Type in a letter or two, and results pop up instantly, even amid gigabytes of data. River Media Jukebox 8.0 excels is its fast search function. You also get MP3 encoding, Media Scheduler (for scheduling playback and recording of files), Media Server (for connecting to your media library remotely or within a network), CD Labeler, and a tagging utility. Doing so adds a plethora of features, including a rudimentary but effective media editor, which you can use to trim various file types and re-encode them into the format of your choice. If you're satisfied with Media Jukebox, you can get the full-featured Plus version for less than $20. Unlike Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and others in its class, Media Jukebox provides no integrated source for purchasing music, video, and other media content. You can either manually enter a URL or click the Web Media link, which opens a window with a search bar (you can search 1,000 included stations and add your own) and features stations such as BBC News 24, Bloomberg Finance, and various music streams. Media Jukebox can handle all types of streaming media, ranging from Shoutcast to RealVideo content. Developers can even submit their own plug-ins. River offers a range of them, from typical DSP and visualization plug-ins to more advanced ones that give you remote access to Media Jukebox. Record settings include options for line-in recording and automatic track splitting. Upgrading to the Plus version will get you maximum burning speeds. River limits CD burning for data and audio to 4X in the basic version. Unfortunately, you won't get MP3 encoding unless you pay for the Plus version. You can also download additional plug-ins, such as lossless APE encoding, for free from J. Ripping CDs is painless and efficient, and you get a choice of OGG, WMA, and other codecs, plus the option to normalize tracks before encoding. While the application works well for video playback, it has an audiocentric interface and feature set. The compatibility list includes a mix of heavyweights and lesser-known formats (Liquid Audio, Monkey's Audio, MusicEx), but it doesn't include AAC, DivX, or photo files. Perhaps its best quality is that it can play back more than 80 file types, including QuickTime, Windows Media, RealMedia, MP3, Audible, and OGG. River Media Jukebox 8.0 is designed as a one-stop shop for organizing, playing back, ripping, and burning music. Unfortunately, built-in EQ and DSP plug-in effects are available only as a Plus feature ($19.98 gets you the full-featured Plus version). Down below on the left side, you'll find the player and volume controls, the media-title and artist info, playback options such as Shuffle and Continuous, and the playback filter, which allows you to apply EQ, effects, and crossfading. The visual and functional simplicity of this Explorer-like tree is one of Media Jukebox's strengths. The larger, right-hand window is where your media and associated information show up. The left-hand window is generally static and houses expandable folders named Playing Now, Media Library, Playlists, CD And Handhelds, and Web Media. We like the app's resizable windows and icon-based buttons for ripping, burning, and minimizing the player into its so-called Mini-Me mode. The default interface is open, uncluttered, and decidedly old school, with its Windows Explorer undertones. The opening screen includes links to relevant Help pages such as Import Files, Play Media, Rip A CD, and Play Internet Radio. We were unable to pinpoint the problem with the first system, although we presume a corrupted media file was responsible. On a secondary system with similar specifications, we experienced zero hiccups while importing our media (from MP3 and Audible to WMV and RealMedia formats). The Import Media feature choked and stalled our primary Windows XP test bed we had previously heard a couple of reports of this bug. River Media Jukebox 8.0 (8.5MB), you will have an opportunity to search and import media files. Compared to the current crop of multimedia players (including Windows Media Player 10.0), Media Jukebox is beginning to look and feel dated. But some users may steer clear because it lacks some key features, while others may be turned off by its less than beautiful interface. The highlight, however, is its ability to play back more than 80 file types, including the most popular audio and video formats. The free basic version comes with most typical jukebox features, such as media playback, organization, encoding, and burning. River continues its tradition of offering a customizable, play-it-all jukebox for Windows users who seek an alternative to Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and Musicmatch Jukebox.
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