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Canonical Offers Sale of Proprietary Codecs for Ubuntu
ruphus13 writes "Playing DVDs on Linux that required proprietary codecs has been a source of much pain. Ubuntu (or anyone else, for that matter) is not legally allowed to redistribute these codecs. So, users were left with sub-optimal choices. Convert the multimedia to an open format, acquire new media, or use a codec 'found' on the web, which may be illegal. In its continued effort to have a seamless and slick user experience, Canonical made the hard choice to offer the sale and support for proprietary codecs that users had to actually purchase for Ubuntu. This is not a fight Canonical can fight alone, and they are sure to get some grief for the decision."
I think you got the wrong impression from the summary. They aren't selling a boxed version of Ubuntu that comes with the codecs pre-embeded in the OS - they're just offering those said codecs for download on their site.
Right, that's why I said "I hope...". :)
Caveat Utilitor
Streaming media and web stuff: USD$40. DVD playback: USD$50.00.
PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
I don't think so, but Kubuntu definitely does. They really should either make the kde net admin utility the standard for Ubuntu or upgrade the gnome version to be zero-conf as well.
Caveat Utilitor
I know you're just trolling, but for those who actually feel this way, look at it like this:
Canonical knows that a large proportion of Ubuntu users download and use the "illegal" codecs without paying the license fees (either directly, where it applies, or indirectly by using the programs that the codec can be legally used for). Canonical does not own these codecs and cannot legally provide or create free alternatives due to all of the craziness surrounding patent law. So they offer an option for their legally-conscious users and business users: fully-supported, license-fee-paid codecs that will not put their users in legal jeopardy.
Please tell me what the evil in this is.
"While I think it shameful that the DVD producers have decided that I need to pay extra to run a DVD that I already own,..."
No, they have not decided this. They charge a license for codecs to DVD player manufacturers as well but those are built in to the devices out of the box so the costs are already part of the price set by the manufacturer. With computers, you do not purchase the ability to use your system as a DVD player simply y purchasing hardware, you purchase the codecs, and subsequently, through the OS or similar solution such as the one offered by Ubuntu.
'Cos, y'know, it's not like you can just install VLC from Synaptic.
(VLC is also my favourite media and DVD player on Mac.)
http://rocknerd.co.uk
Microsoft does not support DVD playback for free but most PCs sold with DVD drives have playback software installed by the OEM.
That has not been my experience. Just install gtkpod and you're good to go.
Caveat Utilitor
Ubuntu + Amarok = iPod perfection, imo.
All dell ubuntu boxes that have DVD drives come with the software. Even the mini 9" has MP3 codecs already installed.
Which contains one of these 'illegal' codecs. I think its all bullshit, and use it anyways.
For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
WICD works wonderfully for me, with zero issues...? http://wicd.sourceforge.net/
You should look into wpa_supplicant, on Debian/Unstable (so I guess ubuntu should have this also) it couldn't get any easier: /etc/network/interfaces: /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet manual
wpa-roam
iface home inet static
address 10.0.1.67
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 10.0.1.254
iface elsewhere inet dhcp /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf:
network={
ssid="myhomessid"
id_str="home"
scan_ssid=1
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
psk="areallytopsecretpassphrase"
}
network={
ssid="FON_AP"
id_str="elsewhere"
scan_ssid=1
key_mgmt=NONE
}
But you are using WEP at home? I hope you know what you are doing.
Linux Mint has a good wireless program. The codecs and third party stuff being pre-installed is why I went with Linux Mint over the standard Ubuntu and have to download and install everything myself.
Yes, I wish we lived in a world where all formats, protocols, and standards were Free, but they never will be so long as capitalism remains our official state religion. Meanwhile, we still want to watch our movies and play our music.
You do realise, of course, that such places do still exist, and as far as I'm aware Canonical is in one since they are a UK-based company, and is not bound by retarded US laws like the DMCA and pretty much all software patents?
From your use of dollars to describe prices, I assume you're American and were previously unable to get these legally, except directly from Fluendo, but I think it is a slippery slope for a UK business to willingly bend over before the laws of another country. Firstly in not offering Free Software like LAME and libdvdcss to users who want it, can get it, and are entitled to do so (users such as me), and now to follow it with sending tribute to the foreign patent holders and IP cops who cause this crap in the first place.
It seems like an even worse case than the French anti-Nazi thing http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/760782.stm
.
The keyword here is "convert."
Because it implies that the user has an OEM Windows box - and a resident geek willing to install and configure Ubuntu.
The retail box is irrelevant.
The gold standard in the consumer market for damn near thirty years has been the OEM system install. This is never going to change.
For many it's the only way to get a reliable WPA connection.
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
Those prices are higher than fluendos. You can get a complete bundle that plays everything for €28 which works out at $40.
http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/
intel wireless chipsets are NICE. I bought a dell laptop with ubuntu pre-installed that came with an intel wireless chipset, I have no problems whatsoever.
the big thing for ubuntu would be to pressure other hardware makers to go the same route as intel, guess it hasn't been working out. as a customer I prefer to support intel and other hardware manufacturers that provide support for Foss drivers.
Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
I should also say that its not just for wpa_supplicant; it is also used as a general dhcp client gui, so lan cards are managed also.
Eh? This is all I have to do with my Ubuntu workstation...Just click for the dropdown, select the network (WPA encrypted) and put in the password, after that it saves the PW and I have never had to put it back in....I never realized it was a problem, it "Just Worked" for me.
C Pungent
Hell yeah I have had Ubuntu on my laptop for a year now and I still cannot get it to work with WPA2. I love Ubuntu it is quite nice, but I was willing to fight with it to get the wireless working, The average person would never put up with that. It took many posts 2 weeks and settings changes etc and finally a new upgrade to the kernel made it operate with WPA on my standard Dell Laptop. It has still never worked with WPA2. No matter what people say Linux will never become widespread until things just work for the average person the first time it is installed and right away.
Yes, I wish we lived in a world where all formats, protocols, and standards were Free, but they never will be so long as capitalism remains our official state religion.
Even Richard Stallman, hardly the high priest of capitalism (although he does look somewhat like an old testament prophet with that gnarly beard), does not deny the right of the creator(s) or even just the re-distributor(s) to charge money for their software or even GNU programs (provided that they adhere to the terms of the General Public License which makes charging money and getting away with it difficult in practice, but not expressly forbidden). The free in free software means free as in freedom and not necessarily free as in beer.
No they aren't. My laptop came with an ipw2100. If in the presence of more than a few APs the card will hang and the driver will restart it, hanging everything for a second or two. This is a bug that has been known about for years and still isn't fixed. I gave up waiting for them a while ago and replaced the piece of crap with an Atheros card. No more hangs.
No. I'm sure they're making a pretty penny here. The highest single codec license fee I know if is MPEG-2, which was $2.50 last I checked. VC-1 and H.264 are less than a dollar each.
Lots more about codec licensing than you'd ever care to learn can be found at http://www.mpegla.com/.
My video compression blog
I install LinuxMint as it has the DVD and MP3 and so forth codecs preinstalled. Perfectly legal here. That is at least until the U.S. buys enough politicians to get a U.S. mandated law passed here.