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Raphael-Joel Lim edited this page Mar 23, 2024 · 4 revisions

What is asbplayer?

A language-learning assistant

asbplayer is a language-learning assistant that makes it easier to learn languages through subtitled videos. asbplayer provides language-learning aids such as:

  • High-quality, multimedia Anki flashcard creation.
  • Text-selectable subtitles for most video sources, including streaming video sources. You can supply your own subtitle files are use auto-detected subtitles on popular streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.
  • A navigable subtitle list.
  • Playback modes to optimize language input and acquisition.
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts to access most of asbplayer's features.

A website and browser extension

In order to make asbplayer's feature-set as widely available as possible, asbplayer comes in two different forms, a website which works with local video files and a browser extension which works with streaming video. Neither one is required to use the other - however, they do integrate with each other in order to make the asbplayer user-experience appear as seamless as possible. Below are ways in which the website and extension interact with each other:

  • When the extension is installed, the website and extension share the same settings and flashcard history.
  • When the extension is installed, the website provides ways to bind currently-loaded subtitles to any detected streaming video elements.
  • If the "open subtitle list when loading subtitles" setting is enabled, subtitles are displayed in an instance of the website whenever subtitles are loaded onto streaming video.

Why use asbplayer?

Below are reasons to use asbplayer:

  • You want a way to create high-quality, multimedia flashcards out of video and subtitle sources.
  • You want a way to watch videos with text-selectable subtitles. Most people use asbplayer to create flashcards but you don't need to use this feature if you don't want to.
  • The video sources you are using are obscure and not supported by other similar tools.
  • You are somewhat tools-savvy. In addition to learning how to use asbplayer you will most likely need to combine it with other tools (like a dictionary application/extension) to achieve a complete language-learning toolset.
  • You want to use your own tools. In most cases, asbplayer does not force you to use a specific toolset. Currently, the only exception is Anki in the case of flashcard creation - however, Anki is already considered to be the de-facto flashcard tool.
  • You don't want to pay money. asbplayer is free to use and open-source.