New Winamp update adds features, fixes, and (sigh) support for “music NFTs” - Ars Technica

But the release candidate for version 5.9.1 of the software builds on the groundwork laid by August's 5.9 update to fix some bugs and add new features to the reanimated music player.

Most of these are straightforward updates or improvements to existing features, but because it's 2022, one of the only new features is support for music NFTs.

But being an updated version of a Windows 98-era music player, the support for NFT music in Winamp is a bit roundabout.

This roundabout process is a place where Winamp's current ambitions (creator platform, NFT marketplace) collide with its actual shipping product (a music player whose cultural relevance peaked during the George W. Bush administration).

There's still plenty here for legacy Winamp fans to like, and it's nice to see that all the modernization work done in the 5.9 update is paying off in the form of faster updates.

Perhaps anticipating that Winamp's remaining hardcore fans would not have a lot of fondness for NFTs, Richman also attempted to keep comments in the Winamp 5.9.1 release notes thread on-topic.