Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Helix Server Source Released

Posted by michael on from the beaten-down-by-windows-media-player dept.

Rob Lanphier writes "RealNetworks just released the Helix DNA Server source code, the main engine powering the RealNetworks' Helix Universal Server (nee RealServer). Additionally, the RealNetworks' Public Source License (RPSL) just became approved as an Open Source Initiative (OSI) certified license. Speaking of which, the Helix DNA Server is available under RPSL (which wasn't originally our stated intention). Ask questions via IRC during our live webcast at 11am PST (19:00 GMT) or just read the press release."

5 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Unlimited streaming now? by liebesgruss · · Score: 5, Informative

    So we can use more than 1MBit/s for streaming now?
    The 1year-testing-version is limited to this bandwith.

    cheers,
    liebesgruss

  2. Re:What will this do for us? by Koos+Baster · · Score: 3, Informative

    I guess the're just doing "the descent thing" (releasing the source) because they know that the OSS community will copy & improve it anyway if they don't. Also, it will help them gain market share, mainly as a result of the community porting their stuff to other (hardware) platforms.

  3. Re:So by davetrainer · · Score: 3, Informative
    borderline spyware reporting of usage metrics back to their home base


    There's nothing borderline about it.


    Back in 1999, it was discovered that Real were assigning unique IDs to RealJukebox users and profiling them without their knowledge. Real were subjected to a federal probe and slapped with two lawsuits. Even then, were Real compelled to stop what they were doing? Nah, they just issued a patch that maybe 10% of all users even knew existed.


    Real have cleaned up their act since then, but clearly their past arrogance has left a bad taste in the mouths of many users.

  4. Re:Really Free? Read the article for codec info. by Havokmon · · Score: 4, Informative
    They are shooting themselves in the foot if they don't supply a codec for free.

    And according to the news release, that apparently nobody read, you can stream Real and MP3 for free, non-commerically.

    "Helix DNA Server streams MP3, RealAudio® and RealVideo®. RealNetworks intends to add support for MPEG-4 after the MPEG-4 systems license terms have been released by the MPEG-4 licensing body, MPEG LA. Developers can create extensions for other media types such as Windows Media and QuickTime, or they can license these extensions from RealNetworks through the Helix Community. "

    --
    "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
  5. Re:Benchmarks? by glitchvern · · Score: 3, Informative
    Are the RSPL and ASPL compatible? I mean, can we take code from Darwin and code from Helix and legally put it into the same app?

    Yes, details here