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An article posted on the SMPlayer blog yesterday points out some of the new features that will be available in the next SMPlayer version, like support for high DPI screens, an option to send the video to the second screen while controlling the application from the primary screen and more.

You can try this SMPlayer version right now in Ubuntu, Debian 8, Fedora (22 and 23), openSUSE (13.2, 42.1 and Tumbleweed) and Windows. See the instructions and links below.

SMPlayer testing

SMPlayer is a QT front-end for mplayer and mpv. It features a configurable user interface, playlists support, highly configurable subtitles, it remembers the settings for all the files you play, it can download subtitles, and it can even play YouTube videos, with an optional YouTube browser.

New features available in the latest SMPlayer testing version include:
  • HiDPI support (it requires Qt >= 5.4);
  • tablet mode which makes it easy to control SMPlayer using a touch screen. In tablet mode, SMPlayer changes the following:
    • the font size and buttons are increased;
    • some of the options in the menus are hidden;
    • sliding vertically in the video changes the volume, sliding horizontally seeks in the video;
    • tapping while in fullscreen displays the floating control.
  • dual screen support: when using a second screen (which must be configured as "extended"), you can now use SMPlayer to send the video to the second screen while controlling the application from the primary screen. To use this option, right click on a video and select Video > Send video to screen;
  • global hotkeys: you can now the media keys (play/pause, stop, change the volume and so on) even when SMPlayer is in the background. This option can be enabled from the SMPlayer Preferences > Keyboard and mouse and it requires Qt5;
  • Settings are now remembered for streams too.


Install the latest SMPlayer test version in Ubuntu or Linux Mint via PPA


To install the latest test SMPlayer version in Ubuntu, Linux Mint and derivatives, you can use the official SMPlayer Testing PPA. Note that the PPA now provides SMPlayer built with Qt5, while Ubuntu continues to use Qt4 for its SMPlayer packages.

Add the PPA and install SMPlayer using the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rvm/testing
sudo apt update
sudo apt install smplayer smplayer-skins smtube

Debian 8, Fedora (22 and 23), and openSUSE (13.2, 42.1 and Tumbleweed) users can install the latest testing version of SMPlayer by using the openSUSE Build System packages.

Arch Linux users can install the latest SMPlayer from svn via AUR.

For Windows you can download the latest SMPlayer unstable from SourceForge.