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RealNetworks & Helix Community to Build OpenSource Media Player

Submitted by stro on Wed, 2003-08-06 15:59. Gnome Multimedia
Gnome Multimedia

Today at Linuxworld RealNetworks announced the launch of the Helix(TM) Player project.

The open-source Helix Player, with the addition of the RealAudio(R) and
RealVideo(R) binaries, will enable Linux, Unix and Solaris users for the first
time to enjoy a similar level of media playback and SMIL 2.0 support that
millions of consumers do today using the free RealOne(TM) Player on Windows
and Mac.

Helix Player will feature a GNOME/GTK interface along with a Mozilla browser plugin. THe player will also support Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and more.

RealNetworks lied in their announcement

Submitted by coriordan on Thu, 2003-08-07 18:54.

> Wants everything handed to him on a plate

That would be nice but I won't hold my breath :)

My beef is that RealNetworks make announcements like:

"The Helix Player Will Be the First Comprehensive Open Source Media Player"

Which is simply a lie. The player is split up and released under 4 separate licenses. One of which qualifies as OpenSource. And that one license covers nothing of value.

The license setup allows anyone to add code from GNU/Linux or GNOME to RealPlayer, but doesn't allow people to add RealNetworks code to GNU/Linux or GNOME. Kinda parasitic

Ciaran O'Riordan

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