[Reader-list] Open source rival for MP3

[Monica Narula]

In response: simple useful fact to know is that MacAmp (default 
config) also plays OggVorbis files besides the MP3 files. i know 
because i downloaded and checked. The sound quality seemed actually 
good on the inadequate Mac speaker (but tell me of one person who 
listens to MP3s - historically called "cruddy" by Courteney Love 
because of Not-god sound quality - on any better speaker! (WinAmp 
doesnt do so but perhaps its is possible to tweak??)

More importantly is to find out more about alternative to Real (for 
both the reasons that you point out). One fact/rumour being bandied 
about is that soon one should be able to stream OggVorbis on IceCast. 
This can only be a good thing... (to make rumour fact, check 
www.icecast.org)

Monica

>Hi all,
>
>There are a couple of different things with this article:
>
>First, and probably most important, is that this must be the zillionth
>group of people that is going to create a standard to replace MP3. A
>couple of years ago there was suddenly VQF and more of that which was
>all going to make an end to MP3 and create an open standard of 'free'
>service.
>
>The netizens came, observerd, tested and decided: we want MP3, not something
>else. Why? Because MP3 was already widely spread and well-known and most of
>the other options just plainly sucked.
>
>And it makes sense, as end-user you get to download free players such as
>Winamp for example and you can download music for free. Why should the end
>user care about licensing fees for people who want to built encoding software,
>it's not like MP3's are very rare or anything and as long as they're available
>it's not a problem to the end-user, so he can't be bothered.
>
>Another problem is: why should I switch again? Why should I leave alone my
>realplayer (actually, that's obvious, but for the sake of the argument) or
>Quicktime or Windows Media Player for Yet Another Media Player? Why should
>I suddenly stop encoding my CD's into MP3 and switch to this new standard?
>Only because it's open? I hate to burst Ogg Vorbis' bubble but 99% of the
>people out there couldn't care less about open standards or cross platform
>compatibility, they just want things to work and unless my current player
>can't give me what a new one can I'm not going to change.
>
>Since they're all going to give it away for free they'd better make sure
>they either made something that totally kicks ass or they're doomed. If
>it's slightly better than Real or WMP than they still have the marketing
>problem. Two years ago MS might have been willing to incorporate the player
>with their browser, now they made their own player so they're not going to
>do it. Real has expensive licensing which means they also have money with
>which they can advertise and all that and for now, sadly enough, it seems
>Real is sort of the standard. (No, I don't mean sad because the licenses
>are expensive, I mean sad because it sucks imho).
>
>Anyway, I don't think we'll hear a lot of these guys but let's wish them
>luck.
>
>Menso
>
>Note: I could be terribly wrong, I hope I am.
>
-- 
Monica Narula
Sarai:The New Media Initiative
29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110 054
www.sarai.net