Ubuntu Easy Codec Installation
One of the features coming in the new version of Ubuntu (codenamed Feisty Fawn) is easy CoDec installation.
For those who don’t know what a CoDec is, it stands for Coder/Decoder. When you want to play something like an mp3 or avi file, the media player uses a CoDec to read the file and translate it to a format that the player can understand, for you to listen to/watch.
Part of Ubuntu’s core values is not to include these proprietary drivers (see here) and I think that’s reasonable. The Ubuntu team acknowledge however, that some people want them.
So, in the next release, an "autosuggest" feature is being added. If you open a file with an unrecognized CoDec, it runs the installer to try a community CoDec that works.
I think it’s a great idea and will broaden the appeal of Ubuntu.
See this slideshow for a demonstration.
RSS
Blogger Geoff has spent the afternoon with me updating different software, firefox etc, I said I would write about, but just can’t remember what he did.
Your new site does look lovely, the colours are fabulous. Hope all is going well.
Well done. Firefox rocks! (I like Opera too).
Tim, I would love to be able to discuss this with you but you’re way over my head, sir. I can discuss root servers though because I’ve just posted on them.
Hi James.
In a nutshell, Ubuntu is very strict about proprietary codecs. It simply doesn’t allow them. The difference here is they’re going to help you to get them, if you want them.
It’s like a vegetarian restaurant - they don’t allow meat to be sold, but they’re nice enough to tell you where the nearest Burger King is.
Nice analogy. Thank you.