Friday, April 27. 2007Amarok2 builds on WindowsTrackbacks
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Yep, the only thing that didn't compile was the collection scanner. But we knew this anyway, since the scanner uses some Posix calls for performance reasons. It's scheduled for code refactoring, and then everything should compile nicely.
Which leaves only the question of the decoder backend to use for the engine. Currently xine doesn't work on Windows. We expect that eventually there'll be a Phonon backend using DirectShow for Windows, which would solve this problem too.
xine can work on windows according to the xine FAQ which tells you to read the doc/README.win32 for build instructions
http://xinehq.de/index.php/faq#WIN32BUILD one also wonders if helix is compatible across platforms my nephew which is windows bound (gamer) would really love a win32 amarok
This FAQ is inaccurate, the xine-lib win32 port has been unmaintained for some time.
Also, don't expect media device support, at least not anytime soon. Devices that Windows handles natively, like MTP, should be doable (down the road), but I'm not yet sure about iPods and the like -- those at least will likely require iTunes to already be installed
It's quite sad to see AmaroK becoming an ordinary Windows application
Making software support additional platforms doesn't make it "ordinary". It joins some excellent company, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, The Gimp, and OO.org. And there are many extraordinary Windows-only applications.
Now there is one less killer app on Linux. Yes, it is a big day for Amarok, but it's not a good day
No, amarok for window will show one time more that there is a wonderfull world beyond window. When people finds themselves using windows with firefox, openoffice and amarok will tend to give a try to other OS. Let microsoft to continue its way to ruin windows.
currently I have installed firefox, thunderbird, the gimp, pidgim(gaim), nvu,blender, rainlendar, workrave and more app's.
That means less adware,spyware, malware and in addition, to accept licenses although we do not agree obvious it is in the office, where I do not decide on my system bases. Amarok, welcome to my windows!
I totally disagree!
Of course, I'll still need XP for things like the hacking software for my Razr and any really kick-butt 3d games I'd like to play. Most of my stuff is going cross-platform, though! Thank you very much, developers. Tell me, how much do donations really help you guys?
Amarok was never a killer app for Linux. Don't get me wrong- it is absolutely the best media player in existence. But just being the best media player is not enough for that. People can muddle through with iTunes or WMP or whatever.
In the more general sense, there aren't killer apps anymore. Those days lay far in the past of Lotus 123 and the like. In this day and age it's the entire ecosystem of software that defines a platform. The best strategy open source can take today is to steal Windows customers out from under Microsoft's nose one application at a time. Once there exists an entire ecosystem of functional, polished, CROSS PLATFORM open source applications, when the user can go to whatever OS- which, really, is absolutely the least interesting part of your computer- he or she wants without abandoning any favorite applications, THAT'S when s/he'll start abandoning Windows.
Congratulations for all your achievement!
Amarok is the only unique and extremely flexible music player that I've seen. Good to know that its on windows too. Now I can show my friends how Open Source works by installing amarok on their system. Thanks a lot to amarok team!
Fantastic bit of hackery, but I have to agree with the earlier commenter on this issue in that I think Amarok was a huge differentiator in making the Linux/Free Software platform more attractive.
Most windows users will only see it as another piece of freeware and never be drawn into the FOSS universe and culture of sharing, contributing and banding together to create a stronger and more diverse culture through code and code through a collaborative culture. I do applaud the technical effort, but it saddens me that the unintended consequences of this may end up being the perpetuation of monopoly.
Sorry, but personally me had never liked music players like AmaroK (collection/album/whateverelse-oriented) but I prefer Winamp/XMMS-style players and console mplayer. As for me, AmaroK was not a factor that `addicted' me to Linux and AmaroK was not a `differentiator'. I tried AmaroK for one or two weeks and then switched back to XMMS, then to BMP, and then, after BMP team started developing AmaroK-like BMPx, switched to Audacious.
But anyway my congratulations to AmaroK team :–)
I am sorry, BUT THIS IS AMAZING NEWS. Finally, I am not restricted to only listening music on my old lappy (runs Kubuntu), I can also listen to music on my desktop that only runs Windows. This is an amazing day for all Windows and Linux users. What, just because its on Windows, its suddenly inferior? What is wrong with you? I use Gain, OpenOffice, TheGimp, and other applications on both Linux and Windows. Thank you Amarok, seriously. Secondly, why bag on Windows? I don't see people bagging on the Mac OS port? I am serious, Windows isn't crap, its just not as customizable as Linux. Or open-sourced.
To Amarok developers, when the Amarok2.0 version is released, would Windows users be able to compile the latest and greatest Amarok from SVN as I do on Linux? Thanks, you guys keep up GREAT JOB!
Yes, in fact you will be able to use Amarok on windows sooner if you build it from source, as I don't know when I'll get to an installer
Thats amazing! Just set up the required dependencies, and off and away on Windows. Keeps on getting better and better!
Great work, but sad moment. Another Linux killer-app won't be 'killing' any more and another one less reason to switch.
It looks like Windows always gets the best software. Sooner or later. This is one-way road: give them everything and receive nothing. That is really sad, but your work is really impressing.
Oh please, if its Open-Sourced, in my opinion, it should be cross-platform so ALL users can benefit from a quality FREE, constantly improved application. Im tired of Linux fanboys, I run Kubuntu and Windows, and have used Mac at school, and quite frankly, the differences are the looks and usability. NOTHING more. So please, stop with the OS bashing. I think its great, I back Amarok developers 100% on this decision, and cannot wait to run the next version and squash out the bugs.
Truestory!
It's not really negative that Free software gets a bigger portion of the market, even if it means running on a proprietary platform. This opens up Amarok to a lot of people who otherwise wouldn't bother, and shows everyone how good Free software can be. Who knows. Perhaps more people will check out other GPL software when they see how wonderful Amarok is.
See, this is the thing. If people can go from Windows to Linux and suddenly, boom*, all their applications are the same, this lowers the barriers to entry.
You switch, and you still have Firefox, and GIMP, and OO.o, and Thunderbird, and Scribus, and Pidgin, and now Amarok, the only difference is that the operating system looks different (*better with Beryl/Compiz), and is more secure. So yeah, this is big news, this is good news, and I'm damn excited.
If the only reason you were using linux is for a media player then you should be considdering it a good thing that it runs on windows.
If only they could get the entire KDE desktop, and replace the Windows desktop. Kinda of like a "blend" of the two. That, would be the greatest feat. The world of Windows gaming mixed with the world of open source. Hey, us users have big dreams too. XD
You know... I get a shiver down my spine hearing amarok runs on windows....
IUPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!! THIS IS THE BEST PROJECT!
Linus is not that great anyway, lets just make more free software for Windows.
Looks as there are multiple typos within that comment and I guess you mixed at least two independent sentences. Maybe what you mean is;
"for Windows Linux is not that great anyway." probably true at least for the company that ships Windows while for the users alternates are imho a good thing and at the end fair competition can't harm. But while that's an interesting topic, I guess it's somewhat offtopic for this blog. "Lets just make more free software" yeah!
yay !! great work ! so when can we expect to be able to download the sources? It would be really nice if you post the visual studio project file.
regards and thanks, another_gradstudent
The visual studio file is autogenerated by cmake. You could go to http://www.kdelibs.com and setup a windows KDE build environment if you want a head start.
Dan is cleaning up and committing his changes bit by bit.
Sometimes I think all these fearmongers don't bother to think. The first step to converting someone from windows to linux is to get them running all the same apps (openoffice, firefox, thunderbird etc) that they can run under linux...once they are comfortable with them the transition to linux is relatively painless....since linux still has no spyware, virus etc to worry about and it's uptime is measured in weeks, not days it's still the big winner for stability.
first step? i wish people knew what they were talking about before posting rubbish.
there is no windows cleansing going on, there is no mission to convert windows users. also, if the first step is familiarizing people with open source apps on windows before "converting" them how were there ever any people using linux to begin with? that's right... you should think.
I'm not a tek but use GNU/Linux almost exclusively on a dual boot, Windows only for "emergencies". I take the side of the people who have said that FOSS on Windows is a good thing - if the users know it's FOSS. So while I'm happy that Amarok will run on Windows, the developers should not forget to put a button someplace that leads to a page explaining where Amarok came from and what FOSS stands for. In the windows version of Amarok, this button should not be intrusive but also not too hidden. Just short like "This is FOSS software" sort of.
I couldn't agree more. Except I would just want a plug for the status bar that says "Ported to Windows from Linux by <Amarok Team and Community>".
(Regarding the whole comment discussion: I hope the "Oh, pity. Nuther wonderful application fer Winders..." philosophy will be drowned out (in time) by the, "Remember when I had to worry about an OS to figure out how to work and play on a computer?", when everything will be so universal that the only decision will be a) Do I want to pay for an Operating System? or b) Do I want to run everything I need for free? I think it's best we have *laisse fair*, economically speaking, so there will always be room for Open Source / "Freeware" and paid programs. I run Ubuntu on my new/fast computer and Winders Expee Pro on my slow computer. I use the latter for work stuff (all-Microsoft shop) and the former, faster computer, for virtual machines, media, AND development. I'm a huge fan of the Mono Project. Sun will vanquish Microsoft!!! (?) )
Yey - now I can use the same software on all the machines I need to use, home (linux) and work (windows).
I get tired of stupid fanboys who go on about "they get everything wah wah wahh"... it's childish. I can easily name 10 things I can do on Windows XP that I can't with Linux... and vice versa. This announcement just goes to show that silly "closed minded" people cannot stifle open source. Great work Amarok... keep up the good work!!
Stay with XP, why bother with this silly and closed minded Linux? You're so cool and smart guy with broad horizons so even Vista would fit your needs. You deserve better than fanboy-like software!
Don't stop on 10 things you can do with XP, count to 100 and Linux will be useless.
Who said Linux was closed minded? I am talkin about the fanboys! lol
I can't ditch either, Im a software engineer and so need to use both.. besides, I prefer Linux - and since that's free I think Windows would be the one being dropped!
How do I get my hands on a copy of Amarok for Windows????????? I want it, I want it, I want it now!!!!!!!
If Firefox and Openoffice are the best examples for cross platform applications, I'm all against cross platform apps. Just look at this apps printing dialog on linux to see there very bad integration into the whole desktop. If amarok becomes such an "Lowest common denominator across platforms" app it's really a bad day for linux.
This is really good...
I agree that having an multi platform application reduces the problems with switching..
Hi boss... I dunno want to create any problem but I would humbly ask for a binary download ^_^
Thanks, thanks, thanks and good Kharma to you. jv
I wonder whether all audio codecs will work out of the box by installing amarok for windows or by installing them seperatly
I'ts a great work. I wanted months ago to be able to run in my other computer under XP.
But the great question is: When and where we'll be able to download it? Thanks. A spanish boy loving PC's.
It would be GREAT if you can make an installation program for it and distribute it under Windows.
Personally, I don't think I could handle converting it but I would LOVE using it. So PLEASE make the Windows version available as a binary package
Do you think a portable version will be possible, like on apps on portablefreeware.com?
My friend uses Windows but likes to use these style apps off a usb drive.
Any chance to get a binary? I know that audio-output isn't working atm (or this is how i understood it), but nevertheless: it's AMAROOOK! ;D.
And I really cba setting up a KDE4-environment on Windows...
Hey Guy!
you are my hero Cheers Jo
About the backend:
What's up with NMM, it should have a Phonon backend and does also work on Windows, right? Would that be possible?
Sad day for Linux (since it will lose more of its appeal) but great day for Amarok team. Hopefully the work will pay off and you will conquer Windows platform
I know i should be punched for my impatience, but is it possible to make a little howto for compiling amaroK with Visual C++ on your own? I would like to play with it a bit.
see kdelibs.com for generic instructions. Amarok will not be able to compile "out of the box" currently.
well, I would like to see a mac port much more than a windows one. how about that, guys?
why not a decent app for windows but always a copy of *nix application .....
I work on Windows (I have to, too long to explain) and enjoy with Linux. Thank you very much, Amarok team. An something else: I think this will do easier for people to migrate to Linux: they will find there the same free great application they already know! I will install it on my mother and brother's computers
Everyone will migrate. It's a cuestion of time. Let's help a little.
Awesome boys!!!
This is great news. I'm a huge Linux-supporter and try to show all my freinds how wonderful this OS is. This will make it even easier to convert people. If they all use Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice and finally Amarok ... so why bother not to switch to Linux? The most distributions bring these software packages out of the box. This will only help to get rid of the monopolists (also speaking about the iTunes front). Juergen
Well congratulations!
But I must admit I feel sad today. Amarok is definitely the application that addicted me to linux. More! When people saw Amarok on my pc they wanted it on their. And I even converted people to linux thanks to amarok. Even Windows user told me that it was cool it wasn't available on windows! To stop the monopoly. Well I hope amarok not to be free on windows, a bit like XChat. I think it's a good compromise.
Remember that Amarok is released under the terms of the GNU GPL which forbids any derivative to be distributed under other terms. It also heavily relies on other GPLed libraries such as the kdelibs and Qt. In contrast, XChat only uses LGPL libraries which allow that.
The only possibility (even though I wouldn't like that) is not to provide windows binaries and only the source, but then someone else would just provide one legally.
well, that's how it work's for Xchat, too...
(there even is one quite popular, free build :>)
Hell, no offense, but I'll probably be the one compiling and distributing. Amarok is to good to keep it to myself, im already telling my "itunes" addicted friend about it. What you Linux fanboys do not see, that you just want to be jealous and keep Amarok only on one platform, but think about it. Doesn't a great music and soon to be video player deserve to be multi-platform? Isn't that what makes Mozilla and OpenOffice so popular? Because no matter what OS your running, you can run the program? Please people, share the love! Amarok team, keep it up, liking the news, cannot wait for even more!
Well I don't think this is jealousy. I was thinking of this in order to promote linux.
But after reading your comment I realized that windows users may be able to have amarok too. In fact they should be able to install every linux application. In order to see that they can do the switch and don't loose any killer applications. The only thing they won't have anymore if they come to linux is Viruses/Virii, Windows update+reboots, Windows Media player, IE and all the other crapy stuff they can get on windows. So it may contribute in a way to motivate them to switch. So long live to amaroK 2 and to the windows builds!
Maybe not every Linux application should be easy to install on Windows and vice versa, but all free software should be multiplatform, because free software is free and open, so everyone on every platform should be able to run it (and redistribute to people with other system
I'm happy that next free application is becoming system independent. PS sorry for my terrible English and eventual mistakes. I hope my post'll be understood
I think your wrong - having killer apps on operating systems isn't the draw for the common person, it is up to business to convince them. Open Source operating systems and the software that runs on them are great, and can do alot - but when it comes down to it you have these choices:
1 - Macs, fancy advertisements, lots of money into marketing and word of mouth bring people to this platform. Yeah, it's great that it can run office, but if you are buying a mac for that then you are crazy - there are cheaper ways!! 2 - Windows, most "average" business' force people to use it, most of the paripherals up until recently demanded it, and it's familiar because of this. Add to that money making PC manufacturer's install it and BOOM - your in everyones house within 20 years!! 3 - Linux, originally the choice for geeks and sysadmins... lots of basic app's, free, lots of fun hacking around to work (for geeks... again!). Now has matured into a very competitive product, includes every imaginable application needed in most distro's these days.. and a breeze to install. Already contains most drivers for most common hardware, and just rules the pants off Vista!! Wheres the problem here? The problem is business isn't pushing it.. yet... we need business to do their part, and push for Linux systems at cheaper prices as their Windowz counterparts! E.g. Have a row of linux machines in PC World (god awful place that it is) demonstrating how great it is, they already do it for mac's (thanks for their marketing I might add). Give people price benefits, real life demonstrations of "whole" systems using tools like Beryl, Open Office... even MS Office!), thereby showing it's better, and it isn't a geeks tool anymore, and the people they stupidly put their trust into (PC World again) have given it the thumbs up officially. Then it will rule the world!! Dell are supposedly doing their part with Ubuntu (yet to see that happen though)... but if they pull it off, it might just be the push we linux fans need!! Lecture over... and thanks again Amarok guys - you rule!! PS - sorry for the spelling mistakes... im tired! lol
Along with your post, I'd also like to point out that if a business bought 30 computers that all came with Vista, that's 30 * $250.00 at least. That's over $7500 that a business could save by switching to linux (which has an option of tech support) plus increased security.
I'm all in favour of it, but most businesses and managers are 'used' to windows so it's going to take more effort to get people to switch. On a related note, good work AmaroK team. Both sides bring up good points about the port, but I'm mostly in favour of your porting it. Anything is better than iTunes. Please allow for a good database backend for collection building. Thanks
I hate the idea of amarok running on Windows or Mac OS X, this is one of the best OpenSource Applications, and it should be only for OpenSource Enviroments (Linux, OpenSolaris, *BSD), maybe you could make some sample version, whit some features, but not all of them, make Windows and Mac users see how good it is, but let them know that it's better under Linux or other Open Operating Systems.
Just my opinion. (Sorry for my poor english) By the way, I LOVE AMAROK! Later.
free software... free as in speech and free as in beer. so amarok for windows would still not cost users a dime, so there's the free as in beer part. and users can still get the source and modify it so there's the free as in speech part... i guess i don't see how amarok for win32 would be a bad thing for open source.
it's like saying it would be detrimental to the cause of free speech to encourage free speech in china because their government doesn't support it. so what that M$ is a restrictive close minded OS? if we blur the lines between operating systems and linux keeps getting better as windows gets worse, it won't matter if the same killer apps are available for both. choose linux cause it's better, not cause it has amarok.
i'm at your side... when is amarok windows build going out? every day i check will be soon? in two years? i will help in everithing i can
we should not try to put apps from a good OS like linux to a silly OS like windows. users should decide for a certain OS to use a certain software.
Why all this hatred for the port? I think it is great news
If you want to act arrogant about how great your OS is and how l33t you are ... you need to get a life. WE SHOULD BE PROMOTING FREE SOFTWARE WHENEVER WE CAN, AND WHEREVER WE CAN
I think porting Linux apps to Windows is actually a great way to bring Windows users to Linux. So many Windows users still think "I can't run this program" instead of "I can open this file" so if we get more Windows users using open source software like Amarok, Firefox, Gaim, Gimp, etc. then the switch to Linux will seem less painful.
I agree, while Linux and it's apps have gotten way easier to learn, the truth is most people don't want to. Making cross-platform apps that rock and become peoples choice software is the easiest way to make change feasible and and desirable to everyday users.
I found Amarok running Myah 2.3. I've got a Creative Zen Nano Plus mp3 player. I couldn't get Windows XP to recognize it. But, Amarok will not only recognize it but it will copy the my mp3s to it. I don't have to convert them to a wma file first.
Pues tardarias 2 dias en compilarlo para windows, pero han pasado 3 semanas y sigo sin ver el instalable por ningun sitio.
¿Alguien sabe de donde bajarlo? Si no fuera porque esto es el blog del propio amarok, me pareceria un bulo.
Totalmente de acuerdo contigo guaje,si no fuese la página del amarok yo me reía....
Sería muy bueno que pudiésemos disfrutar de amarok en windows,ya que tenemos que usar windows,poder hacerlo más ameno,no?
A sad day for linux indeed.
Look at those who denounce the MS monopoly and its proprietary software, who also desire a linux monopoly with proprietary software... You will become the thing you fear.
Your gonna have to explain that to me... because I dont understand your argument. How would Amarok on XP become proprietary software?
Among my many computer projects I have been looking for a media player that sorts songs by album cover. I have tried at least 6 Apps and I don’t like any of them. Itunes looks good. But I am deeply suspicious of free commercial software.
I couldn’t figure out how to use Foobar. Amarok looks perfect. But even if Amarok is perfect, I am not about to switch operating systems and abandon all of my carefully chosen software. I have programs that do all kinds of business and media tasks. By restricting open source software to free operating systems, you are loosing the chance to get many more users trying open source software. One program is not worth it. 5 programs are not worth it. Most commercial companies will do anything to get you to do an install. Do you really think that being elitist and exclusive is going to help the cause? Would a hundred thousand Window users help? There should be an Amarok Windows XP version. More users equals more voices and more political power. Who is going to fight your battles? Are you going to wait for Microsoft Lawyers to pick you off one by one at the organization level? If I was a Amarok user, I would gladly pay some money to a group to defend open source. But as it is, there is no Amarok XP, and I move on by simply closing this page.
I think you should made it clear in the post that there isn't yet a usable port for windows (decoder backend?) and that we should just wait (if you could tell us how long I would be grateful).
I mean, you made me drool for nothing... And for all of you who think this is a bad thing: GROW UP! I recently dumped Windows for Ubuntu at home, but I don't have this luxury at work. Can you tell me why shouldn't I be able to use my favourite media player at work? Anyone?
Because you should be working at work, not wasting your time listening to stupid music.
I have an old crusty Red Hat 7.3 box at home. My main PC is a Windows XP box, both at home and at work. I can't not listen to music at work. I don't have the luxury, as MisterE said, to switch operating systems at work, especially not for a damn media player. iTunes gets me by, but it's a resource whore anyway. It seems as though the majority of the 'fanboys' on this board don't understand that sometimes, OS choice isn't an option - do any of the fanboys have jobs at which they use a computer?
I'm a Software Developer - a Windows Software Developer - mainly ASP.net and such - and so, obviously, my development environment is Windows. However, solely because I use Windows doesn't make me a freakin' advocate of all things closed-source - I love using free software, and I think Amarok is one of the best free applications available. If all of these damn fanboys really want typical home users to start using Linux instead of Windows, why don't you start by fixing up the package managers (I will say that Yum and YaST do a damn good job) so that installing software isn't a 'find dependencies - compile - install' type process like it is now. Not to bash on the assorted package managers and such, because they work quite well...but honestly, imagine a typical home computer user trying to download some source, compile it and run it? That might work if the fanboys were answering the help desk... Linux is a great operating system, and it fills a need, the same way OS X, Windows and AS\400s fill a need. At the same time, Linux still has the 'geek' stigma to it, and until more and more daily-use, typical-user type applications (like OpenOffice, Amarok, Gaim) start to come out cross-platform, that stigma is poised to stay. Until average users realize that they're common applications and files can open in a familiar environment, they're going to stay where it's comfortable - Windows. |