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The freeware VLC Media Player has been updated to version 0.8.1, xlr8yourmac notes. The freeware player, which doesn't require a Rage 128 or later video card, plays VCDs, DVDs, SVCD and other formats on OS X 10.2 or later.

Apple's DVD Player, of course, only works in OS X using software decoding. OS X has never supported the hardware MPEG-2 decoder, found on, say, some Wallstreet and Lombard PowerBooks, as well as B&W G3s. Moreover, QuickTime in OS X doesn't support VCD.

Early versions of VLC worked with OS X 10.1.x, but the recent versions (from around 0.7) need Jaguar (10.2) or later.

Among the support and changes in the latest version are:

Video Output:
• Proper subpictures scaling using the aspect-ratio info when available

Demuxers:
• Fixed crash with ODML avi files
• Fixed autodetection of VCD/SVCD bin files Stream Output: Encoders:
• Fixed aspect ratio and interlaced support in ffmpeg encoder module Stream output:
• Support of playlist group announcement .

VLC is free and you can download it from MacUpdate.

Analysis: Don't expect blazing performance on a Wallstreet/Lombard, or any G3 for that matter, but it's useful to test finished DVDs or VCDs without booting into OS 9.