The port of the VLC media player app to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has stood the test of time to prove itself as one of the most popular media type apps on the iOS App Store, and the recent update will only serve to increase that popularity. Version 2.6.0, which should be showing as an immediate update via the App Store is a significant improvement over the previous version and shows that continued development of the platform is on the cards.
One of the most important aspects of version 2.6.0 is undoubtedly the built-in support for the new Apple Watch. Users of VLC for iOS who are lucky enough to have one of Apple’s cutting-edge timepieces are now able to control the app directly from their wrists with playback control and library browsing as well as the functionality to view information on the currently playing media. Accompanying Apple Watch apps seem to be all the rage at the moment, but it actually feels like VLC has put a lot of thought into capturing areas of the product that can be best utilized by Apple’s tiny screen.
In addition to the integration of Apple Watch functionality, the latest VLC update also offers a plethora of new features and improvements. The engineering team behind the app have added in a new mini-player that allows the browsing of libraries during video playback as well as the ability to continuously loop through any set up playlists. The team has also paid a lot of attention to improving existing feature sets, such as remote command support and Web interface and thumbnail performance on devices powered by Apple’s older A5 chipsets.
A number of extremely annoying crashes have also been eradicated from VLC for iOS. A persistent bug that causes a crash when playing media from a folder or album via an iPad has been traced down and fixed, as has a potential privacy leak that could occur when using a passcode to protect a library from prying eyes.
All in all the 2.6.0 VLC for iOS update is an extremely solid one that probably won’t get the credit it deserves due to how many silent bug and crash fixes that it actually contains. Still, it’s yet another popular app that now supports the Apple Watch, which is great news for Apple and users alike.
(Download: VLC for iOS on the App Store)
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