The VideoLAN Forums

I downloaded the 1.01 vlc browser plugin and restarted safari. Still couldn't view embedded .wmv's. I'm using 10.6 and webkit nightlies. Is there some preference I have to turn on? thanks.

Okay, there are 2 things preventing this:

1) The browser plugin is not 64bit compatible. To use it, Safari needs to run in 32bit mode. This way, you'll loose its ability to prevent crashes triggered by plugins.

2) In order not to interfere with Flip4Mac and the default QuickTime plugin, the VLC plugin needs to be explicitly triggered on the Mac. It won't handle WMV files by default in Safari. However, you can configure Firefox to use it for this file type.

Okay, there are 2 things preventing this:
1) The browser plugin is not 64bit compatible. To use it, Safari needs to run in 32bit mode. This way, you'll loose its ability to prevent crashes triggered by plugins.

Remember, 64-bit 4.0.x Safari runs plugins in a separate memory space and they CAN BE and ARE SOMETIMES 32-bit EVEN WHEN Safari 4.0.x is 64-bit.

Don't believe me, launch Snow Leopard in 64-bit mode. Go to YouTube.com (in order to activate the Flash plugin) and bring up the activity monitor. Safari will show "Intel (64bit)" and you will all of the sudden see: "Flash Player (Safari plugin) Intel" as a separate process. It is ACTUALLY NAMED 'Safari plugin'.

Just so you are aware of the fact that Snow Leopard + 64-bit + Safari 4.0.x != a problem for any 32-bit plugin

You're right. I forgot about this, although Apple mentioned it (quite proudly) a while ago.

Okay, there are 2 things preventing this:

...snip...

2) In order not to interfere with Flip4Mac and the default QuickTime plugin, the VLC plugin needs to be explicitly triggered on the Mac. It won't handle WMV files by default in Safari. However, you can configure Firefox to use it for this file type.

How do I trigger this ? Couldn't find any clue on how to do ...
Thanks

This needs to be done by specific HTML and JavaScript code built into the website by its maintainer. There's some information on that on our wiki.

Why is there no way to direct access ?

I don't want Flip4Mac. It is buggy and unstable.
I just want VLC to take care of wmv.

VLC's browser plugins don't provide any kind of interface, so you cannot control the video playback unless you re-create the controls specifically in JS/HTML.

Therefore, it doesn't make any sense for the ordinary user to use the plugin as a drop-in replacement. This may evolve over time, but until then, it's better for the majority of its users that it is self-restricted.