FRESHMusicPlayer

In an attempt to support as many features and file types out of the box, operating systems often ship with comprehensive versions of built-in applications that should cover the needs of a wide range of users. However, in doing so, the core app tends to output lower performance on older machines, which is why many users opt for alternatives with lighter memory footprint and a focus on simplicity, such as FRESHMusicPlayer, a neatly designed media player that sticks to the essentials.

Right from the get-go, users are met with the option of picking between a dedicated installer for the app which allows them to better integrate it with Windows in terms of assigning it to open relevant audio files more easily, and a portable version that can be added to on-the-go setups for those who prefer troubleshooting sound issues on other devices using this particular utility, without having to go through the installation wizard each time they wish to do so.

Once installed, launching the program will greet users to a clean layout whose icons and bolded fonts are reminiscent of Microsoft’s Metro Design language used throughout Windows 8, 8.1 and 10’s lifespans, thus maintaining a modern look and feel throughout the user experience. Some useful features hidden behind the right-click context menu of the bottom playback section include a lyrics sidebar for those who want to follow along the stanzas and a mini-player option sitting on top of other opened apps’ windows to quickly pause and change tracks without taking too much screen real estate.

Finding the right song in a sizable music library can be a challenge, which is why FRESHMusicPlayer includes a dedicated tag editor for those who wish to manually add details regarding the genre, year of release and cover art to distinguish between songs with ease and improve the listening experience at the same time. Finally, in terms of improvements, many users may not be aware of the right-click menu’s existence in the first place, so adding the extra commands to the bottom playback area with intuitive icons and descriptive tool tips would definitely enhance the usage experience.

If you are in the market for an alternative to Microsoft’s default Media Player that respects your privacy in a lightweight form factor without sacrificing too much on features, then FRESHMusicPlayer may be the right tool for your needs, considering its mini-player mode and support for tag editing that lets you enjoy your favorite tracks with little compromises.