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"Several years ago, BS.Player used to be one of the better multicodec free video playback applications around. It then started to be bundled with adware, popularity dropped, and other programs took up its slack. BS.Player returns now with a free version, a new interface, and new jukebox capabilities for video and audio.

The interface loads as a refurbished skin of the original dashboard, and you can even reskin the it back to its original look. Track name, length, and time elapsed are front and center, and clicking on various features, such as the elapsed time, cycles through display options. Note that the Menu tab is hidden until you mouse over it. Player controls live at the bottom, and a tab of gray options on the right expands to reveal further options for Video, DVD, Audio, Radio, and TV playback. Three circles marked ML, PL, and EQ toggle the detached Media Library, Playlist, and Equalizer panes.

The installation process checks your system for missing codecs, although you have to opt out of a BS.Player toolbar. We had no issues drag-drop-and-playing various Real, Quicktime, AVI, WMV, and MPEG-formatted videos. Also note that the new Media Library window owes much to iTunes. There's not much you can do about that, since the included skins only change the look of the dashboard. BS.Player lacks modern ancillary media functions such as seeking out album art, but you can configure ID3 tags natively. If you're feeling nostalgic for a stable media player with a familiar name but updated look and features, you can be bullish on BS.Player."