Windows Media Format Could Hit Linux-Based Devices

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."

Comments

Just say no.

[Anonymous Coward]

We don't want it. Continue sticking to something that isn't DRM-tastic and doesn't suck, device manufacturers.

A good thing, with some caveats...

[PrimeWaveZ]

I think that getting a (hopefully) well made and complete version of Windows Media working on Linux devices could be a good thing, but if it is not open-sourced (and it likely would not be) it will have few benefits on other open OSes. It is all in the implementation.

More software with real-world uses is a good thing, when it is good. More crapware floating around makes the world that much worse.

Re:A good thing, with some caveats...

[MoThugz]

MS might be gauging the popularity of WM formats on non-MS platforms. Since Linux is undoubtedly one of the more popular OS platform, perhaps that is why it is chosen as the first platform to be ported to.

Benefits? It never was meant to benefit anyone but MS. Why should they bother in the first place if it wasn't beneficial for them? What other OSs are embedded on devices with comparable popularity to embedded Windows (CE, XP, choose your poison)? PalmOS perhaps... however media en/decoding is more mature on the Linux platform (correct me if I'm wrong).

Conclusion: MS couldn't give a rat's ass on what principles the OS is built upon... as long as it can benefit them in one way or another.

thr1d ps0t

[usotsuki]

Damn, almost fristed.

Pro: Linux gets Windoze proprietary formats.

Con: Probably NOT going to be open-source.

I'm torn.

-uso.

Re:thr1d ps0t

[rifter]

Well, my reading of the article leads me to believe this is *not* as the slashdot headline implies a deal which means wmv will work on Linux. Far to the contrary. It appears MS is *licensing* the use of software that will be able to use wmv on specific PVRs which also happen to run an *embedded* Linux. It is extremely likely this solution will not only not be open source but not be distributable at all nor applicable to the general purpose Linux most people run.

What's the reaction?

[Anonvmous Coward]

Boy this is puzzling. Is everybody going to be happy that the Windows Media stuff will make it's way to Linux, or will they complain that MS is trying to extend it's monopoly? So far it's for Linux based devices, as opposed to the desktop machines. Ah nice ugly mix.

I, for one, think ya'll should be happy about it. It means:

a.) Linux will probably one day support WM formats. Thus no more bitching that you don't have the right OS to watch the cool vids that fly around here sometimes.

b.) MS recognizes that they just can't get everybody to use CE for embedded stuff. Might as well join the crowd, right?

Either way, Linux users win. Put your pitchforks down.

Re:What's the reaction?

[Billly Gates]

I think the answer is

c.) Microsoft is doing another IE and will wait until it takes over the market then kill it by releasing the later versions only with Windows. palladium will probably be a part of the plot.

Microsoft wants to be the multimedia hub of all household devices. Sun, Apple and Tivo are all fighting for this. Microsoft will start with proprietary encrypted file formats in the Entertainment center and work from there.

I noticed that MS not only is not charging video producers licensing fee's for using wmv but they are even paying them to use WMV over .mov's or mpegs. They are probably losing money in development for their multimedia technologies and using their Office and Windows monopolies to fund it ala IE style.

I do notice that mpegs seem jerky with the media player while wmv seem smooth. Hmmm wonder why that is? Many media players like Winamp use the media player libraries. This will fool users into thinking WMV is a supperior video format. This I am sure is part of Microsoft's pitch into why to use WMV and not mpeg.

I think the napster mp3 revolution got Bill Gates envious as usually and he wants Windows to be somehow supperior or the only platform available for virtual jokeboxes or PVR's.

Either way, Microsoft wins. Please raise your pitchforks indeed.

Haha, smart move from MS

[coupland]

You can rightly accuse Microsoft of many things but being dumb isn't one of them. Due to their lack of headway in the embedded systems market and the extreme popularity of Linux in this same market Microsoft is smart enough not to mortgage the Windows Media farm on the success of their embedded OSes.

The cynical among us might think that by porting Windows Media to Linux and then "enhancing" the Windows versions faster than the Linux version you could lure Linux-committed companies to make an "easy port" to CE. Personally I think it should be watched-for but unlikely as embedded-Windows is decent, companies are abandoning it not for functionality issues, but cost and choice -- things much more important in the embedded space.

Re:Movie theaters?

[soloport]

1. First they ignore you.
2. Then they laugh at you.
3. Then they fight you.
4. Then you win!
-- Ghandi

Hmmn

[Hawthorne01]

I am reminded of an Arab proverb about not letting the camel's nose into the tent, as soon the rest of the camel will follow.

prediction

[geekoid]

Won't work quite right, people complain, MS says "Thats open source for you."
Linux Fans say "Its not linux, its the app"
Company says" You're right, but what choice do we have? our contract says to use the windows format, so will have to switch are machines to windows"

Bada-boom, bada bing.

Sure, you think I paranoid, or some conspiracy fanatic, but I am not. This is how MS has moved into most of its dominate fields.

in short:
1.extend
2.embrace
3.profit

Re:MPlayer

[sls1j]

I downloaded and compiled MPlayer last week and discovred that is plays Windows Media formats better than Windows Media player. For instance streaming video scaled to full screen with no noticable slow-down in frame-rate on mplayer. Do the same thing, on the same machine with XP and Window Media Player, and it's a filmstrip 1 to 2 frames a second. Also noticed that MPlayer doesn't drop connections like WMP does.

Don't use it

[vandan]

I would urge developers and systems builders and all people to avoide the Windows Media format like the plague. M$ are only licencing it to Linux developers to gain market penetration. When they get enough penetration, it will be every man for themselves. The licences will not be renewed, and we will have mandatory DRM following shortly after.
We need to promote open standards and boycott Windows Media format.