ogg radios for rhythmbox

[Carl Karsten]

Timo Jyrinki wrote:
> Jeff Waugh <jeff.waugh at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>  > You're certainly not alone, but we can't do it until there is a
>  > legal way to do so. I do know of a potential solution in the
>  > works, which will provide a completely legal, licensed MP3
>  > codec (yes, encoding and decoding) for a tiny fee. That will
>  > be a massive help. The technical users among us will still
>  > be able to install non-kosher Free Software MP3 packages,
>  > and there's not a lot we can do to make that easier
>  > without being on shaky legal ground.
> 
> That sounds like a bit against the free software ideology. Is that so 
> that (specificly) Ubuntu is granted a mp3 decoding/encoding license? If 
> so, then Ubuntu joins those distributions that do distro-based deals 
> with companies to provide closed format support. In the end, I thought 
> Ubuntu's point was not to license/arrange every closed Flash, Java etc. 
> implementation which is not freely distributable as such, or provide 
> support for patent-restricted formats. If a deal can't be struck which 
> allows any free software user to program any free software with eg. mp3 
> support, then the solution is not free. And I guess one has to go back 
> to Debian again for free software.
> 
> Or is the point that it would be placed in restricted, so that 100% free 
> software users may uninstall it? Or as a third option, are Ubuntu users 
> going to be provided with a way to install closed components by paying 
> after the installation?
> 
> I'd have hoped that the "restricted" part of Ubuntu would not be 
> increasing, and also that by default the installer would ask if any 
> restricted components are wanted or not. Also, one thing to consider is 
> the difference between "not supported / restricted but freely 
> distributable" (like those WLAN binary firmwares which have free 
> software compliant distribution rules - Symbol, Zydas etc.) and "not 
> supported / restricted and deal struck exclusively for Ubuntu" (like 
> probably Broadcom, Intel WLAN firmwares which have stricter distribution 
> rules, and perhaps one or both of the big gfx company binary drivers).
> 
> BR,
> TJ
> 

I agree with TJ's thoughts.

Personally, I end up with all sorts of crap loaded on my personal box. 
But as an Admin, I don't want to see it on my user's boxes.  I like the 
idea of a "pure, clean, lean, stable, totally legal, all that is Ubuntu" 
system.  So I would much rather that be the norm, and have to jump 
through hoops to get the crap than have to jump through hoops to have a 
clean box.

Lets examine who would benefit from each side:

Clean box: Admins, Schools, Students, Libraries, Office workers, IT 
staff, Managers, many home users.

Box with MP3 and other clutter: Kids.

Ok, so maybe it is more than just Kids, but I think you get my point. 
Also, I will agree that there is some use for mp3 in the other groups, 
but I think it is a small percentage.

Carl Karsten