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Speex Goes 1.0, Xiph Goes 501(c)3

Posted by timothy on from the free-as-in-easy dept.

Emmettfish writes "Hey, folks! We've posted an announcement this morning; Speex (the free and open voice compression codec by Jean-Marc Valin) has gone 1.0, and the Xiph.Org Foundation is now officially recognized as a charitable non-profit organization by the IRS. Donate to help us write more Free Software and get a tax break. Thanks!"

8 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. This is good by Quixote · · Score: 4, Interesting
    OSS needs a low-bitrate codec. I've been looking to put toether a netmeeting-type open-source app that works on both Linux and Windblows, for use over low(er) speed dialup lines (like 9600bps or thereabouts). This would be the missing piece.

    On a related note: if there are any other active projects for a netmeeting-type application (I'm aware of Gnomemeeting, but I'd like to avoid the whole directory/ILS business, and just do simple person-to-person calls, with possible encryption if desired), please post a link.

    1. Re:This is good by IcePic · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Do *NOT* make the same mistake that H323 and SIP has
      done and make a protocol that can handle NAT.
      With the shortage of ipv4 addresses (or the silly
      admins that NAT anyhow) today, you can't use any simple
      net-audio no more. People seem to be able to do
      most anything, including GameVoice and stuff, but
      all the standardised, "serious" software is designed
      by people on univerisities or other places that never
      heard of NAT so they constantly design the protocols
      to send your ip inside the protocol.

      Of course, some 2-bit hack kernel module for
      ip--filtering for linux appears
      in 6 months, but everyone doesn't want to modify
      kernels with random modules and unproven code just
      because netaudio folks seems to think NAT doesn't
      exist.

      I'd love for NAT to go away and die, but unfortunately
      it wont, so please, if you make an audio app, make
      it able to survive a simple port forwarding so I
      can 'call' through my $100 cheap-o-matic SOHO-firewall
      box.

      --
      -- I'm as unique as everyone else.
  2. Codec progress is great, but we need content by matthewg42 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    It's good to see some open codecs appearing/ reaching some level of maturity, though I'm not sure if we'll ever be free from fear of the IP clans in this area...

    The main problem I see now is getting some media available exclusivley in these formats. I have to confess it's an awfully big incentive to use proprietary format players when the alternative is not to listen/watch at all.

  3. What i'm curious to know is by SolemnDragon · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Can they get ties in to other nonprofit organisations? Because i can think of a whole lot of nonprofits that have been LOOKING for software development buddies, especially anything working better than current speech software. It becomes particularly relevant in issues such as advanced neuromuscular diseases. What they need is free, open-source (read: adaptable) voiceware, so that people who are already on disability don't have to pay for it... And i'm thinking that the amount of publicity that they could get by tying onto something like one of the many ALS foundations out there, or the MS etc foundations.... would be good for everybody...

    of course, i could be completely offbase, because i was a bad slashdotter today and didn't read all of the material, just enough to think about. On a monday morning, thinking is limited... *sigh* right. In the words of they might be giants: "More coffee for me, dear, 'cause i'm not as messes up as i'd like to be...."

    --
    "I'd say 'Have a good time,' but arson is still illegal.
  4. questions by koekepeer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    hey /. readers/experts (i hope)

    how does this translate into RL applications? i would *love* to be able to caal a friend over the internet. but:

    do you need hardware (other than pc)?
    can you connect to windows computers?

    this could seriously reduce my phonecosts, i'd be quite pleased to use it and donate some money if i could get this working with my (not able to run linux because of company policy and low geekness factor) friends abroad.

    can someone point me to some good links for info?

    tnx

  5. Sourceforge next? by dnoyeb · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have always wondered if I could write off the time I spend on OSS projects as charitable donations. I'm not getting paid for it and it does contribute to the global society. I wonder if sourceforge could not become a charitable organization? At least the software side, the adverts could be a different company that pays the charitable org.

  6. What sort of speed processor do we need? by 91degrees · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A low bitrate audio codec is useless if it can't compress in real time. Will my 300MHz Linux box be able to compress my voice in real-ish time?

  7. tax deductible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Keep in mind, currently, charitable donations are only tax deductible if you itemize. I suspect most slashdot readers 1) Aren't in the US or 2)Don't itemize or 3) Are dependents (aka live in parents basement).