WARNING Required codec pack attempts to install Video AdBlock browser extension

[Deimos]

I can understand having to download some components to get all video codecs to work but the linked site in the pinned topic of setting up klite codec pack bundles a "Video AdBlock" browser extension with the installer.

Either find a way to license and include your codecs with the application or provide a safe alternative without extensions/adware/malware/spyware, because this is unacceptable.

http://imgur.com/U98iaZA

Edit: Also tries to install Ad-Aware. This is pretty bad.

http://imgur.com/MXUH7QX

[Whirligig]

I agree. Although it has been the one piece of advice that has helped most people get the player up and running and I also mention it in the tutorial.

For this reason though I've been working on an installer that just has the LAV codecs and codec tweaktools for registering the codecs for preferred playback. I need to fully test the installer but once I have I'll be offering it free as a preferred way of installing codecs. With klite mentioned and warnings relating to not install additional components.

I could also create a tutorial for installing the LAV codecs and tweak tools separately. Do you thing that would help?

Thanks for bringing it up on the forum.

Regards

Phil

[Deimos]

First of all, I just have to say, as someone who has worked in technology my entire adult life and then some, your reply is the most level-headed and respectful exchange I've had in a very, very long time. Thank you. It's humbling.

It sounds like you've got a reasonable solution you're working on. I think a clean installer from the developer, maybe through Steam tools would be a good option, there's a number of games that require installers for settings up private servers and what not, so it's something a little more familiar as well.

I don't presume to know anything about Whirligig's implementation, but this caught my eye and figured it would at least be worth mentioning, https://github.com/Nevcairiel/LAVFilters I have no idea if including the codecs in any way is an option from a technical or licensing standpoint.

I do think that a short tutorial for installing the codecs and tweak tools separately would be a good compromise without demanding a lot of time. It could probably be a few bullet points and anyone looking for a streamlined method could use the klite package via your other tutorial.

Again, thank you for the reply, and thanks for your work on Whirligig. I apologize if my post was a little heated. I've worked for multiple ad companies and I know way too much about those bundled installers and what ad networks allow through those apps and extensions, so I'm probably a little more sensitive than I should be when it comes to that.

Launching and supporting an application can be difficult, but it looks like you're doing a phenominal job, thanks!

[Whirligig]

Thanks :)

This is my first Steam product ( product in general) so a lot of it is finding my feet. I don't want to give bad advice or misinformation so if there are times I do that it's good to be told about it.

The LAV filters are the ones I'm including in the simple install. I'd point people to that but unfortunately the install doesn't set them to preferred so to get them working with Whirligig requires Tweak tools to do that, hence the installer.

The legal side of things is a bit weird. Every codec has a different licensing agreement. The reason LAV, VLC ffmpeg etc can be downloaded is because they are given away free.

There is some hope though. The video plugin I use are updating to include Media Foundation support which expands the default available video types which would be fine for most people :)

If you have any problems with Whirligig let me know. Apart from that I hope you find it useful and continue to use it.

All the best

Phil

[Atomic Flame Boy]

May I ask from which site you did download the codec pack?
I did not notice any bloatware/malware with the installation, been using it for years. Always get it from www.codecguide.com they provide even checksums to verify the download.
Or am I just blind and do have installed the malware without noticing?

[Whirligig]

That's the one I've downloaded from in the past. I have noticed in the install that they do ask whether you want to install extra stuff which generally you shouldn't.

As this is a concern for some and I've also noticed a issue with some installs on windows 10 I've create an installer that only installs the LAV codecs and then registers them as preferred. You can download this from my site:

http://www.whirligig.xyz/player2-1-2/

[Atomic Flame Boy]

I just installed it again and it did'nt try to install any bloatware. Maybe some of the mirrors add stuff to the installation. Anyway, I would have noticed it asking me to install bloatware.

Tonight I will try to setup Whirligig, yesterday it had eaten up 100% CPU as soon as I selected a 180 degree panorama video in the fileselector. That was before installing the codec pack, would have sworn having it installed already. The same video plays fine in MPC-HC without the codec pack, no noticeable amount of cpu used (Win7 x64). Even my mobile plays it very nicely (in a cardboard viewer)

[Whirligig]

The player does currently just use the cpu for playback which means that it can have high cpu usage, the codecs used do have a big impact though. However I am updating the video plugin hopefully over the weekend which should improve things all round, fingers crossed :)