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Real to offer Windows Media on Linux

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Refalm:
vnunet.com / 16 augustus 2006

Real to offer Windows Media on Linux

Real Networks will launch a Linux version of its Real media player by December, enabling users to play audio and video files in the Windows Media format.

The company's Helix player for Linux currently supports Windows Media, but the upcoming Real Player has more advanced features, Jeff Duchmann, general manager for client and DRM technologies at Real Networks, told vnunet.com.

The application supports the burning of CDs and allows users to synchronise media files between a computer and a mobile device.

The Linux version of the application will increase the appeal of Linux on the desktop for consumers and enterprises, which increasingly use media for training and corporate communications, argued Duchmann.

"We are making this a desktop that consumers and enterprises can use for all their media needs," he said.

Windows Media codecs have been made available for Linux, but the legality of these offerings is open to debate.

The Linux Real player will only play Windows Media files without DRM technology, excluding media purchased from online music stores such as Napster.

Real also unveiled an agreement with Novell for the bundling of its media player with the SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 operating system.

piratePenguin:

--- Quote from: Refalm ---
Windows Media codecs have been made available for Linux, but the legality of these offerings is open to debate.
--- End quote ---
Not in the EU, surely.

--- Quote ---
Real also unveiled an agreement with Novell for the bundling of its media player with the SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 operating system.
--- End quote ---
I wonder how that'll work, since SLED 10's already out, isn't it?

H_TeXMeX_H:
Well, I dunno, I never liked Real Player ... besides most Window$ Media formats are shit. But, whatever, I'm sure other people will have less problems setting up a media player than can handle almost anything on Linux. (Mplayer handles most anything currently)

As for DRM ... fuck it.

WMD:
RealPlayer for Linux is great.  The Mac version is pretty good too...it's only the Windows version that sucks ass.  This is a Good Thing (tm).

worker201:
What makes them think we want Windows media available for Linux?  I won't play it, even if it is completely supported.  Christ, I don't even play Windows media in Windows!

IIRC, Real had a bit in its license where you, the user, were required to let Real have access to the internet.  Blocking Real, or blocking the ports Real used, was considered a license violation.  Not sure if that still holds, but that's one more reason why I don't consider this to be a good thing.

Mplayer + VLC = just fine, thanks

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