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AOL Open Sourcing Audio & Video Technology

Posted by Zonk on from the giving-back-to-america dept.

daria24 writes "BetaNews says that AOL is open sourcing Winamp AVS and Milkdrop, two popular Winamp plug-ins, and its Ultravox streaming media platform (the successor to Shoutcast). 'Despite helping to launch the Mozilla Foundation and releasing the code to its AOL Server software, America Online has never been synonymous with open source. But a number of new initiatives could change AOL's proprietary image, as the company strives to reach a broader audience on the open Web.' The next-generation AIM release will also be an open platform, which AOL says 'could rival even Mozilla due to its scale and the massive AIM user base.'"

11 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Pixie-dust projects by Scorillo47 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yet another example of pixie-dust projects...

    --
    Don't try to use the force. Do or do not, there is no try.
  2. Huh? by TheSpoom · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wait, does this mean that we're supposed to... like... AOL?

    But... it just feels wrong somehow... :^(

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
    1. Re:Huh? by Queer+Boy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Just so you young whippersnappers remember, AOL was the reason there's a consumer internet AT ALL! The existence of AOL and its massive userbase was the impetus for improving the usability of things like WWW, Usenet and e-mail.

      Did you think you could always point and click your way across the internet?

      --
      Not since Marie-Antoinette played milkmaid has looking simple and honest been so fake and complicated.
  3. Does it really matter? by Elecore · · Score: 4, Insightful

    'The next-generation AIM release will also be an open platform, which AOL says 'could rival even Mozilla due to its scale and the massive AIM user base.' It could rival in pure numbers, but I'd bet that MOST AOL users don't really understand or care what open source is. Most people who do stay clear of AOL to begin with.

    1. Re:Does it really matter? by dcclark · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not to mention that the "open platform" actually consists of letting some outside developers license certain aspects of AIM and its protocols. In particular, there will be some sort of plug-in architecture -- so no chance of getting better access to the protocols for 3rd party use. They aren't actually doing much "opening up," so much as making more business opportunities for themselves.

  4. AOL does contribute to open source software by fitsy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    AOL does contribute to useful open source software. AOL developers contribute to SQLite and have helped produce numerous useful additions to SQLite.

    Quote: The primary purpose for version 3.2.0 is to add support for ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN. The new ADD COLUMN capability is made possible by AOL developers supporting and embracing great open-source software. Thanks, AOL!

  5. Finally... by PenguinBoyDave · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can rush out now and subscribe to AOL. I was just waiting for them to support open source. I'll be the first guy in my lug to have an AOL address. I rock.

    --
    I'm not a troll, but I play one on Slashdot.
  6. Ah AOL... by DrXym · · Score: 4, Insightful
    AOL is run by a bunch of geniuses. I've never seen a company that can invest millions in technologies such as browsers, music & video players, only to shitcan their (superior) solutions in favour of (inferior) ones developed by their main competitors.


    I just look at WinAmp and shake my head. There's a programme that could have been iTMS before such a thing even existed. It could still be iTMS rival now, two years too late. And the integrated NSV means it could deliver TV and VOD too with a little work. So why the hell isn't it?


    Because AOL is run by a bunch of geniuses.

  7. Milkdrop? by coyotecult · · Score: 3, Funny
    Oh my god, I LOVED that. It was approximately my favoritest audio visualization ever.

    Reasons Why Milkdrop Kicks Ass:
    • Milkdrop is the reason I've never needed to take any hallucinogenic drugs.
    • Milkdrop's my daddy.
    • Milkdrop also fathered my superhuman genius baby.
    • Milkdrop isn't God like Dan Bukvitch, but is probably pretty high up there. Like the Holy Ghost or Jesus or something.
    • Milkdrop is that irresistable creature with an insatiable love for the dead.
    • If Milkdrop conferenced the Middle East, peace would be achieved.
    • Milkdrop is actually a gift from a mind-sucking alien race intent on sucking the awe right out of our skulls.
    • Few people know this, but Milkdrop is actually nature's suction cup. Watch this. See? It sticks

    It's time to learn how to port that sucker to the *Nixes (Linux, BSD, OS X)! I haven't been in Windows enough to enjoy it for a very long time.
  8. Open source abandonware? by Animats · · Score: 4, Interesting
    This sounds more like open sourcing of abandonware at its end of life. After all, that's what they did with Netscape.

    Does this mean Freeamp can start using its own name again? AOL made them change their name to Zinf or something like that, and they were never heard from again. Especially since one of those directory spammers took over their "freeamp" domains, and AOL did nothing about that.

  9. Xbox Media Center by EvilMonkeySlayer · · Score: 3, Informative

    The milkdrop source was added to the XBMC cvs a couple of weeks ago.

    It looks purty.

    See Here.