Idea #2646: Offer RealPlayer for legal MP3, AAC, and RM playback in the US

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Written by mikedep333 the 3 Mar 08 at 03:11. Category: Multimedia.
Related to: Nothing/Others. Status: New

Description

Simply put:
Add RealPlayer for Linux to the multiverse repository, and prompt people (at least those from the USA) to install it when they go to play MP3s, AACs, or RealMedia files.

More Info:
Many people desire out-of-the-box, or seemingly out-of-the-box playback of MP3s, AAC (mpeg4 audio), and (sometimes) RealMedia audio and video files. Currently Ubuntu offers seemingly out-of-the-box support for MP3s by offering to install MP3 codecs that are open source but may violate patent laws in the US.
Suse has an easy solution to this: bundling RealPlayer. It supports the above-mentioned formats. Rather than bundling RealPlayer, Ubuntu should offer to install it from the multiverse. This would require that RealPlayer be added to the multiverse (Helix Player is insufficient because it does not support the proprietary formats.)

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Comments

eapache wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 03:19

RealPlayer is bloated and buggy. I'd rather have the option (It's either in Suse or Redhat) to purchase legal codecs online.

Auzy wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 03:20

I think it should be a offer, but I dont think it should be the only offer.

I've never been a fan really of the realplayer products, and it seems they are simply open sourcing their code because they are gasping with their last breath to hang on financially and want other people to help them code their success.

I totally disagree with supporting Realplayer. Realplayer have never done anything for anyone but themselves.

I like the idea of offering players though, but realplayer should only be an option, not the primary player

Auzy wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 03:22

I should add that if Realmedia were serious about open source, they would open up the real streaming formats more.

cardinals_fan wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 06:01

I agree that legal codecs should be emphasized (Fluendo?), but Real is a truly evil company. Their business practices are deplorable and make Microsoft seem ethical.

jonathan324 wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 13:14

Do you get open source spyware bundled with it?

Jadd wrote on the 3 Mar 08 at 14:11

Ubuntu is humanity to others. That's why I'm voting against this idea.

Warbo wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 01:25

It seems to me that Real are trying to support Linux as much as possible without opening up their own codecs (and thus destroying their business).

I don't have a problem with this for the USA (where the choice is either proprietary software or illegal software)

Eldmannen wrote on the 20 Mar 08 at 17:14

RealPlayer is the worst piece of shit ever.
It is so bloated, and even have spyware-like behaviour.

Umakanth wrote on the 11 Jun 08 at 21:13

I am the QA (the only QA) for RealPlayer for Linux and hence my answer would be in favor of RealPlayer. I'll try to civilly address the issues raised here

1. No, we do not make any money for the work we do on RealPlayer and HelixPlayer for Linux and there is no financial gain for Real here by just giving away what we do give away.

2. I will not go into Microsoft and their business practices but I do not see how that concerns the RealPlayer Linux team (of 2) and how our efforts to bring out something better for the Linux platform is concerned.

3. Also if you can tell us how RealPlayer bloated and buggy, we can make our player better. Please visit us at https://player.helixcommunity.org/ and feel free to rant and provide your input. You might want to even participate in the development process.

RealPlayer for Linux not only provides MP3 support but also WMA and WMV support (which will only get better as we try to make it better) out of the box.

Auzy wrote on the 12 Jun 08 at 02:44

Umakanth, why would you support Realplayer for linux though when its only real advantage (.RM) support is closed source?

They have only opened up the gui.. Nothing else

Auzy wrote on the 12 Jun 08 at 02:49

In fact, in a bug report that was assigned to you:
https://bugs.helixcommunity.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5673

Someone from the team writes in regards to the welcome.rm file not playing:
"This is a RA3 issue. Due to licensing restrictions, we can't currently ship this codec with the
Linux RealPlayer."

So whilst it is great that you do help the open source community, why do you bother helping a company who are obviously just using you guys to improve their own product, without giving anything back?

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