totem

totem [OPTIONS...] [FILES/URIS...]

--fullscreen
    Start playback in fullscreen mode.

--play-pause
    Toggle playback state (play/pause).

--next
    Play the next item in the current playlist.

--previous
    Play the previous item in the current playlist.

--mute
    Mute or unmute the audio output.

--volume <level>
    Set the playback volume from 0 to 10.

--seek <seconds>
    Seek to a specific time position in the current media, specified in seconds.

--version
    Display the Totem version information and exit.

--help
    Show a comprehensive list of command-line options.

Totem, officially known as "Videos" in recent GNOME versions, is the default media player for the GNOME desktop environment. It provides a simple, user-friendly interface for playing a wide variety of video and audio formats, thanks to its backend reliance on the powerful GStreamer multimedia framework. This robust foundation ensures broad compatibility with numerous codecs and container formats, from common MP4 and MKV videos to various audio streams. Key features include comprehensive playlist management, seamless fullscreen playback for an immersive viewing experience, and robust support for DVDs and VCDs. It also offers advanced subtitle display capabilities, allowing users to load external subtitle files and adjust their appearance. Furthermore, Totem has the ability to stream online content, making it a versatile tool for both local and network media. It integrates seamlessly with the GNOME desktop, leveraging features like thumbnail generation for video files in the file manager and supporting global media keys for convenient control. While primarily designed as a video player, it handles audio playback competently, making it a versatile general-purpose media application suitable for everyday use.

Totem is primarily designed for the GNOME desktop environment; its integration and functionality might be reduced in other desktop environments. Playback of certain media formats relies heavily on installed GStreamer plugins; users might need to install additional codec packages (e.g., gstreamer-plugins-bad, gstreamer-plugins-ugly) to ensure broad compatibility. The command-line interface provides only basic playback control, with most advanced features accessed via the graphical user interface.

Totem was originally developed by Bastien Nocera and was first released around 2003 as part of the GNOME project. It quickly became the default movie player for GNOME, replacing previous players. Over the years, it has evolved significantly, particularly with the migration to the GStreamer multimedia framework for its backend, which allowed for extensive codec support and flexible plugin architecture. In more recent GNOME versions (starting with GNOME 3.10), it was rebranded to "Videos" to better reflect its primary function as the central application for managing and playing video content within the desktop environment, although the executable name totem remains. Its development continues as part of the broader GNOME ecosystem, focusing on integration, simplicity, and multimedia compatibility.

vlc(1), mpv(1), smplayer(1), rhythmbox(1), parole(1)