Windows DVD Player app released for Windows 10; will be free for some

When Windows Media Center (WMC) users found out that their beloved system for recording and viewing television programming was not going to make the transition to Windows 10 they were disappointed.

Making decisions to cut features to an OS are based on a number of reasons and usage probably ranks quite high. To develop and maintain system features cost money and the decisions to discontinue something like WMC must be tough. Windows Home Server users know this feeling all too well.

In what might be considered compensation for users who are losing access WMC, which allowed anyone using it on Windows to play DVDs, Microsoft has released a Windows DVD Player app for Windows 10 that will be free for some users and cost $14.99 for everyone else.

If you used WMC on the following systems, then you are eligible for a free copy of the Windows DVD Player app:

• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Ultimate
• Windows 8/8.1 with Media Center Pack
• Windows 8/8.1 with Pro Pack

If you upgraded anyone of the above systems to Windows 10 using an in-place upgrade, then this free app will be delivered through Windows Update to your system. The upgrade had to occur after the General Availability of Windows 10 on 29 July.

If you upgraded to Windows 10 as part of the Insider Program prior to 29 July then you can still get the Windows DVD Player app but it will require that you reinstall your eligible OS and then upgrade to Windows 10.

For those who did not have an eligible system to receive the Windows DVD Player app for free it can still be purchased from the Windows Store for $14.99. Same rules apply for using this on other devices like they are for any other paid app.




There are a few caveats to be aware of with this app:

• If you reinstall Windows 10 using update and recovery the connection to having the free app will be broken. That means your eligible OS will need to be reinstalled to regain access to the free app download.
• The free offer of this app does not currently have a final date however, it is expected to end prior to the free Windows 10 upgrade offer expiring.
• The app only plays optical disks and cannot play from a backed up copy on a disk.
• The app only plays DVDs – no Blu-ray options.

You can go ahead and read the entire FAQ about the Windows DVD Player app and also check out the Windows Store listing for it.

Source : http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/windows-dvd-player-app-released-windows-10-will-be-free-some

 

I have VLC on every computer.
It's has a small footprint and does the job nicely.

It's also free!