VLC for Android is a version of the popular media player for mobile devices running the Google OS.

This version of VLC for Android is still in development stages and, as a message warns when you launch the app, it is not stable and can cause problems if you don't know what you're doing with it. We experienced crashes on several occasions, and in one instance it froze our Motorola Xoom completely in testing.

When it's working, VLC for Android makes for a good alternative to the Android media player. It handles a wider range of file formats (audio, video, and streaming media), and has the same minimalist interface as the desktop version.

The video player window in VLC for Android is well designed, playing video at full screen resolution with gesture-based controls for changing volume and brightness settings. You can scrobble through videos simply by sliding your finger across the screen.

Video-wise, VLC for Android supports a range of formats and playback of supported formats is generally very smooth. However, HD video is not officially supported and we found watching high definition movies to be impossible due to lag, or simply getting a black screen.

VLC for Android performs better for handling audio files, with simple player controls and a widget giving you basic controls from your home screen.

There's no question that VLC for Android is very rough around the edges, and you'll encounter problems if you want to play HD video. However, as an early build it shows signs of emulating the success of the desktop version of VLC.