Filed under: Audio, Video, Linux, Microsoft, Open Source
Real to release open source Windows Media software for Linux
At the ongoing LinuxWorld conference, RealNetworks announced that it will be releasing open source software that will allow Linux user to listen to and view audio and video files encoded in Microsoft's proprietary Windows Media formats. Currently Linux users are able to view Windows Media files only through closed-source components, but a deal Real inked with Microsoft after last year's anti-trust settlement paved the way for the announced open source solution, which will be released through Real's Helix Community. Novell joined RealNetworks to announce that it would be bundling the new software with Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, to be released later this year. Real is also planning to bring its Rhapsody music store to Linux, and will possibly be supporting the AAC audio compression format used by Apple.