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Are There Linux DVD Players on the Market?

Posted by Cliff on from the is-this-real-or-vapour dept.

veldrane asks: "I saw this article on CNN.com about there being authorized DVD players on the market for Linux. Of course, the article is vague about Mark Litvak's claim so I'd like to know is this for real or is it just a statement to take credibility from the LUG protesters in DC?" After reading the article, I found it odd that Mr. Litvak didn't mention any company names that were working on DVD Players for Linux. If anyone knows anything more, I'd be interested in finding out if such a thing exists or is actually just more vapourware expressly for the purpose of discrediting the DeCSS supporters as veldrane suggests. Updated: 04/03 05:51 by C

Oops! I posted this story late on the 28th (with it scheduled to show up today) and had missed the LinDVD announcement. However, contrary to some of the comments that mention this point, this player is not yet on the market. It will be released "soon", but until it appears, it is still vapourware. It would be very cool if InterVideo would release a beta versions of their players so that we can see for ourselves how far along they are and how far they have to go. However this remains their decision. I wish them luck in their work, and am glad to see at least one company step up to the plate like this (even if it is only a binary player).

veldrane wanted to know if there was an actual player that he could go out and buy now, and according to Mark Litvak's comment in the original article, there should be one available.

I'm still wondering why he didn't mention any names if such an animal did exist.

4 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Linux is not the point by slim · · Score: 5
    Linux is just an example of a "non standard" platform upon which DVDs should be viewable. If DVD wants to be the standard format for selling video, then the right to develop a player should be free.


    Bringing out a closed-source, X86 binary only player for Linux does *not* get the MPAA off the hook as far as CSS is concerned. Simply substitute NetBSD, LinuxPPC, QNX, whatever, for "Linux", and make the same argument all over again.
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  2. Commercial DVD? I hope not by theonetruekeebler · · Score: 5
    If some company starts rushing an "authorized" Linux DVD driver/player out the door, it will be a tactic in the pending DeCSS lawsuit, not a goodwill gesture to the Linux community. They will release it unsupported, due to the "unstable and unpredictable" Linux environment. But they will mention that there are authorized DVD players for Linux, thus proving once and for all that a tool like DeCSS are for stealing, just like kitchen knives are for stabbing battered spouses. Why own a kitchen knife when you can buy wholesome products already sliced for you?

    They can't Open Source it. That would be violating their own collusion--err--consortium's charter. When such a player does show up, it will be closed source, so as to protect the already widely known trade secrets the lawsuits are trying to make us unknow. It won't be an effort to embrace another user community; it will be an effort to control yet another market segment.

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    This is not my sandwich.
  3. Q: How many Slashdot authors... by guran · · Score: 5
    ...does it take to post a story about the screwing of a lightbulb?

    A: Only one... per section
    A2: Six
    One to report the news "Lightbulb broken", One to post "Ask Slashdot: best way to screw a lightbulb", One to discuss patents about lightbulbs, One to report about the "Open Source Lightbulb Exchange Project" and finally JonKatz to write a meg about how the lightbulb soon will be obsolete in the digital age.
    Six? yeah they count like they spell...

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    All opinions are my own - until criticized

  4. Linux made illegal under the DeCSS by luckykaa · · Score: 5

    Here's some important news I just made up.

    In court today, Microsoft succesfully managed to gain an injunction against the Linux Operating system on the basis that it is a tool for piracy.

    This was demonstrated by the Microsoft representatives using cat </dev/hda1 >/nfs/dev/hda1 to copy Windows98(tm) from one computer to another. They also claimed that Linux reverse engineered some of Microsoft's intellectual property including SMB.

    Linux users claimed that Linux is useful as an OS for the PPC and Alpha platforms that MS wasn't supporting. MS pointed out that there were legal operating systems for these platforms and said words to the effect of "What are they cmplaining about.

    In related news, programmer Linus Torvalds was arrested for his role in writing Linux, as well as a number of other international programmers.