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Windows Media Format Could Hit Linux-Based Devices

Posted by timothy on from the mux-demux dept.

An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices.com reports that Microsoft has licensed InterVideo Inc. to supply Windows Media Technology to makers of Linux-based consumer devices. Under the agreement, InterVideo is licensed to take the components of the Windows Media Format, port them to Linux, and provide them to manufacturers who are interested in running Windows Media Technology on Linux-based consumer devices such as set-top boxes, personal video recorders, and other hybrid multimedia devices."

7 of 264 comments (clear)

  1. Windows Media on Linux by xYoni69x · · Score: 3, Informative

    I thought this was already possible?

    --
    void*x=(*((void*(*)())&(x=(void*)0xfdeb58)))();
    1. Re:Windows Media on Linux by joe_bruin · · Score: 3, Informative

      windows media has been available on linux-based devices for years. microsoft has released wma decoders for arm- and mips-based linux systems (as well as other os's). the phatnoise car audio system (aka kenwood music keg) has been playing wma for 2 years now (it's a car mp3 player running linux on arm).

      windows media drm, on the other hand, has not been available until now. however, the upcoming release of the mercury system, linux (and other os) based embedded systems will be able to play drm'd wma files (without additional hardware support). note that this is a "write only" type of scheme, where the files will be useless if you pull them off the device (unless it's on the windows desktop that created them).

  2. Re:What's the reaction? by mvdw · · Score: 2, Informative
    Linux will probably one day support WM formats.

    If by "one day" you mean "now", and if by "WM formats" you mean "just about every media format there is (including MPEG4, wma, wmv, mov)", then you'd be right. It's called mplayer, it's available now, it's open source, and it works.

    You can find it here

  3. But will they include spyware... by SmackCrackandPot · · Score: 3, Informative

    I remember the controversy that Realplayer introduced after it was reported that the player sent back the file paths/links to Real Networks.
    Is there the danger that Microsoft might try and do this with the components of the media player?

    I guess they want to make sure that their DRM technology is universal.

    Performing a hex dump of your multimedia files may become a violation of the RIAA :)

  4. Re:Just say no. by JebusIsLord · · Score: 2, Informative

    DRM is an optional component for WM. It will soon be an optional component in Ogg as well. There are plenty of reasons to avoid windows media format, audio quality being one of them. DRM is not a good reason though. If anything it really is an optional feature.

    --
    Jeremy
  5. Re:Haha, smart move from MS by anonymous+loser · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually, I think it was a smart move, but for a different reason:

    They are effectively removing some of the complaints that could come up in future legal action. First, they can rightfully claim that Windows Media is no longer tied to their operating system, enforcing a monopoly. Second, they can also (well, at least try to) claim that those mangy open-source hackers have no good reason to reverse-engineer their software under the DMCA, since there's already a compatible player available for Linux.

  6. No Windows XP Pro by MarkLR · · Score: 2, Informative

    They will be using Windows XP Pro and a custom written media player. MS has an whitepaper out.