[Bug 346246] Re: Amarok in Ubuntu 9.04 does not offer to install restricted codecs (like MP3)

[htaccess]

I can confirm this bug and also confirm it is very annoying.

Here is the use case, I wanted to listen to an mp3 file, I decided to
install amarok so i could listen to this mp3 file and the many others
like it I have on my computer. I did this as I have been using amarok to
listen to mp3 files on ubuntu for many years so it was the logical
choice.

After installing i clicked on the mp3 and chose to open it with Amarok.
Amarok sat there and played no sound while giving every appearance of
working. I received no error messages, no popup boxes telling me
anything. Googling revealed i needed to `sudo aptitude install
libxine1-ffmpeg` which I did. So I'm now a happy camper.

I suggest however that:

1. The majority of people who choose to install amarok will be doing so
because they want to listen to mp3 files. Even if they mostly have flac
or ogg files I bet its less than 0.01% of users who _never_ want to play
mp3.

2. Given 1, after installing amarok and having it not play mp3s _and_
not give any indication that there is some sort of problem and just fail
to do so is a major bug. This is exactly the sort of bug that make
people lable linux as arcane complex and not user friendly.

3. Suggested solutions include, making amarok depend on libxine1-ffmpeg.
Or having amarok pop up a friendly message saying something along the
lines of "Sorry! mp3 playback is not working, because blah blah blah
(patents, evil company's, freedom). If you would like to use amarok to
listen to mp3 files please click on this button to install package xyz.

-- 
Amarok in Ubuntu 9.04 does not offer to install restricted codecs (like MP3)
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/346246
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