News AOL to unveil new Winamp

From c|net:

America Online is expected to release an upgrade for its free Winamp multimedia software as early as Tuesday, with a fee-based "pro" version that does MP3 encoding to follow, according to sources familiar with the plans.

The Winamp5 update highlights a return to simpler times for Nullsoft, the original developer of Winamp, which AOL acquired in 1999 to jumpstart its online music strategy. The previous version, Winamp3, was an ambitious attempt by Nullsoft to create its own programming language, called "Wasabi," and to develop applications for the player. However, Winamp3 was dogged by criticisms that it was bloated and slow. It was scrapped earlier this year for the slimmer 2.x version.

Brennan Underwood, who spearheaded the development of Wasabi, along with another prominent Nullsoft developer, were laid off last week, according to sources close to Nullsoft. The layoffs were part of widespread cuts in AOL's California offices.

Nullsoft founder Justin Frankel had hinted on Winamp's Web site that version 5 might be launched Monday. But the sources said the release will be timed for Tuesday.

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Okay, uh, am I the only one that had no idea that AOL has anything to do with Winamp? Did I miss a memo somewhere? In addition, what happened to version 4? I don't remember hearing anything about it.

 

I downloaded it about 30 mins ago and have been playing with it...

I like it! Seems more integrated than what I'm used to and is much faster. I also like the look and feel of the interface...

 

i had the beta times ago and it is true it is the best mediaplayer ever
fast and nice
nice work nullsoft

 

Dad, Winamp 2 + Winamp 3 = Winamp 5. That's why they skipped 4.

 

After a thorough trial I've concluded that I still like iTunes much more. Sorry AOL/Nullsoft, but the ease of use of iTunes is still second to none.

 

AOL bought Nullsoft a few years back, that's why it stopped being a "shareware" product and became totally free. Now AOL is reintroducing a pay-for version to include extra features (such as high speed ripping and CD burning) to try to take back some of the market stolen from them by Microsoft and their Media Player and Real with RealOne Player (and all the other media players out there).

It's out now, if you're a Winamp fan, go download it now

I never liked 3, it was bloated and a memory hog. I remained a 2.9x purist till I got my hands on an early beta of 5 and haven't really looked back since. Nullsoft listened to their fans, and took the best bits of 2 and the 'good' bits of 3, and stuck them together... and as whypick1 has already said... 2+3=5.

What's also nice about 5 is that it remains compatible with a mIRC dll I use for my script when 3 hated it.

I highly recommend Winamp 5, just for the simpleness (and good old fashioned Winampness [I know it's not a word]) of playing CDs and MP3s (I don't care about CD burning [Nero 6 anyone?] or ripping audio CDs [Easy CD-DA Extractor, CDex or EAC anyone?]) They might be useless features but I don't care, it's Winamp.

edit:

The other person laid off was Aus.

 

being a person that only liked 2.x since.. well.. always and hating 3.x since.. always..

well.. just tried 5 and.. umm.. well.. I think I will have to play a little more but it still seems to respond slower than 2.9x.. Ill see how it goes

::EDIT:: After playing some more.. I have found winamp 5 Doesnt even "sound" as nice.. When I say that I mean the general audio quality of the audio output seems somewhat flatter (even when using the same EQ preset), it handles slugglishly, and generally.. I dont like it.. I think I will continue to use oldschool 2.91

 

Download's dead.

Edit:

All is well now. Heh.

 

Works fine up here in New York...

 

Just to clear some things up.

Winamp3 is a failed project. It is now unsupported and has been renamed to "wasabi.player".

The Winamp 2.x series has been superceded by Winamp 5. Just try to imagine that 3 and 4 never existed (well 4 never did, so that bit isn't too hard).

Winamp 5 is the latest and greatest version of the "2.x series". Those wanting to stick with Winamp 2.x - 2.x is now unsupported and there will be no more updates - downloading Winamp 5 Lite and using a "Classic Skin" will give you the latest version of "2.x".

Winamp 5 Pro will be released soon. This just adds full speed ripping and MP3 encoding.

Winamp is still free, just download Lite or Full. You do NOT need to pay unless you really want the Pro features.