Microsoft multimedia issues have started when the market wanted to start listening to music and watch movies on computers. The need to make the internet more interesting using sound, picture and videos have begun, when we got bored with those static pages of information.

People started to need more out of their computers, they were playing games on their PC’s listening to the game sounds and connecting better sound speakers to their computers and using their computers as media centers, to listen to music, watch movies, etc…

Microsoft has thought of all of that when they started and their new operating systems included some basic tools, for listening to music and sounds, and watch movies. At first, the quality was quite poor, but as computer’s equipment progressed, as sound cards have become more advanced and sound speakers had better quality, and included subwoofers, the demand for a more advanced and better quality software multimedia solutions have increased.

Microsoft rose to the challenge,
and developed their “Media Player” software, which in time got updated and better for playing any of the multimedia types of files. Microsoft learned to use the new “Codec” techniques that have been developed and included all of the suitable plug-ins to increase the support that the media player needed to be able to produce the most effective and the best quality they could deliver to give us the quality we needed.

• Media player Codec Pack

Since Microsoft has ruled most of the end user’s computers as the leading operating system, the media player was part of their system and was the default player for those type of needs. There is some competition out there to the Microsoft’s player, some of them even I prefer better, than the media player, like the “KMP player” for movie watching, or the XBMC multimedia center for listening to music, but I have to say that Microsoft was a pioneer in that area, and for that, they have my respect.

I know it is a bit presumptuous to try and define the best computer applications or make such list, but as I see it, the best application in my opinion is defined by the user itself, each one has its own opinion on what is the best application for him. So, since it is an individual opinion I will make my own list of best computer applications.

My List of best/recommended applications:

Soluto – This program helps to boost the booting process, and make it shorter. Basically it enables to choose some of your applications that are loading on the start-up to be moved after the crucial system applications. This enables you to be able start opening applications before all of your applications are loaded. This application even shows you how much time you have saved. Mostly it will boost the boot time in half. This application is recommended, for any of the Windows users.

KMP-Player – This is one of the best Video/Music players I have ever had the pleasure of using. It will play any type of movie you want, including High-Definition (720p, 1080p etc…) ones. When you get used to the shortcut keys of this application, you will find it very usable and easy to use. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.

XBMC – XBMC Media center –
This is the best media center application I have had the pleasure of using, it is a great application to watch movies, listen to music and use other free applications like weather forecast etc… The application will collect all of your Video, Music within compact organized screens, with easy access to them all, and all of that will be running on your TV in case you choose to connect your computer to your TV. The application is very easy to use, using just your Mouse and Keyboard. This is one of the best I have tested, and I believe you will like it too try it out.

AxCrypt – This is a much recommended program in case you need to lock you files/folders with a password, so only you will be able to access the files. The use is very simple, right click the file, and encrypt it using a password. The file will then be locked, and you will be able to unlock it only if you remember the password, so don’t forget it (Write it down somewhere).

Foxit PDF reader –
This is a simple; small sized and mostly supports any type of PDF documents you might have, so if you’re tired of the heavy complicated Adobe Reader application, you might want to consider this recommended efficient application.