One of the most popular free media players is now finally available for Windows 8. The team at VideoLAN has now completed work on version 1.0 of their VLC media player and it is now available to download from the Windows Store. The team actually submitted the app to the store for certification on Monday, but it took Microsoft a little longer than expected to actually approve and release it. This first release is considered to be a beta version.
The all-volunteer VideoLAN team got the funding to develop the Windows 8 version via a successful Kickstarter campaign in December 2012, but it took a much longer time to complete than the team originally predicted. This first version just runs on Windows 8; it does not currently support Windows RT which means owners of Microsoft's Surface RT and Surface 2 tablets are out of luck for now. VideoLAN will add support for that OS in the near future and also has plans to release a Windows Phone port as well.
VideoLAN's Jean-Baptiste Kempf updated his personal blog with some more information about the VLC Windows 8 app. One thing he points out is that it works on both Windows 8 and 8.1 so if you haven't upgraded to the new OS version you can still use the app.
Stay tuned as Neowin will post an interview with Kempf later today as he talks very frankly about the development of the Windows 8 VLC app and the team's plans for future versions.
Source: Windows Store | Image via VideoLAN
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