Winamp is still a thing? NOPE: It'll be silenced forever in December

A bit of a shame..

I switched to Winamp from WMP quite a few years ago now (pre Vista's release I think) due to changes in WMP that I didn't like. Winamp came up trumps as an alternative enough that I bought the Pro version and I've been happy with it most of the time ever since, with just the minor niggle or two.

I've downloaded the latest release, and will keep on using it as long as I can. I even have older computers I can keep running (or get a VM going with Win 7 or XP) which will allow me to carry on as long as those computers keep working.

I will probably eventually have to change to something else, just like I have to change mobile phones eventually (for ones with no removable battery or storage :( ). Life does move on, even when sometimes we don't want it to.

What a screwing!

Why can't they open source it, or at least release it into the public domain, if they're done with it? Why must they engage in "book burning"?

I use this application on all of my windows systems, and it's integrated with a remote control system that I have put a great deal of time into (based on WWWinamp, but it didn't do everything I needed it to and was no longer being supported, so I decompiled it and added a few features I needed, and fixed a few bugs).

R.I.P

Shame :( one of the better music players, even on Android.

Perhap they could be convinced to open source it?

Winamp OK for me

I've used Winamp since 2000. I don't like Windows Media player because all I want to do is listen to my music files and adjust the equalizer. I don't care about album covers or info about the album. If I want info, I go to the web. I'll miss Winamp.

WinAMP was a turning point for me...

... well-engineered and extremely popular as it was, its users' obsession with skins and customisation was the first thing that made me feel that I'm something different from the typical self-declared "technical" user. I just want the music to play and the thing that does that to be as invisible as possible.

It's sad to see WinAMP go though. It ushered in the modern world of music consumption.

I will miss it...

When I next want to listen to a CMF file as it should really sound.

I had a plug in for the FM sysnthesis part of Creative Music Files from old games like 'Jill Of The Jungle' etc.

Without it, you just get the MIDI part, IF the player will handle it at all.

I didn't transfer my WinAMP Pro to my new 64-bit PC but went with VLC instead, now I am thinking I need to think again

I will definitely investigate FooBar2000 though, thanks for the tips - http://www.foobar2000.org/.

I'll remember the early versions fondly but I also moved away due to v3 bloat. Currently using mediamonkey on the htpc and droids for flac and mp3 but might take a look at foobar2000

i'm surprised

i'm surprised it lasted as long as it did, after AOL got a hold of it. But I wonder if it has to do acquiring Orb recently that took them under, or if it is being removed in advance of a new product coming out.

Audacious

I've been using Audacious on Linux for a while - what I take to be a Winamp clone? I really can't understand why you need behemoth of a program just to play tunes. http://audacious-media-player.org/

Like Winamp did on Windows, Audacious does on Linux and Windows - gives you a really simple music player.

Seriously, why do the people designing music players feel the need to i-Tunesify them and make large, cumbersome, and confusing?

It was a good run

Sad. I use it on Win7 and on Android. Works well, stays the hell out of my way, doesn't need a lot of tinkering. And it beats the bundled players by miles.

Do I sound too non-technical? No. I've been programming for 40 years and know the value of a tool I can install and use without making a career out of tweaking it.

Typical of AOL to say, "Huge user base? Screw 'em."

Well that blows. I still use Winamp on Windows. The Windows version of VLC has never quite done it for me, though it is the media player I use on Linux. But if I'm listening to music on Windows, I'm doing it through Winamp, I have for a very long time, and nothing else feels right to me. WinAmp's EQ was always better for me, plus all my presets are saved in WinAmp's format, the output plugins were extensively customizable inside of the program. And Milkdrop still had the coolest random visualizations. Looks like I'm gonna have to grab an installer and drop the motherfucker on a CD-R, or a USB drive with a very clear label, WINAMP - DO NOT FORMAT!

Yet again, fuck AOL. Add WinAmp's scalp to the pile that Netscape's is on. My god they're a worthless corporation. I wonder if they'll axe the Nullsoft install system while they're at it, because its old but still useful, and AOL can't have that apparently.

Spotify

Yep, I used to install winamp almost before any other software on any new pc. Now it's kind of obsolete, I don't want to manage mp3s and disks, Spotify does the trick for me. Hats off to them for giving it a clean send off and retiring it: winamp was legendary. Whip the llamas ass for the last time.

But on a side note I think the pc days are about to make a comeback with those new consoles providing the catalyst and tablets do not cut it with me. Just bought me a new gaming rig instead since the games are cheaper, more varied, and the 9800 graphics card rocks!

the whole of nullsoft left the company when AOL brought it, and forced the corporate office and ties, nullsoft has had 3 people there for 10 years just tweaking a few bugs and the janitor

shoutcast will rule forever, and laugh at all other streaming services, the source will probably be leaked, so everyone can carry on streaming MP3, over the automated transcoder without needing a licence

shoutcast 2, you can infinate relays and nodes from a single source server and used in all university radio`s and dance music and a million other things

Well, I haven't used it in a while, but I happen to know people who still use it. And I have fond memories of it.

So I created this petition to help them: https://www.change.org/petitions/aol-nullsoft-open-source-winamp

Hoping it catches on.

Vanish ?

Used Winamp since it was launched but I managed to go 16 odd years without paying anything, so the news I won't be able to in future leaves me fairly dry eyed.

I run version 2.8 on legacy windows boxes and I'll carry on doing so until such time as I finally cut the ties with Microsoft.

Everyone's needs are different. I hardly ever use playlists and can't stand software which wants to 'organize' my files - including the bloatier versions of Winamp of course (I mean really just fuck off with that). I just want a simple player that handles a range of formats. Winamp isn't perfect but it has some very useful features. Tried lots of others but never found a player I preferred until I came across 1by1, a freeware directory-based player, and I still use Winamp for single files and podcasts.

Winamp (at least the paid for versions of it) may disappear from mainstream shareware sites but it's only going to "vanish from the web" if AOL bothers issuing take down notices to the various legacy software sites which already host every version of it. Those versions which don't need a paid for license will still function as well as they did from new downloads. Might want to grab any plugins or skins before Winamp.com is switched off though.

Large collection

My preferred audio player is MediaMonkey Gold (the pay for version). It is the only player I have found which caters for my excessively large collection of over 400,000 tracks.

Where can I get a media player that has the same version of Milkdrop that Winamp has?

I use Winamp on the TV in my lounge for background music when mates are around and the Amazing Milkdrop 2 visalisation pack - Does anyone know of another Media player I can get it on? I remember looking a year or so back but it seems the presets that come with Winamp are in a league of their own!

Won't you please think about the Androids?

Can anyone suggest an alternative media file player and shoutcast streaming app for Android? I've found Winamp is by far the best. Oh and BTW, just die of some STD, Google. I can't wait to get a FF phone, or a maybe Meego/Tizen phone. Ef Google so hard, man. Sickos.

Milk Drop dropped?

I only use WinAmp for the visualisation stuff via line in.

Anything else out there that is as easy to use?

Thanks God!

I flirted with this thing briefly (a couple of days perhaps) in the 1990s, but the interface was so garish, I ditched it and never came back. And, every time I see it on some poor soul's computer, I have a faint impression it comes bundled with some shit spamware. I never understood why people are still attracted to it. After all, there are many players who do exactly the same job, without resorting to rococo gui. After all it's supposed to play audio files (mainly), not look pretty on my screen?

That is a sad day...

I used to use WinAmp, but that sadly seems to be its problem - We all used to use it.

Still, a sad day never the less.

I think i will download it now. I have like 10 tracks on my computer, everything else comes from Spotify now.

one of the only bits of software i bought! - a real shame.

I remember when AOL bought them and thought this is the end, and we got another decade out of them. truly a shame to see them go, but i wont be uninstalling anytime soon, so long live the llama!

Broadcast Use

In the days before radio station playout software was both cheap and reliable, I used Winamp to varying degrees to run the playout for 3 RSL's. The final one in 2002, everything came off of Winamp.

You could run multiple instances and get each instance to play out via a separate sound card. That's not something you can take for granted even today with non professional software. Meant I could route each instance through a separate fader.

I was still using it as my main media player until 2008 when I migrated to the Mac.

Also spoke to a friend this morning who at this very moment is using Winamp to play a test feed on a soon to launch broadcast service. Can't say more but the versatility of Winamp and small footprint made it ideal as a reliable player ahead of the proper pro kit being switched on ahead of launch.

Hope they open source it but somehow doubt that will happen.