[relnotes] [Fedora Project Wiki] Update of "Docs/Beats/Multimedia" by KarstenWade

Tue Apr 3 16:48:37 UTC 2007

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The following page has been changed by KarstenWade:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Docs/Beats/Multimedia?action=diff&rev2=30&rev1=29

The comment on the change is:
updating with new information, although most of this is timeless

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  Fedora includes applications for assorted multimedia functions, including playback, recording, and editing.  Additional packages are available through the Fedora Extras repository.  For additional information about multimedia in Fedora, refer to the Multimedia section of the Fedora Project website at http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Multimedia.

- = Multimedia Players =
+ === Multimedia Players ===

  The default installation of Fedora includes '''Rhythmbox''' and '''Totem''' for media playback.  The Fedora repositories include many other popular programs such as the '''XMMS''' player and KDE's '''amaroK'''.  Both GNOME and KDE have a selection of players that can be used with a variety of formats.  Third parties may offer additional programs to handle other formats.

  Fedora also takes full advantage of the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) sound system.  Many programs can play sound simultaneously, which was once difficult on Linux systems.  When all multimedia software is configured to use ALSA for sound support, this limitation disappears.  For more information about ALSA, visit the project website at http://www.alsa-project.org/.  Users may still experience issues when multiple users log into the system.  Depending upon hardware and software configurations, multiple users may not be able to use the sound hardware simultaneously.

- = Ogg and Xiph.Org Foundation Formats =
+ ==== codec-buddy ====

- Fedora includes complete support for the Ogg media container format and the Vorbis audio, Theora video, Speex audio and FLAC lossless audio formats.  These freely-distributable formats are not encumbered by patent or license restrictions.  They provide powerful and flexible alternatives to more popular, restricted formats.  The Fedora Project encourages the use of open formats in place of restricted ones.  For more information on these formats and how to use them, refer to the Xiph.Org Foundation's web site at http://www.xiph.org/.
+ New in Fedora is the `codec-buddy`, which detects when you are trying to play a multimedia format without the needed codecs installed.  If the codec needed is not free and open, {{{codec-buddy}}} offers options for obtaining the needed codecs.

- = MP3, DVD, and Other Excluded Multimedia Formats =
+ === Ogg and Xiph.Org Foundation Formats ===

- Fedora software repositories cannot include support for MP3 or DVD video playback or recording.  The MP3 formats are patented, and the patent holders have not provided the necessary patent licenses.  DVD video formats are patented and equipped with an encryption scheme.  The patent holders have not provided the necessary patent licenses, and the code needed to decrypt CSS-encrypted discs may violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a copyright law of the United States. Fedora also excludes other multimedia software due to patent, copyright or license restrictions, including Adobe's Flash Player and and Real Media's Real Player.  For more on this subject, please refer to http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ForbiddenItems.
+ Fedora includes complete support for the Ogg media container format and the Vorbis audio, Theora video, Speex audio, and FLAC lossless audio formats.  These freely-distributable formats are not encumbered by patent or license restrictions.  They provide powerful and flexible alternatives to more popular, restricted formats.  The Fedora Project encourages the use of open formats in place of restricted ones.  For more information on these formats and how to use them, refer to the Xiph.Org Foundation's web site at http://www.xiph.org/.

- While other MP3 options may be available for Fedora, Fluendo now offers an free MP3 plugin for GStreamer that has the necessary patent license for end users.  This plugin will enable MP3 support in applications that use the GStreamer framework as a backend.  Fedora does not include this plugin since we prefer to support and encourage the use of patent unrestricted open formats instead.  For more information about the MP3 plugin, visit Fluendo's website at http://www.fluendo.com/.
+ === MP3, DVD, and Other Excluded Multimedia Formats ===

+ Fedora software repositories cannot include support for MP3 or DVD video playback or recording.  The MP3 formats are patented, and the patent holders have not provided the necessary patent licenses.  DVD video formats are patented and equipped with an encryption scheme.  The patent holders have not provided the necessary patent licenses, and the code needed to decrypt CSS-encrypted discs may violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a copyright law of the United States. Fedora also excludes other multimedia software due to patent, copyright, or license restrictions, including Adobe's Flash Player and Real Media's Real Player.  For more on this subject, please refer to http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ForbiddenItems.
+ 
+ While other MP3 options may be available for Fedora, Fluendo now offers a free MP3 plugin for GStreamer that has the necessary patent license for end users.  This plugin enables MP3 support in applications that use the GStreamer framework as a backend.  Fedora does not include this plugin since we prefer to support and encourage the use of patent unrestricted open formats instead.  For more information about the MP3 plugin, visit Fluendo's website at http://www.fluendo.com/.
+ 
- = CD and DVD Authoring and Burning =
+ === CD and DVD Authoring and Burning ===

  Fedora software repositories includes a variety of tools for easily mastering and burning CDs and DVDs.  GNOME users can burn directly from the Nautilus file manager, choose the `gnomebaker` or `graveman` packages from Fedora Extras, or utilize the older `xcdroast` package from Fedora.  KDE users can use the robust `k3b` package for these tasks.  Console tools include {{{cdrecord}}}, {{{readcd}}}, {{{mkisofs}}} and other popular applications.

- = Screencasts =
+ === Screencasts ===

  You can use Fedora to create and play back ''screencasts'', which are recorded desktop sessions, using open technologies.  Fedora Extras software repository includes `istanbul`, which creates screencasts using the Theora video format.  These videos can be played back using one of several players included in Fedora.  This is the preferred way to submit screencasts to the Fedora Project for either developer or end-user use.  For a more comprehensive how-to, refer to http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ScreenCasting.

- = Extended Support through Plugins =
+ === Extended Support through Plugins ===

  Most of the media players in Fedora software repositories can use plugins to add support for additional media formats and sound output systems.  Some use powerful multimedia frameworks, like the `gstreamer` package, to handle media format support and sound output.  Fedora software repositories offer plugin packages for these backends and for individual applications.  Third parties may provide additional plugins to add even greater capabilities.