movies from the cloud, instead of holding them on the device itself.
You can also feed video to the app through iTunes, direct download, and through an embedded upload web server. UPnP media servers are also supported.
The current list of features can be found below (for comparison purposes when the new version comes out).
• Play all files, in all formats, including exotic ones, like classic VLC media player • Play MKV, multiple audio tracks (including 5.1), and subtitles tracks (including SSA!) • Support for network streams, including HLS, MMS or RTSP • Include video filters, playback speed manipulation, and fine seeking • A video media library, with WiFi Upload, Dropbox integration and optional passcode lock • Integration for bluetooth headsets and AirPlay • Local Network service discovery with UPnP • Supports iOS 5.1 or later including the first iPad • Completely free, libre and open source
Readers can download VLC for iOS immediately and wait for the update to drop later today.