PDA

View Full Version : RealPlayer to Support Windows Media on Linux


Coded-Dude
08-16-2006, 06:37 PM
RealNetworks will support Microsoft’s Windows Media formats in an upgraded version of its RealPlayer multimedia application for Linux systems scheduled for release in December.

In addition, Novell will distribute the upgraded RealPlayer with its Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 OS (operating system), the companies announced at LinuxWorld in San Francisco on Tuesday.

The upgraded RealPlayer program will join several other applications, such as MPlayer, that can handle Windows Media formats for Linux.

The RealNetworks deal may benefit Microsoft by offering the software giant another outlet to promote its media formats, despite the fact that it will run on Linux, a competitor to Microsoft’s operating system. Microsoft is keen to drive use of its digital media formats in competition with Apple Computer and its popular iTunes program.

RealNetworks support for Microsoft comes after the former rivals struck a surprising truce in October 2005 following a lengthy antitrust battle. The companies agreed to promote each other’s services and technologies, and Microsoft agreed to deliver US$761 million in cash and services to RealNetworks.

In the same announcement, Novell said it is also including RealNetworks’ Helix Banshee music player in Enterprise Desktop 10, released last month. Helix Banshee is an open-source music player for Linux that shares the same code base as RealPlayer.

The application is the result of work from the Helix Community, which comprises open-source developers and technology companies, and the GNOME Banshee open-source music player, part of the GNU/Linux project.

Novell and RealNetworks said they are also working with independent software vendors to speed up the development of streaming media applications on multiple OSes and hardware platforms.

source (http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=23955)

BugenhagenXIII
08-16-2006, 07:21 PM
Too bad it's RealPlayer.

That, and as the article says, there's Mplayer.

Coded-Dude
08-16-2006, 07:31 PM
That, and as the article says, there's Mplayer.
Thats what I use, and recommend(besides vlc).

I just thought this was an interesting decision on Real's part.

Garfunkel
08-17-2006, 07:35 AM
i use kaffeine and kmplayer, really good stuff

Teh Roxor!
08-26-2006, 10:27 PM
Banshee has nothing on amaroK Fast Forward. Unless I missed something.

BugenhagenXIII
08-26-2006, 11:33 PM
amaorK is much better than Banshee, but what does that have to do with Realplayer?

Teh Roxor!
08-26-2006, 11:53 PM
amaorK is much better than Banshee, but what does that have to do with Realplayer?
Well, according to the article:

Helix Banshee is an open-source music player for Linux that shares the same code base as RealPlayer.

BugenhagenXIII
08-26-2006, 11:57 PM
Ahh, didn't see that. When I used an SVN build of amaroK a month or two back, it had Helix support, but it got removed. amaroK is still the best audio player on Linux.

Garfunkel
08-27-2006, 02:44 AM
damn right