diff --git a/libplatform/io/FileSystem.cpp b/libplatform/io/FileSystem.cpp
index 122af24..2490036 100644
--- a/libplatform/io/FileSystem.cpp
+++ b/libplatform/io/FileSystem.cpp
@@ -28,15 +28,15 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-FileSystem::pathnameCleanup( string& name )
+FileSystem::pathnameCleanup( std::string& name )
 {
-    string bad;
+    std::string bad;
 
     // fold repeating directory separators
     bad = DIR_SEPARATOR;
     bad += DIR_SEPARATOR;
-    for( string::size_type pos = name.find( bad );
-         pos != string::npos;
+    for( std::string::size_type pos = name.find( bad );
+         pos != std::string::npos;
          pos = name.find( bad, pos ) )
     {
         name.replace( pos, bad.length(), DIR_SEPARATOR );
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
     bad = DIR_SEPARATOR;
     bad += '.';
     bad += DIR_SEPARATOR;
-    for( string::size_type pos = name.find( bad );
-         pos != string::npos;
+    for( std::string::size_type pos = name.find( bad );
+         pos != std::string::npos;
          pos = name.find( bad, pos ) )
     {
         name.replace( pos, bad.length(), DIR_SEPARATOR );
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-FileSystem::pathnameOnlyExtension( string& name )
+FileSystem::pathnameOnlyExtension( std::string& name )
 {
     // compute basename
-    string::size_type dot_pos = name.rfind( '.' );
-    string::size_type slash_pos = name.rfind( DIR_SEPARATOR );
+    std::string::size_type dot_pos = name.rfind( '.' );
+    std::string::size_type slash_pos = name.rfind( DIR_SEPARATOR );
 
     // dot_pos must be after slash_pos
-    if( slash_pos != string::npos && dot_pos < slash_pos )
-        dot_pos = string::npos;
+    if( slash_pos != std::string::npos && dot_pos < slash_pos )
+        dot_pos = std::string::npos;
 
     // return empty-string if no dot
-    if( dot_pos == string::npos ) {
+    if( dot_pos == std::string::npos ) {
         name.resize( 0 );
         return;
     }
@@ -80,27 +80,27 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-FileSystem::pathnameStripExtension( string& name )
+FileSystem::pathnameStripExtension( std::string& name )
 {
     pathnameCleanup( name );
 
     // compute basename
-    string::size_type dot_pos = name.rfind( '.' );
-    string::size_type slash_pos = name.rfind( DIR_SEPARATOR );
+    std::string::size_type dot_pos = name.rfind( '.' );
+    std::string::size_type slash_pos = name.rfind( DIR_SEPARATOR );
 
     // dot_pos must be after slash_pos
-    if( slash_pos != string::npos && dot_pos < slash_pos )
-        dot_pos = string::npos;
+    if( slash_pos != std::string::npos && dot_pos < slash_pos )
+        dot_pos = std::string::npos;
 
     // chop extension
-    if( dot_pos != string::npos )
+    if( dot_pos != std::string::npos )
         name.resize( dot_pos );
 }
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-FileSystem::pathnameTemp( string& name, string dir, string prefix, string suffix )
+FileSystem::pathnameTemp( std::string& name, std::string dir, std::string prefix, std::string suffix )
 {
     ostringstream buf;
 
diff --git a/libplatform/io/FileSystem.h b/libplatform/io/FileSystem.h
index 5f5d288..eca867a 100644
--- a/libplatform/io/FileSystem.h
+++ b/libplatform/io/FileSystem.h
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 class MP4V2_EXPORT FileSystem
 {
 public:
-    static string DIR_SEPARATOR;  //!< separator string used in file pathnames
-    static string PATH_SEPARATOR; //!< separator string used in search-paths
+    static std::string DIR_SEPARATOR;  //!< separator string used in file pathnames
+    static std::string PATH_SEPARATOR; //!< separator string used in search-paths
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     //!
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-    static void pathnameTemp( string& name, string dir = ".", string prefix = "tmp", string suffix = "" );
+    static void pathnameTemp( std::string& name, std::string dir = ".", std::string prefix = "tmp", std::string suffix = "" );
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     //!
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-    static void pathnameCleanup( string& name );
+    static void pathnameCleanup( std::string& name );
 
 #if 0
 TODO-KB: implement
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
     //!     end in a directory-separator.
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    static void pathnameOnlyDirectory( string& name, bool trailing = true );
+    static void pathnameOnlyDirectory( std::string& name, bool trailing = true );
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     //!
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
     //! @param name pathname to modify.
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    static void pathnameOnlyFile( string& name );
+    static void pathnameOnlyFile( std::string& name );
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     //!
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
     //! @param name pathname to modify.
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    static void pathnameOnlyBasename( string& name );
+    static void pathnameOnlyBasename( std::string& name );
 #endif
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-    static void pathnameOnlyExtension( string& name );
+    static void pathnameOnlyExtension( std::string& name );
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     //!
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
     //!
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-    static void pathnameStripExtension( string& name );
+    static void pathnameStripExtension( std::string& name );
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/libplatform/io/FileSystem_posix.cpp b/libplatform/io/FileSystem_posix.cpp
index 70388dc..44a7ce2 100644
--- a/libplatform/io/FileSystem_posix.cpp
+++ b/libplatform/io/FileSystem_posix.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-FileSystem::exists( string path_ )
+FileSystem::exists( std::string path_ )
 {
     struct stat buf;
     return stat( path_.c_str(), &buf ) == 0;
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-FileSystem::isDirectory( string path_ )
+FileSystem::isDirectory( std::string path_ )
 {
     struct stat buf;
     if( stat( path_.c_str(), &buf ))
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-FileSystem::isFile( string path_ )
+FileSystem::isFile( std::string path_ )
 {
     struct stat buf;
     if( stat( path_.c_str(), &buf ))
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-FileSystem::getFileSize( string path_, File::Size& size_ )
+FileSystem::getFileSize( std::string path_, File::Size& size_ )
 {
     size_ = 0;
     struct stat buf;
@@ -73,15 +73,15 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-FileSystem::rename( string from, string to )
+FileSystem::rename( std::string from, std::string to )
 {
     return ::rename( from.c_str(), to.c_str() ) != 0;
 }
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string FileSystem::DIR_SEPARATOR  = "/";
-string FileSystem::PATH_SEPARATOR = ":";
+std::string FileSystem::DIR_SEPARATOR  = "/";
+std::string FileSystem::PATH_SEPARATOR = ":";
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
diff --git a/libutil/Database.cpp b/libutil/Database.cpp
index 5d89e0b..d9be88e 100644
--- a/libutil/Database.cpp
+++ b/libutil/Database.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Database::Database( const string& filename, const string& key )
+Database::Database( const std::string& filename, const std::string& key )
     : _filename ( filename )
     , _key      ( key )
 {
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-Database::open( bool write, string& fname )
+Database::open( bool write, std::string& fname )
 {
     _currentKeyValue.clear();
 
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Database::parseData( std::map<string,string>& data )
+Database::parseData( std::map<std::string,std::string>& data )
 {
     data.clear();
 
-    string name;
-    string value;
+    std::string name;
+    std::string value;
 
     if ( _currentKeyValue.length() ) {
         data[ _key ] = _currentKeyValue;
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-Database::parsePair( string& name, string& value )
+Database::parsePair( std::string& name, std::string& value )
 {
     enum Mode { LTRIM, COMMENT, NAME, DELIM, VALUE };
     Mode mode = LTRIM;
diff --git a/libutil/Database.h b/libutil/Database.h
index 1195569..362c10f 100644
--- a/libutil/Database.h
+++ b/libutil/Database.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
     /// @param file specifies filename for IO operations.
     /// @param key specifies the name of primary key.
     ///
-    Database( const string& file, const string& key );
+    Database( const std::string& file, const std::string& key );
 
     /// Close database file.
     void close();
@@ -69,18 +69,18 @@
     ///
     /// @return <b>true</b> on error.
     ///
-    bool open( bool write, string& fname );
+    bool open( bool write, std::string& fname );
 
     /// Parse a record-data from open intput stream.
     ///
     /// @param data is populated with NAME/VALUE pairs if any.
     ///
-    void parseData( std::map<string,string>& data );
+    void parseData( std::map<std::string,std::string>& data );
 
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-    const string  _filename; // filename (basename only) used for database
-    const string  _key;      // name of key for record boundries
+    const std::string  _filename; // filename (basename only) used for database
+    const std::string  _key;      // name of key for record boundries
     fstream       _stream;   // // IO object
 
 private:
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@
     ///
     /// @return <b>true</b> on error (no name/value pair was parised).
     ///
-    bool parsePair( string& name, string& value );
+    bool parsePair( std::string& name, std::string& value );
 
     /*************************************************************************/
 
-    string _currentKeyValue;
+    std::string _currentKeyValue;
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/libutil/Timecode.cpp b/libutil/Timecode.cpp
index 53366c2..d334515 100644
--- a/libutil/Timecode.cpp
+++ b/libutil/Timecode.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Timecode::Timecode( const string& time_, double scale_ )
+Timecode::Timecode( const std::string& time_, double scale_ )
     : _scale            ( scale_ < 1.0 ? 1.0 : scale_ )
     , _duration         ( 0 )
     , _format           ( FRAME )
@@ -222,10 +222,10 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-Timecode::parse( const string& time, string* outError )
+Timecode::parse( const std::string& time, std::string* outError )
 {
-    string outErrorPlacebo;
-    string& error = outError ? *outError : outErrorPlacebo;
+    std::string outErrorPlacebo;
+    std::string& error = outError ? *outError : outErrorPlacebo;
     error.clear();
 
     _format     = FRAME;
@@ -245,8 +245,8 @@
     int nsemi = 0;
     int ndot  = 0;
 
-    const string::size_type max = time.length();
-    for( string::size_type i = 0; i < max; i++ ) {
+    const std::string::size_type max = time.length();
+    for( std::string::size_type i = 0; i < max; i++ ) {
         switch( time[i] ) {
             case ':':
                 nsect++;
@@ -314,8 +314,8 @@
     }
 
     istringstream convert;
-    string tbuffer;
-    for( string::size_type i = 0; i < max; i++ ) {
+    std::string tbuffer;
+    for( std::string::size_type i = 0; i < max; i++ ) {
         const char c = time[i];
         switch( c ) {
             case ':':
diff --git a/libutil/Timecode.h b/libutil/Timecode.h
index 077b811..9c8f6bf 100644
--- a/libutil/Timecode.h
+++ b/libutil/Timecode.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
     double   _scale;
     uint64_t _duration;
     Format   _format;
-    string   _svalue;
+    std::string   _svalue;
 
     uint64_t _hours;
     uint64_t _minutes;
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     const double&   scale;
     const uint64_t& duration;
     const Format&   format;
-    const string&   svalue;
+    const std::string&   svalue;
 
     const uint64_t& hours;
     const uint64_t& minutes;
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 
 public:
     Timecode( const Timecode& );
-    explicit Timecode( const string&, double = 1.0 );
+    explicit Timecode( const std::string&, double = 1.0 );
     explicit Timecode( uint64_t = 0, double = 1.0 );
 
     Timecode& operator=  ( const Timecode& );
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
     Timecode operator+ ( const Timecode& ) const;
     Timecode operator- ( const Timecode& ) const;
 
-    bool parse( const string&, string* = NULL );
+    bool parse( const std::string&, std::string* = NULL );
 
     void reset();
 
diff --git a/libutil/TrackModifier.cpp b/libutil/TrackModifier.cpp
index 91934fd..186f8c9 100644
--- a/libutil/TrackModifier.cpp
+++ b/libutil/TrackModifier.cpp
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-TrackModifier::dump( std::ostream& out, const string& xind )
+TrackModifier::dump( std::ostream& out, const std::string& xind )
 {
     const uint32_t w = 14;
-    const string eq = " = ";
-    const string ind = "  ";
+    const std::string eq = " = ";
+    const std::string ind = "  ";
 
     out << left << xind << "track[" << trackIndex << "] id=" << trackId << '\n'
         << xind << ind << std::setw(w) << "type" << eq
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
         uint8_t* buffer;
         uint32_t size;
         _props.userDataName->GetValue( &buffer, &size );
-        _userDataName = string( reinterpret_cast<char*>(buffer), size );
+        _userDataName = std::string( reinterpret_cast<char*>(buffer), size );
     }
     else {
         _userDataName.clear();
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool&
-TrackModifier::fromString( const string& src, bool& dst )
+TrackModifier::fromString( const std::string& src, bool& dst )
 {
     if( src == "true" )
         dst = true;
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 float&
-TrackModifier::fromString( const string& src, float& dst )
+TrackModifier::fromString( const std::string& src, float& dst )
 {
     istringstream iss( src );
     iss >> dst;
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 uint16_t&
-TrackModifier::fromString( const string& src, uint16_t& dst )
+TrackModifier::fromString( const std::string& src, uint16_t& dst )
 {
     istringstream iss( src );
     iss >> dst;
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setAlternateGroup( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setAlternateGroup( const std::string& value )
 {
     uint16_t tmp;
     setAlternateGroup( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setEnabled( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setEnabled( const std::string& value )
 {
     bool tmp;
     setEnabled( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setHandlerName( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setHandlerName( const std::string& value )
 {
     _props.handlerName.SetValue( value.c_str() );
     fetch();
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setHeight( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setHeight( const std::string& value )
 {
     float tmp;
     setHeight( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setInMovie( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setInMovie( const std::string& value )
 {
     bool tmp;
     setInMovie( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setInPreview( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setInPreview( const std::string& value )
 {
     bool tmp;
     setInPreview( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setLanguage( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setLanguage( const std::string& value )
 {
     setLanguage( bmff::enumLanguageCode.toType( value ));
 }
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setLayer( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setLayer( const std::string& value )
 {
     uint16_t tmp;
     setLayer( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setUserDataName( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setUserDataName( const std::string& value )
 {
     if( !_props.userDataName ) {
         ostringstream oss;
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setVolume( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setVolume( const std::string& value )
 {
     float tmp;
     setVolume( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@
 }
 
 void
-TrackModifier::setWidth( const string& value )
+TrackModifier::setWidth( const std::string& value )
 {
     float tmp;
     setWidth( fromString( value, tmp ));
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string
+std::string
 TrackModifier::toString( bool value )
 {
     ostringstream oss;
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string
+std::string
 TrackModifier::toString( float value, uint8_t i, uint8_t f )
 {
     ostringstream oss;
@@ -425,8 +425,8 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string
-TrackModifier::toStringTrackType( const string& code )
+std::string
+TrackModifier::toStringTrackType( const std::string& code )
 {
     if( !code.compare( "vide" ))    // 14496-12
         return "video";
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@
     if( !code.compare( "subt" ))    // QTFF
         return "subtitle";
 
-    return string( "(" ) + code + ")";
+    return std::string( "(" ) + code + ")";
 }
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/libutil/TrackModifier.h b/libutil/TrackModifier.h
index 3c586a3..1715d56 100644
--- a/libutil/TrackModifier.h
+++ b/libutil/TrackModifier.h
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@
     bmff::LanguageCode _language;
 
     // Handler Reference
-    string _handlerType;
-    string _handlerName;
+    std::string _handlerType;
+    std::string _handlerName;
 
     // User Data name
-    string _userDataName;
+    std::string _userDataName;
 
 public:
     MP4File&         file;
@@ -103,10 +103,10 @@
 
     const bmff::LanguageCode& language;
 
-    const string& handlerType;
-    const string& handlerName;
+    const std::string& handlerType;
+    const std::string& handlerName;
 
-    const string& userDataName;
+    const std::string& userDataName;
 
 public:
     TrackModifier( MP4FileHandle, uint16_t );
@@ -121,36 +121,36 @@
     void setWidth          ( float );
     void setHeight         ( float );
     void setLanguage       ( bmff::LanguageCode );
-    void setHandlerName    ( const string& );
-    void setUserDataName   ( const string& );
+    void setHandlerName    ( const std::string& );
+    void setUserDataName   ( const std::string& );
 
     // set by string
-    void setEnabled        ( const string& );
-    void setInMovie        ( const string& );
-    void setInPreview      ( const string& );
-    void setLayer          ( const string& );
-    void setAlternateGroup ( const string& );
-    void setVolume         ( const string& );
-    void setWidth          ( const string& );
-    void setHeight         ( const string& );
-    void setLanguage       ( const string& );
+    void setEnabled        ( const std::string& );
+    void setInMovie        ( const std::string& );
+    void setInPreview      ( const std::string& );
+    void setLayer          ( const std::string& );
+    void setAlternateGroup ( const std::string& );
+    void setVolume         ( const std::string& );
+    void setWidth          ( const std::string& );
+    void setHeight         ( const std::string& );
+    void setLanguage       ( const std::string& );
 
     bool hasUserDataName() const;
     void removeUserDataName();
 
-    void dump( std::ostream&, const string& );
+    void dump( std::ostream&, const std::string& );
 
 private:
     void fetch();
 
-    static string toString( bool );
-    static string toString( float, uint8_t, uint8_t );
+    static std::string toString( bool );
+    static std::string toString( float, uint8_t, uint8_t );
 
-    static bool&     fromString( const string&, bool& );
-    static float&    fromString( const string&, float& );
-    static uint16_t& fromString( const string&, uint16_t& );
+    static bool&     fromString( const std::string&, bool& );
+    static float&    fromString( const std::string&, float& );
+    static uint16_t& fromString( const std::string&, uint16_t& );
 
-    static string toStringTrackType( const string& );
+    static std::string toStringTrackType( const std::string& );
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/libutil/Utility.cpp b/libutil/Utility.cpp
index 9e1da97..f4d73a1 100644
--- a/libutil/Utility.cpp
+++ b/libutil/Utility.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Utility::Utility( string name_, int argc_, char** argv_ )
+Utility::Utility( std::string name_, int argc_, char** argv_ )
     : _longOptions      ( NULL )
     , _name             ( name_ )
     , _argc             ( argc_ )
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@
 
             oss << "  ";
 
-            const string::size_type imax = option.descr.length();
-            for( string::size_type i = 0; i < imax; i++ )
+            const std::string::size_type imax = option.descr.length();
+            for( std::string::size_type i = 0; i < imax; i++ )
                 oss << option.descr[i];
         }
     }
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-Utility::job( string arg )
+Utility::job( std::string arg )
 {
     verbose2f( "job begin: %s\n", arg.c_str() );
 
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Utility::Group::Group( string name_ )
+Utility::Group::Group( std::string name_ )
     : name    ( name_ )
     , options ( _options )
 {
@@ -699,12 +699,12 @@
 Utility::Group::add(
     char     scode,
     bool     shasarg,
-    string   lname,
+    std::string   lname,
     bool     lhasarg,
     uint32_t lcode,
-    string   descr,
-    string   argname,
-    string   help,
+    std::string   descr,
+    std::string   argname,
+    std::string   help,
     bool     hidden )
 {
     Option* o = new Option( scode, shasarg, lname, lhasarg, lcode, descr, argname, help, hidden );
@@ -716,12 +716,12 @@
 
 void
 Utility::Group::add( 
-    string   lname,
+    std::string   lname,
     bool     lhasarg,
     uint32_t lcode,
-    string   descr,
-    string   argname,
-    string   help,
+    std::string   descr,
+    std::string   argname,
+    std::string   help,
     bool     hidden )
 {
     add( 0, false, lname, lhasarg, lcode, descr, argname, help, hidden );
@@ -732,12 +732,12 @@
 Utility::Option::Option(
     char     scode_,
     bool     shasarg_,
-    string   lname_,
+    std::string   lname_,
     bool     lhasarg_,
     uint32_t lcode_,
-    string   descr_,
-    string   argname_,
-    string   help_,
+    std::string   descr_,
+    std::string   argname_,
+    std::string   help_,
     bool     hidden_ )
         : scode   ( scode_ )
         , shasarg ( shasarg_ )
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Utility::JobContext::JobContext( string file_ )
+Utility::JobContext::JobContext( std::string file_ )
     : file               ( file_ )
     , fileHandle         ( MP4_INVALID_FILE_HANDLE )
     , optimizeApplicable ( false )
diff --git a/libutil/Utility.h b/libutil/Utility.h
index 38ebd38..cab6df4 100644
--- a/libutil/Utility.h
+++ b/libutil/Utility.h
@@ -63,29 +63,29 @@
 
     class MP4V2_EXPORT Option {
     public:
-        Option( char, bool, string, bool, uint32_t, string, string = "ARG", string = "", bool = false );
+        Option( char, bool, std::string, bool, uint32_t, std::string, std::string = "ARG", std::string = "", bool = false );
 
         const char     scode;
         const bool     shasarg;
-        const string   lname;
+        const std::string   lname;
         const bool     lhasarg;
         const uint32_t lcode;
-        const string   descr;
-        const string   argname;
-        const string   help;
+        const std::string   descr;
+        const std::string   argname;
+        const std::string   help;
         const bool     hidden;
     };
 
     class MP4V2_EXPORT Group {
     public:
-        explicit Group( string );
+        explicit Group( std::string );
         ~Group();
 
         void add( const Option& ); // options added this way will not be deleted
-        void add( char, bool, string, bool, uint32_t, string, string = "ARG", string = "", bool = false );
-        void add( string, bool, uint32_t, string, string = "ARG", string = "", bool = false );
+        void add( char, bool, std::string, bool, uint32_t, std::string, std::string = "ARG", std::string = "", bool = false );
+        void add( std::string, bool, uint32_t, std::string, std::string = "ARG", std::string = "", bool = false );
 
-        const string name;
+        const std::string name;
 
     public:
         typedef std::list<const Option*> List;
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@
     class MP4V2_EXPORT JobContext
     {
     public:
-        JobContext( string file_ );
+        JobContext( std::string file_ );
 
-        const string  file;               //!< file job is working on
+        const std::string  file;               //!< file job is working on
         MP4FileHandle fileHandle;         //!< handle of file, if applicable to job
         bool          optimizeApplicable; //!< indicate file optimization is applicable
         std::list<void*>   tofree;             //!< memory to free at end of job
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
     bool process();
 
 protected:
-    Utility( string, int, char** );
+    Utility( std::string, int, char** );
 
     void printUsage   ( bool );       //!< print usage
     void printHelp    ( bool, bool ); //!< print help
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
     void verbose3f ( const char*, ... ) MP4V2_WFORMAT_PRINTF(2,3);
 
     bool batch ( int );    //!< process all remaining arguments (jobs)
-    bool job   ( string ); //!< process next argument
+    bool job   ( std::string ); //!< process next argument
 
     //! open file in consideration of overwrite/force options
     bool openFileForWriting( io::File& );
@@ -151,13 +151,13 @@
     bool process_impl();
 
 private:
-    string _help;
+    std::string _help;
 
     prog::Option* _longOptions;
-    string        _shortOptions;
+    std::string        _shortOptions;
 
 protected:
-    const string       _name; //!< executable basename
+    const std::string       _name; //!< executable basename
     const int          _argc; //!< arg count
     char* const* const _argv; //!< arg vector
 
@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@
     bool              _debugImplicits;
 
     Group         _group; // group to which standard options are added
-    string        _usage;
-    string        _description;
+    std::string        _usage;
+    std::string        _description;
     std::list<Group*>  _groups;
 
 protected:
diff --git a/libutil/other.cpp b/libutil/other.cpp
index 698b588..a021ba7 100644
--- a/libutil/other.cpp
+++ b/libutil/other.cpp
@@ -77,12 +77,12 @@
 
     const uint32_t cbmax = ftyp->compatibleBrands.GetCount();
     for( uint32_t i = 0; i < cbmax; i++ ) {
-        string s = ftyp->compatibleBrands.GetValue( i );
+        std::string s = ftyp->compatibleBrands.GetValue( i );
 
         // remove spaces so brand set is presentable
-        string stripped;
-        const string::size_type max = s.length();
-        for( string::size_type pos = 0; pos < max; pos++ ) {
+        std::string stripped;
+        const std::string::size_type max = s.length();
+        for( std::string::size_type pos = 0; pos < max; pos++ ) {
             if( s[pos] != ' ' )
                 stripped += s[pos];
         }
diff --git a/libutil/other.h b/libutil/other.h
index b1e4a7b..d0483f1 100644
--- a/libutil/other.h
+++ b/libutil/other.h
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 struct MP4V2_EXPORT FileSummaryInfo {
-    typedef std::set<string>  BrandSet;
+    typedef std::set<std::string>  BrandSet;
 
     // standard ftyp box attributes
-    string   major_brand;
+    std::string   major_brand;
     uint32_t minor_version;
     BrandSet compatible_brands;
 
diff --git a/src/enum.h b/src/enum.h
index f41368f..e516e99 100644
--- a/src/enum.h
+++ b/src/enum.h
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@
     struct MP4V2_EXPORT Entry
     {
         T type;
-        const string compact;
-        const string formal;
+        const std::string compact;
+        const std::string formal;
     };
 
-    typedef std::map<string,const Entry*,LessIgnoreCase> MapToType;
+    typedef std::map<std::string,const Entry*,LessIgnoreCase> MapToType;
     typedef std::map<T,const Entry*> MapToString;
 
 public:
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@
     Enum();
     ~Enum();
 
-    T       toType   ( const string& ) const;
-    string  toString ( T, bool = false ) const;
-    string& toString ( T, string&, bool = false ) const;
+    T       toType   ( const std::string& ) const;
+    std::string  toString ( T, bool = false ) const;
+    std::string& toString ( T, std::string&, bool = false ) const;
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/enum.tcc b/src/enum.tcc
index 2790a8c..7df298d 100644
--- a/src/enum.tcc
+++ b/src/enum.tcc
@@ -51,18 +51,18 @@
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 template <typename T, T UNDEFINED>
-string
+std::string
 Enum<T,UNDEFINED>::toString( T value, bool formal ) const
 {
-    string buffer;
+    std::string buffer;
     return toString( value, buffer, formal );
 }
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 template <typename T, T UNDEFINED>
-string&
-Enum<T,UNDEFINED>::toString( T value, string& buffer, bool formal ) const
+std::string&
+Enum<T,UNDEFINED>::toString( T value, std::string& buffer, bool formal ) const
 {
     const typename MapToString::const_iterator found = _mapToString.find( value );
     if( found != _mapToString.end() ) {
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
 
 template <typename T, T UNDEFINED>
 T
-Enum<T,UNDEFINED>::toType( const string& value ) const
+Enum<T,UNDEFINED>::toType( const std::string& value ) const
 {
     // if number perform enum lookup
     int ivalue;
diff --git a/src/exception.cpp b/src/exception.cpp
index ddc60d7..6c486c3 100644
--- a/src/exception.cpp
+++ b/src/exception.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-Exception::Exception( const string&     what_,
+Exception::Exception( const std::string&     what_,
                       const char        *file_,
                       int               line_,
                       const char        *function_ )
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string
+std::string
 Exception::msg() const
 {
     ostringstream retval;
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-PlatformException::PlatformException( const string&     what_,
+PlatformException::PlatformException( const std::string&     what_,
                                       int               errno_,
                                       const char        *file_,
                                       int               line_,
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string
+std::string
 PlatformException::msg() const
 {
     ostringstream retval;
diff --git a/src/exception.h b/src/exception.h
index f0e2e4e..63a4368 100644
--- a/src/exception.h
+++ b/src/exception.h
@@ -32,32 +32,32 @@
 class MP4V2_EXPORT Exception
 {
 public:
-    explicit Exception( const string&   what_,
+    explicit Exception( const std::string&   what_,
                         const char      *file_,
                         int             line_,
                         const char      *function_ );
     virtual ~Exception();
 
-    virtual string      msg() const;
+    virtual std::string      msg() const;
 
 public:
-    const string        what;
-    const string        file;
+    const std::string        what;
+    const std::string        file;
     const int           line;
-    const string        function;
+    const std::string        function;
 };
 
 class MP4V2_EXPORT PlatformException : public Exception
 {
 public:
-    explicit PlatformException( const string&   what_,
+    explicit PlatformException( const std::string&   what_,
                                 int             errno_,
                                 const char      *file_,
                                 int             line_,
                                 const char      *function_ );
     virtual ~PlatformException();
 
-    virtual string      msg() const;
+    virtual std::string      msg() const;
 
 public:
     const int   m_errno;
diff --git a/src/itmf/Tags.cpp b/src/itmf/Tags.cpp
index e8ca481..f4d055f 100644
--- a/src/itmf/Tags.cpp
+++ b/src/itmf/Tags.cpp
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::c_setString( const char* value, string& cpp, const char*& c )
+Tags::c_setString( const char* value, std::string& cpp, const char*& c )
 {
     if( !value ) {
         cpp.clear();
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const string& code, uint8_t& cpp, const uint8_t*& c )
+Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const std::string& code, uint8_t& cpp, const uint8_t*& c )
 {
     cpp = 0;
     c = NULL;
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const string& code, uint16_t& cpp, const uint16_t*& c )
+Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const std::string& code, uint16_t& cpp, const uint16_t*& c )
 {
     cpp = 0;
     c = NULL;
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const string& code, uint32_t& cpp, const uint32_t*& c )
+Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const std::string& code, uint32_t& cpp, const uint32_t*& c )
 {
     cpp = 0;
     c = NULL;
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const string& code, uint64_t& cpp, const uint64_t*& c )
+Tags::fetchInteger( const CodeItemMap& cim, const std::string& code, uint64_t& cpp, const uint64_t*& c )
 {
     cpp = 0;
     c = NULL;
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::fetchString( const CodeItemMap& cim, const string& code, string& cpp, const char*& c )
+Tags::fetchString( const CodeItemMap& cim, const std::string& code, std::string& cpp, const char*& c )
 {
     cpp.clear();
     c = NULL;
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::remove( MP4File& file, const string& code )
+Tags::remove( MP4File& file, const std::string& code )
 {
     MP4ItmfItemList* itemList = genericGetItemsByCode( file, code ); // alloc
 
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::store( MP4File& file, const string& code, MP4ItmfBasicType basicType, const void* buffer, uint32_t size )
+Tags::store( MP4File& file, const std::string& code, MP4ItmfBasicType basicType, const void* buffer, uint32_t size )
 {
     // remove existing item
     remove( file, code );
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const string& code, uint8_t cpp, const uint8_t* c )
+Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const std::string& code, uint8_t cpp, const uint8_t* c )
 {
     if( c )
         store( file, code, MP4_ITMF_BT_INTEGER, &cpp, sizeof(cpp) );
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const string& code, uint16_t cpp, const uint16_t* c )
+Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const std::string& code, uint16_t cpp, const uint16_t* c )
 {
     if( c ) {
         uint8_t buf[2];
@@ -731,7 +731,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const string& code, uint32_t cpp, const uint32_t* c )
+Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const std::string& code, uint32_t cpp, const uint32_t* c )
 {
     if( c ) {
         uint8_t buf[4];
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const string& code, uint64_t cpp, const uint64_t* c )
+Tags::storeInteger( MP4File& file, const std::string& code, uint64_t cpp, const uint64_t* c )
 {
     if( c ) {
         uint8_t buf[8];
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void
-Tags::storeString( MP4File& file, const string& code, const string& cpp, const char* c )
+Tags::storeString( MP4File& file, const std::string& code, const std::string& cpp, const char* c )
 {
     if( c )
         store( file, code, MP4_ITMF_BT_UTF8, cpp.c_str(), (uint32_t)cpp.size() );
@@ -836,61 +836,61 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-const string Tags::CODE_NAME              = "\xa9" "nam";
-const string Tags::CODE_ARTIST            = "\xa9" "ART";
-const string Tags::CODE_ALBUMARTIST       = "aART";
-const string Tags::CODE_ALBUM             = "\xa9" "alb";
-const string Tags::CODE_GROUPING          = "\xa9" "grp";
-const string Tags::CODE_COMPOSER          = "\xa9" "wrt";
-const string Tags::CODE_COMMENTS          = "\xa9" "cmt";
-const string Tags::CODE_GENRE             = "\xa9" "gen";
-const string Tags::CODE_GENRETYPE         = "gnre";
-const string Tags::CODE_RELEASEDATE       = "\xa9" "day";
-const string Tags::CODE_TRACK             = "trkn";
-const string Tags::CODE_DISK              = "disk";
-const string Tags::CODE_TEMPO             = "tmpo";
-const string Tags::CODE_COMPILATION       = "cpil";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_NAME              = "\xa9" "nam";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ARTIST            = "\xa9" "ART";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ALBUMARTIST       = "aART";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ALBUM             = "\xa9" "alb";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_GROUPING          = "\xa9" "grp";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_COMPOSER          = "\xa9" "wrt";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_COMMENTS          = "\xa9" "cmt";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_GENRE             = "\xa9" "gen";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_GENRETYPE         = "gnre";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_RELEASEDATE       = "\xa9" "day";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TRACK             = "trkn";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_DISK              = "disk";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TEMPO             = "tmpo";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_COMPILATION       = "cpil";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_TVSHOW            = "tvsh";
-const string Tags::CODE_TVNETWORK         = "tvnn";
-const string Tags::CODE_TVEPISODEID       = "tven";
-const string Tags::CODE_TVSEASON          = "tvsn";
-const string Tags::CODE_TVEPISODE         = "tves";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TVSHOW            = "tvsh";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TVNETWORK         = "tvnn";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TVEPISODEID       = "tven";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TVSEASON          = "tvsn";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_TVEPISODE         = "tves";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_DESCRIPTION       = "desc";
-const string Tags::CODE_LONGDESCRIPTION   = "ldes";
-const string Tags::CODE_LYRICS            = "\xa9" "lyr";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_DESCRIPTION       = "desc";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_LONGDESCRIPTION   = "ldes";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_LYRICS            = "\xa9" "lyr";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_SORTNAME          = "sonm";
-const string Tags::CODE_SORTARTIST        = "soar";
-const string Tags::CODE_SORTALBUMARTIST   = "soaa";
-const string Tags::CODE_SORTALBUM         = "soal";
-const string Tags::CODE_SORTCOMPOSER      = "soco";
-const string Tags::CODE_SORTTVSHOW        = "sosn";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_SORTNAME          = "sonm";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_SORTARTIST        = "soar";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_SORTALBUMARTIST   = "soaa";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_SORTALBUM         = "soal";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_SORTCOMPOSER      = "soco";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_SORTTVSHOW        = "sosn";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_COPYRIGHT         = "cprt";
-const string Tags::CODE_ENCODINGTOOL      = "\xa9" "too";
-const string Tags::CODE_ENCODEDBY         = "\xa9" "enc";
-const string Tags::CODE_PURCHASEDATE      = "purd";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_COPYRIGHT         = "cprt";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ENCODINGTOOL      = "\xa9" "too";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ENCODEDBY         = "\xa9" "enc";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_PURCHASEDATE      = "purd";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_PODCAST           = "pcst";
-const string Tags::CODE_KEYWORDS          = "keyw";
-const string Tags::CODE_CATEGORY          = "catg";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_PODCAST           = "pcst";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_KEYWORDS          = "keyw";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_CATEGORY          = "catg";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_HDVIDEO           = "hdvd";
-const string Tags::CODE_MEDIATYPE         = "stik";
-const string Tags::CODE_CONTENTRATING     = "rtng";
-const string Tags::CODE_GAPLESS           = "pgap";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_HDVIDEO           = "hdvd";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_MEDIATYPE         = "stik";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_CONTENTRATING     = "rtng";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_GAPLESS           = "pgap";
 
-const string Tags::CODE_ITUNESACCOUNT     = "apID";
-const string Tags::CODE_ITUNESACCOUNTTYPE = "akID";
-const string Tags::CODE_ITUNESCOUNTRY     = "sfID";
-const string Tags::CODE_CONTENTID         = "cnID";
-const string Tags::CODE_ARTISTID          = "atID";
-const string Tags::CODE_PLAYLISTID        = "plID";
-const string Tags::CODE_GENREID           = "geID";
-const string Tags::CODE_COMPOSERID        = "cmID";
-const string Tags::CODE_XID               = "xid ";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ITUNESACCOUNT     = "apID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ITUNESACCOUNTTYPE = "akID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ITUNESCOUNTRY     = "sfID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_CONTENTID         = "cnID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_ARTISTID          = "atID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_PLAYLISTID        = "plID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_GENREID           = "geID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_COMPOSERID        = "cmID";
+const std::string Tags::CODE_XID               = "xid ";
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
diff --git a/src/itmf/Tags.h b/src/itmf/Tags.h
index bc6fdff..2f0de9e 100644
--- a/src/itmf/Tags.h
+++ b/src/itmf/Tags.h
@@ -34,112 +34,112 @@
 class Tags
 {
 public:
-    static const string CODE_NAME;
-    static const string CODE_ARTIST;
-    static const string CODE_ALBUMARTIST;
-    static const string CODE_ALBUM;
-    static const string CODE_GROUPING;
-    static const string CODE_COMPOSER;
-    static const string CODE_COMMENTS;
-    static const string CODE_GENRE;
-    static const string CODE_GENRETYPE;
-    static const string CODE_RELEASEDATE;
-    static const string CODE_TRACK;
-    static const string CODE_DISK;
-    static const string CODE_TEMPO;
-    static const string CODE_COMPILATION;
+    static const std::string CODE_NAME;
+    static const std::string CODE_ARTIST;
+    static const std::string CODE_ALBUMARTIST;
+    static const std::string CODE_ALBUM;
+    static const std::string CODE_GROUPING;
+    static const std::string CODE_COMPOSER;
+    static const std::string CODE_COMMENTS;
+    static const std::string CODE_GENRE;
+    static const std::string CODE_GENRETYPE;
+    static const std::string CODE_RELEASEDATE;
+    static const std::string CODE_TRACK;
+    static const std::string CODE_DISK;
+    static const std::string CODE_TEMPO;
+    static const std::string CODE_COMPILATION;
 
-    static const string CODE_TVSHOW;
-    static const string CODE_TVNETWORK;
-    static const string CODE_TVEPISODEID;
-    static const string CODE_TVSEASON;
-    static const string CODE_TVEPISODE;
+    static const std::string CODE_TVSHOW;
+    static const std::string CODE_TVNETWORK;
+    static const std::string CODE_TVEPISODEID;
+    static const std::string CODE_TVSEASON;
+    static const std::string CODE_TVEPISODE;
 
-    static const string CODE_DESCRIPTION;
-    static const string CODE_LONGDESCRIPTION;
-    static const string CODE_LYRICS;
+    static const std::string CODE_DESCRIPTION;
+    static const std::string CODE_LONGDESCRIPTION;
+    static const std::string CODE_LYRICS;
 
-    static const string CODE_SORTNAME;
-    static const string CODE_SORTARTIST;
-    static const string CODE_SORTALBUMARTIST;
-    static const string CODE_SORTALBUM;
-    static const string CODE_SORTCOMPOSER;
-    static const string CODE_SORTTVSHOW;
+    static const std::string CODE_SORTNAME;
+    static const std::string CODE_SORTARTIST;
+    static const std::string CODE_SORTALBUMARTIST;
+    static const std::string CODE_SORTALBUM;
+    static const std::string CODE_SORTCOMPOSER;
+    static const std::string CODE_SORTTVSHOW;
 
-    static const string CODE_COPYRIGHT;
-    static const string CODE_ENCODINGTOOL;   
-    static const string CODE_ENCODEDBY;
-    static const string CODE_PURCHASEDATE;
+    static const std::string CODE_COPYRIGHT;
+    static const std::string CODE_ENCODINGTOOL;
+    static const std::string CODE_ENCODEDBY;
+    static const std::string CODE_PURCHASEDATE;
 
-    static const string CODE_PODCAST;
-    static const string CODE_KEYWORDS;
-    static const string CODE_CATEGORY;
+    static const std::string CODE_PODCAST;
+    static const std::string CODE_KEYWORDS;
+    static const std::string CODE_CATEGORY;
 
-    static const string CODE_HDVIDEO;
-    static const string CODE_MEDIATYPE;
-    static const string CODE_CONTENTRATING;
-    static const string CODE_GAPLESS;
+    static const std::string CODE_HDVIDEO;
+    static const std::string CODE_MEDIATYPE;
+    static const std::string CODE_CONTENTRATING;
+    static const std::string CODE_GAPLESS;
 
-    static const string CODE_ITUNESACCOUNT;
-    static const string CODE_ITUNESACCOUNTTYPE;
-    static const string CODE_ITUNESCOUNTRY;
-    static const string CODE_CONTENTID;
-    static const string CODE_ARTISTID;
-    static const string CODE_PLAYLISTID;
-    static const string CODE_GENREID;
-    static const string CODE_COMPOSERID;
-    static const string CODE_XID;
+    static const std::string CODE_ITUNESACCOUNT;
+    static const std::string CODE_ITUNESACCOUNTTYPE;
+    static const std::string CODE_ITUNESCOUNTRY;
+    static const std::string CODE_CONTENTID;
+    static const std::string CODE_ARTISTID;
+    static const std::string CODE_PLAYLISTID;
+    static const std::string CODE_GENREID;
+    static const std::string CODE_COMPOSERID;
+    static const std::string CODE_XID;
 
 public:
-    string      name;
-    string      artist;
-    string      albumArtist;
-    string      album;
-    string      grouping;
-    string      composer;
-    string      comments;
-    string      genre;
+    std::string      name;
+    std::string      artist;
+    std::string      albumArtist;
+    std::string      album;
+    std::string      grouping;
+    std::string      composer;
+    std::string      comments;
+    std::string      genre;
     uint16_t    genreType;
-    string      releaseDate;
+    std::string      releaseDate;
     MP4TagTrack track;
     MP4TagDisk  disk;
     uint16_t    tempo;
     uint8_t     compilation;
 
-    string   tvShow;
-    string   tvEpisodeID;
+    std::string   tvShow;
+    std::string   tvEpisodeID;
     uint32_t tvSeason;
     uint32_t tvEpisode;
-    string   tvNetwork;
+    std::string   tvNetwork;
 
-    string description;
-    string longDescription;
-    string lyrics;
+    std::string description;
+    std::string longDescription;
+    std::string lyrics;
 
-    string sortName;
-    string sortArtist;
-    string sortAlbumArtist;
-    string sortAlbum;
-    string sortComposer;
-    string sortTVShow;
+    std::string sortName;
+    std::string sortArtist;
+    std::string sortAlbumArtist;
+    std::string sortAlbum;
+    std::string sortComposer;
+    std::string sortTVShow;
 
     CoverArtBox::ItemList artwork;
 
-    string copyright;
-    string encodingTool;  
-    string encodedBy;
-    string purchaseDate;
+    std::string copyright;
+    std::string encodingTool;
+    std::string encodedBy;
+    std::string purchaseDate;
 
     uint8_t podcast;
-    string  keywords;
-    string  category;
+    std::string  keywords;
+    std::string  category;
 
     uint8_t hdVideo;
     uint8_t mediaType;
     uint8_t contentRating;
     uint8_t gapless;
 
-    string   iTunesAccount;
+    std::string   iTunesAccount;
     uint8_t  iTunesAccountType;
     uint32_t iTunesCountry;
     uint32_t contentID;
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
     uint64_t playlistID;
     uint32_t genreID;
     uint32_t composerID;
-    string   xid;
+    std::string   xid;
 
     bool     hasMetadata;
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
     void c_setArtwork    ( MP4Tags*&, uint32_t, MP4TagArtwork& );
     void c_removeArtwork ( MP4Tags*&, uint32_t );
 
-    void c_setString  ( const char*, string&, const char*& );
+    void c_setString  ( const char*, std::string&, const char*& );
     void c_setInteger ( const uint8_t*,  uint8_t&,  const uint8_t*& );
     void c_setInteger ( const uint16_t*, uint16_t&, const uint16_t*& );
     void c_setInteger ( const uint32_t*, uint32_t&, const uint32_t*& );
@@ -174,31 +174,31 @@
     void c_setDisk  ( const MP4TagDisk*, MP4TagDisk&, const MP4TagDisk*& );
 
 private:
-    typedef std::map<string,MP4ItmfItem*> CodeItemMap;
+    typedef std::map<std::string,MP4ItmfItem*> CodeItemMap;
 
 private:
-    void fetchString  ( const CodeItemMap&, const string&, string&, const char*& );
-    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const string&, uint8_t&,  const uint8_t*& );
-    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const string&, uint16_t&, const uint16_t*& );
-    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const string&, uint32_t&, const uint32_t*& );
-    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const string&, uint64_t&, const uint64_t*& );
+    void fetchString  ( const CodeItemMap&, const std::string&, std::string&, const char*& );
+    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const std::string&, uint8_t&,  const uint8_t*& );
+    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const std::string&, uint16_t&, const uint16_t*& );
+    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const std::string&, uint32_t&, const uint32_t*& );
+    void fetchInteger ( const CodeItemMap&, const std::string&, uint64_t&, const uint64_t*& );
 
     void fetchGenre ( const CodeItemMap&, uint16_t&, const uint16_t*& );
     void fetchTrack ( const CodeItemMap&, MP4TagTrack&, const MP4TagTrack*& );
     void fetchDisk  ( const CodeItemMap&, MP4TagDisk&, const MP4TagDisk*& );
 
-    void storeString  ( MP4File&, const string&, const string&, const char* );
-    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const string&, uint8_t,  const uint8_t* );
-    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const string&, uint16_t, const uint16_t* );
-    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const string&, uint32_t, const uint32_t* );
-    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const string&, uint64_t, const uint64_t* );
+    void storeString  ( MP4File&, const std::string&, const std::string&, const char* );
+    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const std::string&, uint8_t,  const uint8_t* );
+    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const std::string&, uint16_t, const uint16_t* );
+    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const std::string&, uint32_t, const uint32_t* );
+    void storeInteger ( MP4File&, const std::string&, uint64_t, const uint64_t* );
 
     void storeGenre ( MP4File&, uint16_t, const uint16_t* );
     void storeTrack ( MP4File&, const MP4TagTrack&, const MP4TagTrack* );
     void storeDisk  ( MP4File&, const MP4TagDisk&, const MP4TagDisk* );
 
-    void remove ( MP4File&, const string& );
-    void store  ( MP4File&, const string&, MP4ItmfBasicType, const void*, uint32_t );
+    void remove ( MP4File&, const std::string& );
+    void store  ( MP4File&, const std::string&, MP4ItmfBasicType, const void*, uint32_t );
 
     void updateArtworkShadow( MP4Tags*& );
 };
diff --git a/src/itmf/generic.cpp b/src/itmf/generic.cpp
index 98f77ea..d5dd7f6 100644
--- a/src/itmf/generic.cpp
+++ b/src/itmf/generic.cpp
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 MP4ItmfItem*
-genericItemAlloc( const string& code, uint32_t numData )
+genericItemAlloc( const std::string& code, uint32_t numData )
 {
     MP4ItmfItem* item = (MP4ItmfItem*)malloc( sizeof( MP4ItmfItem ));
     if( !item )
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 MP4ItmfItemList*
-genericGetItemsByCode( MP4File& file, const string& code )
+genericGetItemsByCode( MP4File& file, const std::string& code )
 {
     MP4Atom* ilst = file.FindAtom( "moov.udta.meta.ilst" );
     if( !ilst )
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 MP4ItmfItemList*
-genericGetItemsByMeaning( MP4File& file, const string& meaning, const string& name )
+genericGetItemsByMeaning( MP4File& file, const std::string& meaning, const std::string& name )
 {
     MP4Atom* ilst = file.FindAtom( "moov.udta.meta.ilst" );
     if( !ilst )
diff --git a/src/itmf/generic.h b/src/itmf/generic.h
index 9edc7eb..da44c0b 100644
--- a/src/itmf/generic.h
+++ b/src/itmf/generic.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 MP4ItmfItem*
-genericItemAlloc( const string& code, uint32_t numData );
+genericItemAlloc( const std::string& code, uint32_t numData );
 
 void
 genericItemFree( MP4ItmfItem* item );
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@
 genericGetItems( MP4File& file );
 
 MP4ItmfItemList*
-genericGetItemsByCode( MP4File& file, const string& code );
+genericGetItemsByCode( MP4File& file, const std::string& code );
 
 MP4ItmfItemList*
-genericGetItemsByMeaning( MP4File& file, const string& meaning, const string& name );
+genericGetItemsByMeaning( MP4File& file, const std::string& meaning, const std::string& name );
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
diff --git a/src/itmf/type.cpp b/src/itmf/type.cpp
index b85e429..9f86380 100644
--- a/src/itmf/type.cpp
+++ b/src/itmf/type.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@
 namespace {
     struct ImageHeader {
         BasicType type;
-        string    data;
+        std::string    data;
     };
 
     // POD static init does not need singletons
diff --git a/src/log.cpp b/src/log.cpp
index b76fdc8..d41dc64 100644
--- a/src/log.cpp
+++ b/src/log.cpp
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 
         if (indent > 0)
         {
-            string      indent_str(indent,' ');
+            std::string      indent_str(indent,' ');
             // new_format << setw(indent) << setfill(' ') << "" << setw(0);
             // new_format << format;
             new_format << indent_str << format;
diff --git a/src/mp4atom.cpp b/src/mp4atom.cpp
index 770f08f..9e1873e 100644
--- a/src/mp4atom.cpp
+++ b/src/mp4atom.cpp
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@
 {
     if ( m_type[0] != '\0' ) {
         // create list of ancestors
-        std::list<string> tlist;
+        std::list<std::string> tlist;
         for( MP4Atom* atom = this; atom; atom = atom->GetParentAtom() ) {
             const char* const type = atom->GetType();
             if( type && type[0] != '\0' )
@@ -642,9 +642,9 @@
         }
 
         // create contextual atom-name
-        string can;
-        const std::list<string>::iterator ie = tlist.end();
-        for( std::list<string>::iterator it = tlist.begin(); it != ie; it++ )
+        std::string can;
+        const std::list<std::string>::iterator ie = tlist.end();
+        for( std::list<std::string>::iterator it = tlist.begin(); it != ie; it++ )
             can += *it + '.';
         if( can.length() )
             can.resize( can.length() - 1 );
diff --git a/src/mp4file.cpp b/src/mp4file.cpp
index b26c3ec..377ffb7 100644
--- a/src/mp4file.cpp
+++ b/src/mp4file.cpp
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
     File* dst = NULL;
 
     // compute destination filename
-    string dname;
+    std::string dname;
     if( dstFileName ) {
         dname = dstFileName;
     } else {
@@ -268,10 +268,10 @@
         // We'll try to create it in the same directory as the srcFileName, since
         // it's more likely that directory is writable.  In the absence of that,
         // we'll create it in "./", which is the default pathnameTemp() provides.
-        string s(srcFileName);
+        std::string s(srcFileName);
         size_t pos = s.find_last_of("\\/");
         const char *d;
-        if (pos == string::npos) {
+        if (pos == std::string::npos) {
             d = ".";
         } else {
             s = s.substr(0, pos);
@@ -3179,7 +3179,7 @@
         return false;
 
     MP4LanguageCodeProperty& lang = *static_cast<MP4LanguageCodeProperty*>(prop);
-    string slang;
+    std::string slang;
     bmff::enumLanguageCode.toString( lang.GetValue(), slang );
     if( slang.length() != 3 ) {
         memset( code, '\0', 4 );
diff --git a/src/mp4file.h b/src/mp4file.h
index 5c6bdaf..fba2bdb 100644
--- a/src/mp4file.h
+++ b/src/mp4file.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
     void Read( const char* name, const MP4FileProvider* provider );
     bool Modify( const char* fileName );
     void Optimize( const char* srcFileName, const char* dstFileName = NULL );
-    bool CopyClose( const string& copyFileName );
+    bool CopyClose( const std::string& copyFileName );
     void Dump( bool dumpImplicits = false );
     void Close(uint32_t flags = 0);
     void SetInitialSeekOffset(int64_t seekOffset);
diff --git a/src/mp4property.cpp b/src/mp4property.cpp
index dff16e0..601adef 100644
--- a/src/mp4property.cpp
+++ b/src/mp4property.cpp
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@
     SetValue( value );
 }
 
-MP4LanguageCodeProperty::MP4LanguageCodeProperty( MP4Atom& parentAtom, const char* name, const string& code )
+MP4LanguageCodeProperty::MP4LanguageCodeProperty( MP4Atom& parentAtom, const char* name, const std::string& code )
     : MP4Property( parentAtom, name )
 {
     SetValue( bmff::enumLanguageCode.toType( code ));
@@ -1056,7 +1056,7 @@
 {
     uint16_t data = 0;
 
-    string svalue;
+    std::string svalue;
     bmff::enumLanguageCode.toString( _value, svalue );
     if( svalue.length() == 3 ) {
         data = (((svalue[0] - 0x60) & 0x001f) << 10)
@@ -1097,7 +1097,7 @@
     code[1] = ((data & 0x03e0) >>  5) + 0x60;
     code[2] = ((data & 0x001f)      ) + 0x60;
 
-    SetValue( bmff::enumLanguageCode.toType( string( code, sizeof(code) )));
+    SetValue( bmff::enumLanguageCode.toType( std::string( code, sizeof(code) )));
 }
 
 void
@@ -1117,7 +1117,7 @@
 {
     uint16_t data = 0;
 
-    string svalue;
+    std::string svalue;
     bmff::enumLanguageCode.toString( _value, svalue );
     if( svalue.length() == 3 ) {
         data = (((svalue[0] - 0x60) & 0x001f) << 10)
diff --git a/src/mp4property.h b/src/mp4property.h
index 4c7ccad..863501a 100644
--- a/src/mp4property.h
+++ b/src/mp4property.h
@@ -422,8 +422,8 @@
         return buf;
     }
 
-    bool CompareToString( const string& s, uint32_t index = 0 ) {
-        return string( (const char*)m_values[index], m_valueSizes[index] ) != s;
+    bool CompareToString( const std::string& s, uint32_t index = 0 ) {
+        return std::string( (const char*)m_values[index], m_valueSizes[index] ) != s;
     }
 
     void CopyValue(uint8_t* pValue, uint32_t index = 0) {
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@
 
 public:
     explicit MP4LanguageCodeProperty( MP4Atom& parentAtom, const char* , bmff::LanguageCode = bmff::ILC_UND );
-    MP4LanguageCodeProperty( MP4Atom& parentAtom, const char* , const string& );
+    MP4LanguageCodeProperty( MP4Atom& parentAtom, const char* , const std::string& );
 
     MP4PropertyType GetType();
     uint32_t        GetCount();
diff --git a/src/mp4track.h b/src/mp4track.h
index 2a649f2..7db704b 100644
--- a/src/mp4track.h
+++ b/src/mp4track.h
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@
     MP4Integer16Property* m_pElstRateProperty;
     MP4Integer16Property* m_pElstReservedProperty;
 
-    string m_sdtpLog; // records frame types for H264 samples
+    std::string m_sdtpLog; // records frame types for H264 samples
 };
 
 MP4ARRAY_DECL(MP4Track, MP4Track*);
diff --git a/src/qtff/ColorParameterBox.h b/src/qtff/ColorParameterBox.h
index cfbf81c..e2dbf3d 100644
--- a/src/qtff/ColorParameterBox.h
+++ b/src/qtff/ColorParameterBox.h
@@ -55,13 +55,13 @@
         void reset();
 
         // convert from string CSV format.
-        void convertFromCSV( const string& csv );
+        void convertFromCSV( const std::string& csv );
 
         // convert to string CSV format.
-        string convertToCSV() const;
+        std::string convertToCSV() const;
 
         // convert to string CSV format with buffer.
-        string& convertToCSV( string& buffer ) const;
+        std::string& convertToCSV( std::string& buffer ) const;
 
     public:
         /// a 16-bit unsigned integer index.
diff --git a/src/text.cpp b/src/text.cpp
index 5790f96..d6ee246 100644
--- a/src/text.cpp
+++ b/src/text.cpp
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 bool
-LessIgnoreCase::operator()( const string& xstr, const string& ystr ) const
+LessIgnoreCase::operator()( const std::string& xstr, const std::string& ystr ) const
 {
-    const string::size_type xlen = xstr.length();
-    const string::size_type ylen = ystr.length();
+    const std::string::size_type xlen = xstr.length();
+    const std::string::size_type ylen = ystr.length();
 
     if( xlen < ylen ) {
-        for( string::size_type i = 0; i < xlen; i++ ) {
+        for( std::string::size_type i = 0; i < xlen; i++ ) {
             const char x = std::toupper( xstr[i] );
             const char y = std::toupper( ystr[i] );
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         return true;
     }
     else {
-        for( string::size_type i = 0; i < ylen; i++ ) {
+        for( std::string::size_type i = 0; i < ylen; i++ ) {
             const char x = std::toupper( xstr[i] );
             const char y = std::toupper( ystr[i] );
 
diff --git a/src/text.h b/src/text.h
index 5cb8d7a..39d50e0 100644
--- a/src/text.h
+++ b/src/text.h
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-struct MP4V2_EXPORT LessIgnoreCase : std::less<string>
+struct MP4V2_EXPORT LessIgnoreCase : std::less<std::string>
 {
-    bool operator()( const string&, const string& ) const;
+    bool operator()( const std::string&, const std::string& ) const;
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/util/mp4art.cpp b/util/mp4art.cpp
index f1454ca..42e3751 100644
--- a/util/mp4art.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4art.cpp
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@
 
 private:
     struct ArtType {
-        string         name;
-        string         ext;
-        std::vector<string> cwarns; // compatibility warnings
-        string         cerror; // compatibility error
+        std::string         name;
+        std::string         ext;
+        std::vector<std::string> cwarns; // compatibility warnings
+        std::string         cerror; // compatibility error
     };
 
     bool actionList    ( JobContext& );
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 
     bool (ArtUtility::*_action)( JobContext& );
 
-    string   _artImageFile;
+    std::string   _artImageFile;
     uint32_t _artFilter;
 };
 
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
     const int widx = 3;
     const int wsize = 8;
     const int wtype = 9;
-    const string sep = "  ";
+    const std::string sep = "  ";
 
     if( _jobCount == 0 ) {
       report << std::setw(widx) << right << "IDX" << left << sep
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@
 ArtUtility::extractSingle( JobContext& job, const CoverArtBox::Item& item, uint32_t index )
 {
     // compute out filename
-    string out_name = job.file;
+    std::string out_name = job.file;
     FileSystem::pathnameStripExtension( out_name );
 
     ostringstream oss;
diff --git a/util/mp4chaps.cpp b/util/mp4chaps.cpp
index 12095aa..648e8f3 100644
--- a/util/mp4chaps.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4chaps.cpp
@@ -92,15 +92,15 @@
     bool        (ChapterUtility::*_action)( JobContext& );
     void        fixQtScale(MP4FileHandle );
     MP4TrackId  getReferencingTrack( MP4FileHandle, bool& );
-    string      getChapterTypeName( MP4ChapterType ) const;
-    bool        parseChapterFile( const string, std::vector<MP4Chapter_t>&, Timecode::Format& );
-    bool        readChapterFile( const string, char**, File::Size& );
+    std::string      getChapterTypeName( MP4ChapterType ) const;
+    bool        parseChapterFile( const std::string, std::vector<MP4Chapter_t>&, Timecode::Format& );
+    bool        readChapterFile( const std::string, char**, File::Size& );
     MP4Duration convertFrameToMillis( MP4Duration, uint32_t );
 
     MP4ChapterType _ChapterType;
     ChapterFormat  _ChapterFormat;
     uint32_t       _ChaptersEvery;
-    string         _ChapterFile;
+    std::string         _ChapterFile;
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@
     }
 
     // build the filename
-    string outName = job.file;
+    std::string outName = job.file;
     if( _ChapterFile.empty() )
     {
         FileSystem::pathnameStripExtension( outName );
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@
                 oss << duration.svalue << ' ' << chapters[i].title << LINEND;
         }
 
-        string str = oss.str();
+        std::string str = oss.str();
         if( out.write( str.c_str(), str.size(), nout ) )
         {
             failure = herrf( "write to %s failed: %s\n", outName.c_str(), sys::getLastErrorStr() );
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@
     Timecode::Format format;
 
     // create the chapter file name
-    string inName = job.file;
+    std::string inName = job.file;
     if( _ChapterFile.empty() )
     {
         FileSystem::pathnameStripExtension( inName );
@@ -807,25 +807,25 @@
  *  @param chapterType the chapter type
  *  @return a string representing the chapter type
  */
-string
+std::string
 ChapterUtility::getChapterTypeName( MP4ChapterType chapterType) const
 {
     switch( chapterType )
     {
     case MP4ChapterTypeQt:
-        return string( "QuickTime" );
+        return std::string( "QuickTime" );
         break;
 
     case MP4ChapterTypeNero:
-        return string( "Nero" );
+        return std::string( "Nero" );
         break;
 
     case MP4ChapterTypeAny:
-        return string( "QuickTime and Nero" );
+        return std::string( "QuickTime and Nero" );
         break;
 
     default:
-        return string( "Unknown" );
+        return std::string( "Unknown" );
     }
 }
 
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@
  *  @return true if there was an error, false otherwise
  */
 bool
-ChapterUtility::readChapterFile( const string filename, char** buffer, File::Size& fileSize )
+ChapterUtility::readChapterFile( const std::string filename, char** buffer, File::Size& fileSize )
 {
     // open the file
     File in( filename, File::MODE_READ );
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@
  *  @return true if there was an error, false otherwise
  */
 bool
-ChapterUtility::parseChapterFile( const string filename, std::vector<MP4Chapter_t>& chapters, Timecode::Format& format )
+ChapterUtility::parseChapterFile( const std::string filename, std::vector<MP4Chapter_t>& chapters, Timecode::Format& format )
 {
     // get the content
     char * inBuf;
@@ -1097,7 +1097,7 @@
             chap.title[titleLen] = 0;
 
             Timecode tc( 0, CHAPTERTIMESCALE );
-            string tm( timeStart );
+            std::string tm( timeStart );
             if( tc.parse( tm ) )
             {
                 herrf( "Unable to parse time code from \"%s\"\n", tm.c_str() );
diff --git a/util/mp4extract.cpp b/util/mp4extract.cpp
index 9bf7a0a..6eae6d2 100644
--- a/util/mp4extract.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4extract.cpp
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 void ExtractTrack( MP4FileHandle mp4File, MP4TrackId trackId,
                    bool sampleMode, MP4SampleId sampleId, char* dstFileName )
 {
-    static string outName;
+    static std::string outName;
     File out;
 
     if( !sampleMode ) {
diff --git a/util/mp4file.cpp b/util/mp4file.cpp
index bd33f61..bb68153 100644
--- a/util/mp4file.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4file.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@
     const int wbrand = 5;
     const int wcompat = 18;
     const int wsizing = 6;
-    const string sep = "  ";
+    const std::string sep = "  ";
 
     if( _jobCount == 0 ) {
       report << std::setw(wbrand) << left << "BRAND" << sep
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
     if( fileFetchSummaryInfo( job.fileHandle, info ))
         return herrf( "unable to fetch file summary info" );
 
-    string compat;
+    std::string compat;
     {
         const FileSummaryInfo::BrandSet::iterator ie = info.compatible_brands.end();
         int count = 0;
diff --git a/util/mp4info.cpp b/util/mp4info.cpp
index 4c1c766..d92c9fb 100644
--- a/util/mp4info.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4info.cpp
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
                 fprintf( stdout, " Genre: %s\n", tags->genre );
             }
             if ( tags->genreType ) {
-                string s = itmf::enumGenreType.toString(static_cast<itmf::GenreType>(*tags->genreType ), true);
+                std::string s = itmf::enumGenreType.toString(static_cast<itmf::GenreType>(*tags->genreType ), true);
                 fprintf( stdout, " GenreType: %u, %s\n", *tags->genreType, s.c_str() );
             }
             if ( tags->grouping ) {
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@
                 fprintf( stdout, " Copyright: %s\n", tags->copyright );
             }
             if ( tags->contentRating ) {
-                string s = itmf::enumContentRating.toString( static_cast<itmf::ContentRating>( *tags->contentRating ), true );
+                std::string s = itmf::enumContentRating.toString( static_cast<itmf::ContentRating>( *tags->contentRating ), true );
                 fprintf( stdout, " Content Rating: %s\n", s.c_str() );
             }
             if ( tags->hdVideo ) {
                 fprintf( stdout, " HD Video: %s\n", *tags->hdVideo ? "yes" : "no");
             }
             if ( tags->mediaType ) {
-                string s = itmf::enumStikType.toString( static_cast<itmf::StikType>( *tags->mediaType ), true );
+                std::string s = itmf::enumStikType.toString( static_cast<itmf::StikType>( *tags->mediaType ), true );
                 fprintf( stdout, " Media Type: %s\n", s.c_str() );
             }
             if ( tags->tvShow ) {
@@ -230,14 +230,14 @@
                 fprintf( stdout, " iTunes Account: %s\n", tags->iTunesAccount );
             }
             if ( tags->iTunesAccountType ) {
-                string s = itmf::enumAccountType.toString( static_cast<itmf::AccountType>( *tags->iTunesAccountType ), true );
+                std::string s = itmf::enumAccountType.toString( static_cast<itmf::AccountType>( *tags->iTunesAccountType ), true );
                 fprintf( stdout, " iTunes Account Type: %s\n", s.c_str() );
             }
             if ( tags->purchaseDate ) {
                 fprintf( stdout, " Purchase Date: %s\n", tags->purchaseDate );
             }
             if ( tags->iTunesCountry ) {
-                string s = itmf::enumCountryCode.toString( static_cast<itmf::CountryCode>( *tags->iTunesCountry ), true );
+                std::string s = itmf::enumCountryCode.toString( static_cast<itmf::CountryCode>( *tags->iTunesCountry ), true );
                 fprintf( stdout, " iTunes Store Country: %s\n", s.c_str() );
             }
             MP4TagsFree( tags );
diff --git a/util/mp4subtitle.cpp b/util/mp4subtitle.cpp
index 7462153..a7cd1d4 100644
--- a/util/mp4subtitle.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4subtitle.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 
     bool (SubtitleUtility::*_action)( JobContext& );
 
-    string _stTextFile;
+    std::string _stTextFile;
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/util/mp4track.cpp b/util/mp4track.cpp
index 90675c9..4182c00 100644
--- a/util/mp4track.cpp
+++ b/util/mp4track.cpp
@@ -129,17 +129,17 @@
     qtff::ColorParameterBox::Item     _colorParameterItem;
     qtff::PictureAspectRatioBox::Item _pictureAspectRatioItem;
 
-    void (TrackModifier::*_actionTrackModifierSet_function)( const string& );
-    string _actionTrackModifierSet_name;
-    string _actionTrackModifierSet_value;
+    void (TrackModifier::*_actionTrackModifierSet_function)( const std::string& );
+    std::string _actionTrackModifierSet_name;
+    std::string _actionTrackModifierSet_value;
 
     void (TrackModifier::*_actionTrackModifierRemove_function)();
-    string _actionTrackModifierRemove_name;
+    std::string _actionTrackModifierRemove_name;
 };
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string toStringTrackType( string );
+std::string toStringTrackType( std::string );
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
     const int wid = 3;
     const int wtype = 8;
     const int wparm = 6;
-    const string sep = "  ";
+    const std::string sep = "  ";
 
     if( _jobCount == 0 ) {
       report << std::setw(widx) << right << "IDX" << sep << std::setw(wid)
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@
     const int wid = 3;
     const int wtype = 8;
     const int wparm = 6;
-    const string sep = "  ";
+    const std::string sep = "  ";
 
     if( _jobCount == 0 ) {
       report << std::setw(widx) << right << "IDX" << sep << std::setw(wid)
@@ -956,8 +956,8 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-string
-toStringTrackType( string code )
+std::string
+toStringTrackType( std::string code )
 {
     if( !code.compare( "vide" ))    // 14496-12
         return "video";
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@
     if( !code.compare( "subt" ))    // QTFF
         return "subtitle";
 
-    return string( "(" ) + code + ")";
+    return std::string( "(" ) + code + ")";
 }
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////