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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."

3 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. 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 :)