Any particular reason you're getting VLC from the AUR? Even if it didn't come preinstalled, the pacman version is much better security- and stability-wise
Yes, the version in the standard Arch repos won't play any mpeg2 videos. I have all the plugins installed so that's not the issue. I ran it in Konsole and it threw some error about VDPAU. I'm using an AMD card so I don't see why that would matter anyway. The VLC flatpak plays it fine but I have other issues with the flatpak. I'm using an RX 9070 XT.
Edit: Worth mentioning I didn't try playing mpeg2 videos in this weird git version after I saw this UI. I doubt it would fix it anyway.
Sure but if you're using weird flatpak versions of VLC those plugins won't be invoked because the idea of a flatpak is that it brings it's own plugins. Remove the non-standard versions you installed, put back the regular vlc package from the main repo and it'll work.
Honestly, I don't know - I haven't fiddled with the themes much on my Linux installations. All I can say is that currently, for the 3.x series, out of the box VLC looks very similar between Windows, Debian (KDE Plasma) and Linux Mint (Cinnamon) - all three of which are arguably different DEs.
A couple of other comments have flagged that this is the new 4.x UI, which certainly explains the difference.
@daggermoon@lemmy.world vlc-git from Chaotic-AUR ships a whole new nightly build (Version 4.X). Standard VLC is still on 3.X. "Git" is usually bleeding edge and not stable.
If that's how the next update is gonna look when it drops next millennia, I hope they have an option to make it look like it currently does. That minimalist look is horrible, in my opinion.
33 Comments
Rudee@lemmy.ml · 20 pts · 353d
Any particular reason you're getting VLC from the AUR? Even if it didn't come preinstalled, the pacman version is much better security- and stability-wise
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 353d
Yes, the version in the standard Arch repos won't play any mpeg2 videos. I have all the plugins installed so that's not the issue. I ran it in Konsole and it threw some error about VDPAU. I'm using an AMD card so I don't see why that would matter anyway. The VLC flatpak plays it fine but I have other issues with the flatpak. I'm using an RX 9070 XT.
Edit: Worth mentioning I didn't try playing mpeg2 videos in this weird git version after I saw this UI. I doubt it would fix it anyway.
N0x0n@lemmy.ml · 9 pts · 353d
If it doesn't work, give MPV a try !
MPV is for linux what VLC is for Windows...The best player !
I was also a long time VLC player user when I was on Windows. But had also some issues and switched over to MPV !
https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/mpv/
https://mpv.io/
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 353d
I would, problem is no support for DVD and Blu-ray menus.
N0x0n@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 353d
Oh ? Longtime I haven't run any real DVD so I didn't though that was a thing !
Yeah if that's an important feature I guess it won't work :/
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 353d
Yeah, sadly. I think it used to support it but was removed for some reason. I hate relying on VLC but it's the only viable Linux option.
dhtseany@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 353d
Your missing vlc-plugins-all.
https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/vlc-plugins-all/
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 353d
I have all the plugins installed.
dhtseany@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 353d
Sure but if you're using weird flatpak versions of VLC those plugins won't be invoked because the idea of a flatpak is that it brings it's own plugins. Remove the non-standard versions you installed, put back the regular vlc package from the main repo and it'll work.
HelloRoot@lemy.lol · 6 pts · 353d
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 353d
I know. I installed the flatpak after trying the version in the Arch repos.
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 1 pts · 353d
Have you tried usung another video output. This is what solved a similar issue for me some years ago. It was on an Intel system though.
https://wiki.videolan.org/Modify_Video_Output/
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 351d
I found a solution. The CachyOS repos and kernel appear to work much better on my system. Installing them and rebooting fixed my issues.
ben@feddit.dk · 15 pts · 353d
That's how VLC 4 looks like. It haven't been released yet. If you want the old UI you should look for the latest release instead (VLC 3.0.21)
Luci@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 353d
Ugh they GMONEified it :(((
swelter_spark@reddthat.com · 11 pts · 353d
Why does it look like what? What about its appearance are you wondering about? It looks normal to me.
Australis13@fedia.io · 6 pts · 353d
Is this a distro-specific UI? It certainly doesn't look like that on Windows, Debian or Linux Mint.
swelter_spark@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 348d
Doesn't it use whatever theme you have your DE set to by default?
Australis13@fedia.io · 2 pts · 347d
Honestly, I don't know - I haven't fiddled with the themes much on my Linux installations. All I can say is that currently, for the 3.x series, out of the box VLC looks very similar between Windows, Debian (KDE Plasma) and Linux Mint (Cinnamon) - all three of which are arguably different DEs.
A couple of other comments have flagged that this is the new 4.x UI, which certainly explains the difference.
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 353d
Is this a Mandela effect or something? Have I been using a completely different VLC from everyone else all these years?
lurch@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 353d
It has multiple GUI interfaces, plus one of them can be heavily customized and has multiple views and another one has skins to choose from.
NaibofTabr@infosec.pub · 9 pts · 353d
What did you want it to look like?
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 353d
I wanted it to look the way it did since I started using it at age 12. The UI is completely different.
irelephant@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 353d
Is there a theme setting?
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 353d
Yes, it changed a few things but it did not restore the UI I am familiar with.
Mwa@thelemmy.club · 8 pts · 353d
Maybe a upcoming ui?
Since your using the Bleeding Edge version of VLC I assume that.
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 353d
God, that's upsetting if true. like at least add the ability to restore the original.
daniel@federation.network · 6 pts · 353d
@daggermoon@lemmy.world vlc-git from Chaotic-AUR ships a whole new nightly build (Version 4.X). Standard VLC is still on 3.X. "Git" is usually bleeding edge and not stable.
Freakazoid@lemmings.world · 5 pts · 353d
I believe that's the upcoming new look of VLC 4.0 since its still in beta. Its taking them a long time though
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 353d
I can't say i'm a fan of it
Freakazoid@lemmings.world · 1 pts · 353d
I get you, a lot of features are not implemented last time I checked.
Eheran@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 353d
So the UI is still astronomically tiny in 2025 with version 4?
AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 353d
If that's how the next update is gonna look when it drops next millennia, I hope they have an option to make it look like it currently does. That minimalist look is horrible, in my opinion.