Democracy Player Is Dead, Long Live Miro

MrSpin writes "Democracy Player has relaunched today as Miro. Developed by the Participatory Culture Foundation, Miro aims to make online video "as easy as watching TV", while at the same time ensuring that the new medium remains accessible to everyone, through its support for open standards. The open-source application combines a media player and library, content guide, video search engine, as well as podcast and BitTorrent clients. But why the name change? According to last100, who have published a full review and guide to Miro: "When Democracy Player launched back in February 2006, the feedback received was that the name evoked different, yet equally negative responses. For many Americans it conjured up an image of yet another left wing media project, and to the rest of the world it was, rather bizarrely, being associated with the policies of the Bush administration. In contrast, the new name is purposely abstract.""

Comments

Abstract?

[MarcoG42]

I wouldn't call the name abstract, as miro is Spanish for "I watch." Seems perfectly suitable to me.

Re:Any reason to switch from VLC or BS?

[ringfinger]

According to the article, Miro's content guide is one of it's strengths -- making it more than just a player.

Miro's content guide is far better than the equivalent video podcast directory in iTunes. Not only does Miro list over 1,500 channels but it's also better organized, with content filtered by popularity, editor picks, genre, tags, and language. There's even a section dedicated to HD video.

Still, I have a hard time imagining how a good content buide is better than having google seaarch behind it when looking for content (as youtube does).

Re:Judged by who you friends are

[Chandon Seldon]

The highest estimate for civilian deaths in Iraq that I've heard is 600,000. If we consider the existence of the war in Afganistan, that implies that we *could* get to an estimate 1,000,000 using the method you describe.