VideoLAN says it is working on a major v2.0 update of VLC, the group’s free, open-source media player software. The project is described as a complete rewrite, one which will add major features to different platforms. The Mac version, for instance, will gain Blu-ray playback, a native fullscreen mode in Lion, and an overhauled interface, closer in appearance to iTunes. Media formats, for instance, are situated in a left-hand column.
Windows users will have access to a 64-bit version. Some planned multi-edition changes include a revised subtitle manager, improved video output modes, and support for multiple videos stored inside RAR files. Lua-based extensions will handle functions like posting to Twitter, fetching movie data from Allociné, and automatically retrieving subtitles.
VLC 2.0 is currently in release candidate form, meaning that the final version could go public within weeks. The software may be most important to Mac users, since it supports popular codecs missing from QuickTime; Apple has for example consciously avoided adding first-party Blu-ray drives or support to Macs.
