At the FOSDEM developer event, Jean-Baptiste Kempf shared additional details regarding the fourth major update for the VLC media player, which will be version 4.0. The new update under the hood will have some changes; it will include support for 3D and VR and bring the media library to other platforms already included in VLC for Android.
VLC has been showing a bit like something designed for Windows 95; VLC developers have shared a few mockups showing what it looks like. The new user interface is still a work in progress.
Beginning with a new user interface, VLC is working towards adding a media library browser, VR support, 3D video support, and revising all video output functions. The Desktop users will eventually be able to use VR headsets such as the Vive and Oculus Rift to view the contents of VLC. Along with VR and proper support for 360-degree video comes a whole host of 3D audio technologies, including 3rd order ambisonics.
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Since some of these operating systems have introduced redesigned elements to the UI, certain users might have felt that the VLC UI was out of place. Perhaps the most notable change for most users is the UI, which is finally seeing significant changes on some platforms, including Windows 10, KDE Plasma 5, and others. The new UI features tout its icons and buttons and some transparency elements to make the app feel more modern.
Other significant changes include the end of support for older platforms across the board with VLC 4.0. On Windows, both XP and Vista will be left out going forward, while Mac users will need to be on macOS 10.11, up from the previous requirement, which was VLC 10.7.
