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-150

Produce A Media Player For Linux

-150 points posted to Broadband and Mobility, Linux, New Product Ideas, Software by aikiwolfie 11/17/07

It is illegal in some countries and a gray area in others to use the current crop of Linux media players to view or listen to DRM restricted content. Dell should protect it's customers by producing a 100% legal media player capable of accessing the full gambit of digital media. Such software should also be able to connect to the Apple iPod and other personal media players like the Creative Zen Touch.

benjesuit
11/17/07		 http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/74278/Sell_a_licenced_CODEC_pack_for_Ub...< nudge-nudge.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 I'm talking about a whole media player though. Not just a codec pack. Which I suppose would be good enough.

Why is this a bad idea helmecj01???
benjesuit
11/17/07		 Perhaps helmecj demoted because Dell is not in the non-enterprise software business and shouldn't be. Best they concentrate on their core hardware business considering the low demand for desktop Linux. Not only that, If Dell didn't make the media player opensource, the Linux community would be up in arms. Dell's not in the charity business which is what the idea would have them to be.

I mean, sure, it'd be nice of Dell to do it, but totally unecessary as there are plenty of media players for Linux out there. And plenty of illegal codecs. All someone need to is sell a codec pack which grants legal use of mainstream codecs and we're off to the races. So far, no one seems to want to do it. I honestly don't know why. Perhaps because the Desktop Linux market is too small just yet.
dwood
11/17/07		 Well, they could tell the independent developers to develop one for a prize or something.
benjesuit
11/17/07		 Ok sure they could. But what's in it for Dell?
undead999
11/17/07		 there is at least one good media player for Ubuntu : VLC, can be installed through the add/remove programs option. Dont know about Ipods or Zens as i have a sony MD player which will never be supported officially in Linux.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 benjesuit are you a Dell CEO? You keep telling us all Dell are not in the business of this or that or the next thing as though it adds some weight to your argument. It doesn't. This is IdeaStorm. A place where we tell Dell what it should be in the business of doing. Not where we tell each other what Dell aren't in the business of doing.

Personally I thought Dell were in the business of serving their customers. If it helps Dell Ubuntu customers to have Dell write an application then why should Dell not do it? Not everything written for Linux is free open source software. There are still things that people need to pay for and there's nothing wrong with that.

What's in it for Dell? You mean making one their product lines more attractive isn't an incentive?

undead999, Sony have contracted YellowDog Linux to produce their next version specifically with the PS3 in mind. So you might get that support at some point.
dwood
11/17/07		 m-hm. you can even fold in the PS3. (google folding ar home)
benjesuit
11/17/07		 Aiki, as always, just trying to add a dose of reality. Why is that important? It minimizes disappoint from unfounded ideas. I noticed that most of the Linux advocates on here have rarely demonstrated any business acumen and make all sorts of assumptions that obfuscate the reality of the industry. It's as if they want Dell to be their "mommy" or for Dell to validate their favorite OS. What is more, they introduce various conspriracy theories to try to explain why Linux is not taking off they way they think it should.

A cursory assessment of Dell's business would bring to light that Dell, like any business, is in the business of catering to their customers. The customers that materially add to their bottom line. Unfortunately at this time desktop Linux customers don't make a dent.

Now going back, what's in it for Dell? Not much. Consider that Dell is only expecting to sell a miniscule 20K units of Ubuntu preloaded per year. Compare that to the tens of million of units Dell sells with windows preloaded. Considering the cost of development of a media player, the possible legal issues, the cost of licensing... What's in it for Dell?

See what I mean about thinking using business sense?

That's why the best they could do is to sell you a license for the Codecs. It not only defrays costs, but it offloads possible legal entanglement such as patent enfringement.
aikiwolfie
11/17/07		 benjesuit you're just being irritating. I don't need you to protect my oh so fragile little mind. Go patronize somebody who cares.
premcv
11/19/07		 I don't see how this is going to happen in future.
aikiwolfie
11/19/07		 Why not premcv? Dell bundles software with pre-installed Windows. Why wouldn't they do it with Linux?
premcv
11/19/07		 I don't see them developing the Media player, they might source them from some company, yes, but not on their own. They did buy a Media company (not sure about the name)...
aikiwolfie
11/19/07		 Who does the actual work of coding the thing isn't the issue. The issue is that it should be 100% legal to use with Linux in any country anywhere in the world. Windows machines have DVD player application with Dell written all over it. Obviously they either had to write it themselves or license it from somewhere. I don't see why they shouldn't do the same for Linux.
premcv
11/19/07		 It is licensed/sourced to Dell.
dwood
11/19/07		 hey, I just played my ipod (no extras or anything) on Gutsy and it works just fine (even DRM stuff) Ugh.... so many topics got replied to in the past 24 hours.....
premcv
11/19/07		 So, it is already there!
aikiwolfie
11/19/07		 Excellent. But encrypted DVDs don't work out of the box with Gusty.
dwood
11/19/07		 and? just... strip them.. wait... its "illegal" yet I can do it anyways... oh no.... what now? I hit the gray! *_* its so beautiful o_o
aikiwolfie
11/19/07		 LOL. It's actually easier just to re-install xine. But it's one more step. A bull crap step at that that we shouldn't need to go through.
dwood
11/19/07		 I know. Stupid DRM .ogg FTW!
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