If you are aware of VP3/Theora's technical deficiencies, you already know the answer to your question, and if you shy way from Xvid because it *may* infringe on someone's patents, then you can't use Linux, either. :) You may also want to remember Richard Stallman's repeated statement that it is permissible to use proprietary software if there is no free alternative available. NOTE: Mr. Stallman says this is not his position (even though he told me this in person some years ago). He writes, "In fact I say the exact opposite: people shouldn't use (or even
install) a non-free program. And people certainly shouldn't use a
format that requires other people to use a non-free program." An article about the relative freeness of various video delivery systems will be on Linux.com before long. Hopefully, it will clarify a few things.
If you seriously consider Theora an acceptable alternative (in a technical sense) to Flash/VP6 or Xvid, that is up to you. But please note that when we *have* offered Theora downloads, fewer than 1% of Linux.com readers used them in lieu of the Flash versions, while close to 10% download our Xvids instead of viewing the Flash ones.
A suggestion: in the long-run, it might do the world more good to help develop a high-quality free video delivery system than to spend your time trying to badger video producers into using Theora. Gnash and the associated Cygnal server platform look pretty promising, especially if they can come up with a patent-free method of handling H.264 (which I expect they can, eventually).
[Modified by: roblimo on December 18, 2007 04:47 PM]
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Re(4): Linux.com Weekly Wire #2 (video)
Posted by: roblimo on December 16, 2007 07:09 PMIf you are aware of VP3/Theora's technical deficiencies, you already know the answer to your question, and if you shy way from Xvid because it *may* infringe on someone's patents, then you can't use Linux, either. :) You may also want to remember Richard Stallman's repeated statement that it is permissible to use proprietary software if there is no free alternative available. NOTE: Mr. Stallman says this is not his position (even though he told me this in person some years ago). He writes, "In fact I say the exact opposite: people shouldn't use (or even
install) a non-free program. And people certainly shouldn't use a
format that requires other people to use a non-free program." An article about the relative freeness of various video delivery systems will be on Linux.com before long. Hopefully, it will clarify a few things.
If you seriously consider Theora an acceptable alternative (in a technical sense) to Flash/VP6 or Xvid, that is up to you. But please note that when we *have* offered Theora downloads, fewer than 1% of Linux.com readers used them in lieu of the Flash versions, while close to 10% download our Xvids instead of viewing the Flash ones.
A suggestion: in the long-run, it might do the world more good to help develop a high-quality free video delivery system than to spend your time trying to badger video producers into using Theora. Gnash and the associated Cygnal server platform look pretty promising, especially if they can come up with a patent-free method of handling H.264 (which I expect they can, eventually).
[Modified by: roblimo on December 18, 2007 04:47 PM]
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