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Zooming In . . .

Hello and welcome to Zooming In, the blog that will help you discover the amazing potential of Zoom Player, the most customizable media player for windows with 1000's of features and settings. Whether you are a casual user or a power user, Zoom Player can offer you a smooth and enjoyable media experience that suits your needs and preferences.

In this blog, I will share with you some tips and tricks on how to use Zoom Player effectively and efficiently, how to customize it to your liking, and how to explore its hidden gems and advanced options. Zoom Player is not just a media player, it's a media platform that can transform your PC into a home theater, a jukebox, a karaoke machine, and more. Join me as I zoom in on Zoom Player and show you how to make the most out of it.

Zoom Player Beta

Announcing Zoom Player MAX & IPTV version 21 beta 1


Published February 18th, 2025

Zoom Player MAX and Zoom Player IPTV v21 beta 1 has been released and is now available for download. To view what's new, what changed and what was fixed in this beta, click here
Some musing on code optimization

Some musing on code optimization


Published February 3rd, 2025

When initially designing a new UI such as the Modern UI, I always work on the design first and then when I feel the code is mature enough, I go in and optimize to make sure the UI is as responsive and smoothly as I can make it. ... read more
Zoom Player Final

Announcing Zoom Player MAX & IPTV version 20.1


Published January 15th, 2025

Zoom Player MAX and Zoom Player IPTV v20.1 has been released and is now available for download. To view what's new, what changed and what was fixed in this version, click here
Playing Blu-ray with Zoom Player

Playing Blu-ray with Zoom Player


Published November 3rd, 2024

As an indie developer, I don't have the financial resources to license and implement the Blu-Ray standard. As such, encrypted Blu-ray content can't be played in Zoom Player. If you are looking to play encrypted content, I would recommend your try PowerDVD, it's probably the only player for Windows with this capability. ... read more
The Microsoft Store, Universal Windows Platform Apps & Developer HELL

The Microsoft Store, Universal Windows Platform Apps & Developer HELL


Published October 2nd, 2024

As a software developer, I want my app to be discovered. I want people to know it exists and try it out. I’ve spent over 10,000 hours developing my software, and even if it’s the best app in its niche, it’s disheartening when it doesn’t reach its potential audience. ... read more
Zoom Player and the open IPTV initiative

Zoom Player and the open IPTV initiative


Published September 19th, 2024

IPTV is similar to a cable or satellite TV provider, but instead of using a box connected to your TV or an app installed on your TV, Zoom Player acts as "the box". ...read more
IPTV : Xtream Codes vs. Playlist (m3u) & EPG (xml) cover

IPTV: The Xtream Codes Saga (part 2)


Published September 2nd, 2024

My original post on the Xtream Codes Saga had some misconceptions due to lacking documentation and my partial understanding of the API. ...read more
IPTV : Xtream Codes vs. Playlist (m3u) & EPG (xml) cover

IPTV : Xtream Codes vs. Playlist (m3u) & EPG (xml)


Published August 19th, 2024

With my goal of transforming Zoom Player into the best IPTV player for Windows, I have been diligently working on expanding Zoom Player's feature-set. ...read more
The ZPL (Zoom Player Playlist) Format cover

The ZPL (Zoom Player Playlist) Format


Published August 7th, 2024

Many applications prefer XML for their playlist file formats, but Zoom Player takes a different approach. XML, while widely used, comes with significant overhead. It's inherently complex and slow to parse, making it less efficient for tasks that require quick and seamless performance. ...read more
WMV playback in Zoom Player

WMV playback in Zoom Player


Published July 30th, 2024

WMV or "Windows Media Video" is a video format and file wrapper (you can use the same video format across different "wrapper" files or streaming formats) created by Microsoft (at the time) to compete with MPEG4 video encoders (DivX, XviD, etc), other popular file wrappers (mp4, Matroska/mkv) and to replace the aging AVI format. ...read more
Live Coding 7

Live Coding #7 : Video Renderer Configuration & Dynamic Swapping


Published July 24th, 2024

In this session I add a quality of life feature that allows you to more easily configure the currently selected video renderer and a new extended function that dynamically switches between different Video Renderers. ...read more
Multi Monitor

How to configure multi monitor and video wall setups


Published July 16th, 2024

A multi-monitor setup, also known as a dual-monitor or multi-display environment, is a technology that enables you to extend the computer's desktop across multiple screens. In this blog post, I will guide you on how to configure Zoom Player for different multi monitor modes. ...read more
Live Coding #6

Live Coding #6 : Coding feature requests and fixing bugs


Published July 15th, 2024

In this session, I implement a few recent feature requests from Zoom Player's reddit community and fix a bug or two. ...read more
Live Coding #5

Live Coding #5 : libVLC Equalizer & Preferred Audio Devices feature


Published July 8th, 2024

In this live coding session, I integrate libVLC's Audio Equalizer support into Zoom Player's Equalizer user interface and then I begin work on the preferred audio device switching feature for libVLC. ...read more
Top 7 IPTV players for Windows

Top 7 Home Theater PC (HTPC) Players for Windows in 2024


Published July 1st, 2024

HTPC software is designed to stream, play, and manage multimedia content on your home theater setup. These players offer a variety of features, including support for a wide range of media formats, customizable interfaces, and advanced playback options. In this article, I present the top 7 Windows HTPC players for 2024, highlighting their strengths and drawbacks to help you choose the best one for your needs. ...read more
Live Coding #4

Live Coding #4 : IPTV Playlist Names & Selection


Published June 25th, 2024

In this video, I live-code user requests by tweaking the skin selection dialog, making it clearer to use and I add naming support for IPTV playlists and EPG sources to make them easier to distinguish and support for viewing specific playlists without merging all of them into one big list. ...read more
Managing multiple active playlists cover

Managing multiple active playlists in Zoom Player v19


Published June 17th, 2024

For avid music listeners or those who love to keep their audio and video collections organized, we often find ourselves juggling multiple playlists for different moods, occasions, and content types. This is where Zoom Player shines with its user-friendly playlist management features. ...read more
Live Coding #3

Live Coding #3 : Multiple Playlists Part 2


Published June 12th, 2024

In this session, I complete the multiple playlist feature by adding an option to load a playlist from file, manage playlists and restore the multiple playlists on load using a background thread so performance is not impacted even when using massive playlists with 1000's of tracks each. ...read more
Live Coding #2

Live Coding #2 : Multiple Playlists Part 1


Published May 29th, 2024

In this Zoom Player coding session, I begin development of the new multiple playlists feature that allows you to instantly switch between massive playlists that reside in system memory. ...read more
Live Coding #1

Live Coding #1 : Cast to Chromecast & Bug fix


Published May 22nd, 2024

I start by fixing a bug that caused the default background image to show for a split-second when drag & dropping a new media file onto the player window and I finish by implementing the new "Cast to Device" feature. ...read more
Youtube Data API thumbnail

A guide to creating a personal YouTube API key


Published May 7th, 2024

To integrate YouTube's vast library into applications like Zoom Player's media library plugins, you may need access to a YouTube DATA v3 API key. This key serves as a bridge between YouTube's services and third-party applications, allowing for a seamless integration of content. ...read more
PC Mouse

How to configure custom actions for the mouse buttons and wheel


Published April 30th, 2024

Zoom Player stands out for its highly customizable interface, offering a level of control that enhances your viewing experience. One of the most notable features is the ability to configure mouse actions for a variety of functions, accessible through the Advanced Options dialog under the "Interface / Mouse" section. ...read more
Zoom Player's Media Library

A Malware's Tale or How I suspect Hackers are using Zoom Player as part of their malware campaign


Published April 23rd, 2024

It began on a cold night in ~January. A person posted on Zoom Player’s sub-reddit they initially thought Zoom Player was a virus, but looking into it they found it odd that there's an official forum that looks legit. Said person explained that they did a clean Windows 11 install and found a copy of Zoom Player auto-running at boot, requesting to upgrade. ...read more
Top 7 IPTV players for Windows

Top 7 IPTV players for Windows


Published March 25th, 2024

IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, is a technology that allows consumers to stream television content over the internet instead of traditional over the air broadcasts or cable boxes. With the rise of IPTV services, there's a growing demand for reliable IPTV players to access and enjoy this content on various devices, including Windows PCs. ...read more
Zoom Player's Media Library

How to setup jukebox mode for movies


Published February 12th, 2024

Jukebox mode is a feature in Zoom Player that allows you to view your movie collection in a fun and interactive way. It is a great way to organize your movies and make them easily accessible. ...read more
Zoom Player's metadata editor dialog

How to edit Metadata for Media Library TV and Movie categories


Published January 29th, 2024

Metadata is a powerful tool that encapsulates information about a file, offering insights and control over its content. ...read more
Zoom Player's IPTV Options window

How to play IPTV channels in Zoom Player v18


Published October 31st, 2023

One of the newest features of Zoom Player is support for IPTV streaming. Zoom Player can play IPTV streams from a playlist file or a URL in the M3U format. ...read more
Zoom Player Timeline position thumbnail

How to display a timeline position thumbnail


Published October 18th, 2023

One of the features that makes Zoom Player stand out from other media players is the ability to see a preview thumbnail of the video file you are playing when you hover over any position in the timeline. ...read more
Zoom Player's Scene Cut Editor

Virtual editing using the Scene Cut Editor


Published October 3rd, 2023

If you are looking for a simple and effective way to edit your media files without using any external software, Zoom Player has a feature that might interest you. ...read more
Zoom Player's Create Ringtone window

Creating a custom Mobile Phone RingTone from playing media


Published September 19th, 2023

Ringtones are sounds that play when you receive a phone call or a notification. They can be customized to suit your preferences and mood. You can use your favorite songs, funny noises, or anything else that you like as your ringtones. But how do you create RingTones from media files?. ...read more
Zoom Player Language page

Downloading and applying Language files


Published September 11th, 2023

If you love Zoom Player, you might be interested in knowing that it has support for many language files. This means that you can enjoy your favorite media player in your native language or any other language you want to learn. ... read more
Zoom Player's Play History window

Hiding entries from the Play History


Published September 5th, 2023

Zoom Player lets you keep track of what you have watched or listened to on your computer using its play history feature. The play history is a convenient way to resume playback from where you left off, or to quickly access your favorite media files. ... read more
Zoom Player's Install Center

Downloading missing components from the Install Center


Published August 30th, 2023

If you want to enjoy your media files without any glitches or errors, you need to make sure that your system has the necessary components to support them ... read more
Zoom Player's right click menu

Watching a Live YouTube stream


Published August 28th, 2023

YouTube is a popular video-sharing platform that allows users to upload, watch, and share videos. One of the features that YouTube offers is live streaming, which is a way of broadcasting video and audio in real time over the internet. Live streaming can be used for various purposes, such as gaming, music, sports, news, education, and entertainment ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Mounting an ISO file automatically


Published August 23rd, 2023

Zoom Player features a function that might make your life simpler if you are looking for a handy solution to play media files stored in ".ISO" disc image file format. I'll describe what an ISO file is in this blog article and how Zoom Player can automatically mount and play it for you ... read more
Zoom Player's Media Library

Show a play position bar on media library thumbnails


Published July 31st, 2023

Zoom Player has a lot of options to customize your viewing experience. One of these options is the ability to view the play position in your media library navigation interface. In this blog post, I will explain why this feature will be useful and how to enable it ... read more
Zoom Player Shortcut Properties

Using command line parameters


Published July 24th, 2023

Zoom Player offers more flexibility and control with the use of command line parameters. In this blog post, I will explain what command line parameters are, how they can benefit you ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Controlling Zoom Player using the Xbox controller


Published July 19th, 2023

If you are looking for a media player that can adapt to your preferences and needs, Zoom Player is for you. Zoom Player has many cool features, such as the ability to use an Xbox controller as a remote ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Smooth motion using MadVR


Published July 17th, 2023

Zoom Player is a versatile and powerful media player that supports a wide range of formats and features. One of the features that Zoom Player offers is the ability to enable smooth motion using the MadVR video renderer ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Show play position preview in the Windows Taskbar


Published July 11th, 2023

Zoom Player, the most feature rich media player for windows has a cool feature that lets you see the current play progress on the Windows taskbar button. This feature can be very handy if you want to quickly check how far you have progressed in the video or audio file. In this blog post, I will show you how to enable this feature and what benefits it can bring ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Automatically restore the subtitle track when re-playing content


Published July 6th, 2023

If you are a fan of Zoom Player, you may have noticed a handy feature that saves you some time and hassle when you replay a media file. This feature is called "Automatically restore the previously active subtitle track on replay" ... read more
Zoom Player's Search for subtitles Dialog

Downloading and applying a subtitle to a playing video


Published July 3rd, 2023

Zoom Player is a versatile media player for Windows that can play almost any video or audio format. One of its useful features is the ability to search and download subtitles for the playing video ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Quickly switch audio between multiple devices


Published June 28th, 2023

If you use Zoom Player, the media player for Windows, you may want to switch between different audio devices for different purposes. For example, you may want to use speakers when watching a movie with your family, and headphones when listening to music alone. Zoom Player has a handy feature that lets you do this easily and quickly ... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Automatically restore playback from the last play position


Published June 26th, 2023

Have you ever wanted to resume watching a video or listening to an audio file from where you left off? If you use Zoom Player, the media player for windows, you can do that easily with a simple setting ... read more
Zoom Player's Media Library Category Editor

Add a YouTube channel to Zoom Player


Published June 25th, 2023

Zoom Player is a versatile and powerful media player for Windows that can play almost any format of video and audio files. One of its unique features is the ability to integrate YouTube channels into its media library... read more
Zoom Player's Advanced Options Dialog

Automatically restore audio volume level when replaying content


Published June 22nd, 2023

Zoom Player is a versatile media player for Windows that supports a wide range of formats and features. In this blog post, I will explain two of its play history settings that allow you to control whether replayed media's audio volume is automatically... read more