Restricted Multimedia Formats - The Solutions

[Simos Xenitellis]

O/H Santiago Roza έγραψε:
> Continuing with "Restricted Multimedia Formats - The Problem" ...
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2006-February/015770.html
>
>
>
> *** Restricted Multimedia Formats - The Solutions ***
>
> The problem with restricted multimedia formats has been described
> [here].  Since it is a complex issue, any possible solution would
> imply some kind of compromise.
>
> Right now, there are two 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 wizard 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).
>
> Pros: better desktop experience for all users, might raise patent
> awareness (slightly).
> Cons: requires Internet connectivity.
>   
To add to option [2], have a look at
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=161922

We can expect that the end-user will try to play one more file that no 
codec is already installed.
Currently, the error message given is not intuitive, it does not say 
that a codec is missing.
There should be support in gstreamer to call an appropriate application 
that will go out and install the codec.

Simos