RestrictedFormatsSolutions
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Comment: included JohnNilsson's suggestions as a 3rd option
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Addition of gstreamer
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2) Including some kind of '''''post-install assistant''''' with Ubuntu, that asks users if they live in a software-patent-country or not, and then installs all the necessary packages (wether by downloading them or by pulling them from the CD if bundling those files is legal). | 2) Including some kind of '''''post-install assistant''''' with Ubuntu, that asks users if they live in a software-patent-country or not, and then installs all the necessary packages (whether by downloading them or by pulling them from the CD if bundling those files is legal). The [http://www.gstreamer.net/ gstreamer multimedia framework] is a single point that manages multimedia support for GNOME and other applications. GStreamer can be adapted so that when a codec is not found, it will be able to run a '''''post-install assistant''''' provided by the distribution. See relevant bug GStreamer report [http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=161922 161922]. |
Restricted Multimedia Formats - The Solutions
The problem with restricted multimedia formats has been described in RestrictedFormatsProblem. Since it is a complex issue, any possible solution would imply some kind of compromise.
Right now, there are three proposed solutions:
1) Making two versions of Ubuntu: one for countries with software patents (equal to the Ubuntu we have now), and the other for the rest of the world (with out-of-the-box support for MP3, DVDs, DivX, etc).
Pros: better out-of-the-box experience for non-USA users, might raise patent awareness.
Cons: doesn't help users from the USA, requires the overhead of maintaining two versions.
2) Including some kind of post-install assistant with Ubuntu, that asks users if they live in a software-patent-country or not, and then installs all the necessary packages (whether by downloading them or by pulling them from the CD if bundling those files is legal).
The [http://www.gstreamer.net/ gstreamer multimedia framework] is a single point that manages multimedia support for GNOME and other applications. GStreamer can be adapted so that when a codec is not found, it will be able to run a post-install assistant provided by the distribution. See relevant bug GStreamer report [http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=161922 161922].
Pros: better desktop experience for all users, might raise patent awareness (slightly).
Cons: requires Internet connectivity.
(a first draft of this spec can be found in RestrictedFormatsAssistant)
3) Including non-Free software (like RealPlayer), so users from all countries could legally play most multimedia formats.
Pros: better desktop experience for all users.
Cons: breaks Ubuntu's commitment with Free Software.
RestrictedFormatsSolutions (last edited 2008-08-06 16:25:52 by localhost)