Interesting. RealNetworks announces that they will be releasing the source to certain software components, under what is supposed to be an Open Source(ish) license.
http://netscape.com.com/2100-1104-945418.html http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/79476_real22.shtml http://www.helixcommunity.org [official site] It is unclear yet what components will be opened, but rumor appears to indicate it would be transport and playback frameworks, but not the actual A/V codes. Still, that might solve my immediate problem of being unable to view streaming media, i.e., with a transport engine that "collects" the real-time packets and feeds them to a closed player. One thing that occurs to me: One of the major uses for streaming media today is not live productions, but rather, a misguided and ill-conceived form of copy-protection and content-control. If Real goes open, and that creates a perception that Real is easier to copy, will the media cartel drop Real in favor of Microsoft? That is, could this make the Open Source streaming media situation worse? -- Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> | The opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not | | necessarily represent the views or policy of any other person, entity or | | organization. All information is provided without warranty of any kind. | ***************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the text 'unsubscribe gnhlug' in the message body. *****************************************************************
