[xine-user] Re: RealPlayer Codes question

[James S. <jst...@fa...>]

Hi Colin, Michael,

Colin J Thomson wrote:
>> > Of course the codec names are hardcoded. This is the only way to use
>> > them. These codecs are no libraries (they are technically, but not
>> > semantically), because Real can call them however they want. There is
>> > no way to predict that. They might even change the API of their codec
>> > plugins from one player version to another

The names and API of the codecs included in RealPlayer 10 are indeed 
different, so allowing xine to use them is not a trivial affair.

> I have never tried RP9 but what caught my eye with the new RealPlayer10
> was the new improved realplayer/realvideo Codecs, from what I have read
> they seem to be more efficient and higher quality, more tech info is here
> if its is of any use:

RealAudio 10 is simply AAC, which xine can already decode using the faad 
library. RealVideo 10 is stream compatible with RealVideo 9, it's just 
changes on the encoder side. Hence you can use the RealPlayer 9 codec to 
decode it. So in summary supporting the new codecs won't gain us anything, 
though that may well not remain to be the case in future.

James.