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Helix Server Source Released
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."
Now i'm just waiting for someone to do some kind of quantitative or benchmark comparison between this and Darwin Streaming Server.
It's all just RTSP... right? Do the two support any common codecs?
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?
Um, no.
Frankly, and don't take this the wrong way, no one cares about Ogg Vorbis except for Slashdotters. When talking about streaming media, you have only two and a half choices: Windows Media and Real Media (QuickTime is only half supported, if not for its typical clunky Apple streaming solution. Streaming OGG Vorbis on mainstream websites, or on any site for that matter that asks the user to "download something else" will force users away. In short, never gonna happen, stick with the proven market leaders.
Err.. Insightful? I thought the point of OpenSource was sharing. Now you've got the source for a potentially great streaming media server, and you're bitching about not having the codecs?
I suppose you'd rather re-write the whole server, AND the codecs yourself instead of just the codecs.
No, it's not 100% free, but if you're looking for 100% free streaming server there are many already out there.
If this was Jack Mioff releasing this (half-done) on Sourceforge, you would be hearlding this as another step forward for OpenSource. I guess because it's from Real, they should be able to give you the whole thing for free, right? Wine changed to GPL because they didn't want companies profitting from their code, and not giving anything back. Why do you think a company would be any different?
Please, be thankful you now have another choice, and if you want a codec, code it yourself.
"I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
Considering that WinAmp has had Vorbis support built in for ages now, and WinAmp is extremely popular even amongst all my non-geek friends, I doubt it'd actually "force" as many users away as you might think.
Anyway, last time I checked RealPlayer didn't come included with Windows either?
Streaming OGG Vorbis on mainstream websites, or on any site for that matter that asks the user to "download something else" will force users away. In short, never gonna happen, stick with the proven market leaders.
I switched from mp3 to ogg for my website, and out of ~1000 unique users/week, I've received two or three emails where people had trouble.
I can see WM as being about on par (end-user wise) with Vorbis, but Real? Come on. Realaudio still sounds straight out of 1995. RealPlayer/One is incredibly buggy (how can installing a media player manage to destabilize an entire NT4 or 2k system?!), it's full of ads, and user control of content is very limited.
Besides, Vorbis is free. That's already managed to convince a number of game companies to use it as the compression standard in their products (e.g. Soul Reaver 2 and Blood Omen 2 for the PC).
"...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
While there is legacy support for the 1995 RealAudio codecs, the modern stuff is really very good.
Anyone encoding music or soundtracks should be using the RealAudio Stereo Music 8 codecs. At lower data rates, this uses Real's in-house "Cook" codec, and at higher data rates a streaming-optimized version of Sony's ATRAC3 from miniDisc.
While Ogg is a fine format for download and CD-ROM type applications, today it isn't anywhere near mature as Real is for real-time streaming over lossy networks. Of course, with the sub-band stuff, Ogg could get a LOT better for this with further development.
My video compression blog