Did Microsoft port Windows Media Player to Linux???

[TactX]

I've heard this while having a look at osnews (http://www.osnews.com). vnunet.com (http://www.vnunet.com/News/1140128) has an article on it.

I find that a bit hard to believe...

What do you think?

[jggimi]

Click here (http://www.google.com/search?q=microsoft+intervideo+linux&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8).

[TactX]

Most of the "news" you've googled are from april 2003 and talk about WMP being ported for Linux-based consumer electronics. But the "new" news from vnunet sound like WMP could also be available for use on the Linux-Desktop.
However, Mike Davis, senior research analyst at Butler Group, suggested that it is not entirely unthinkable that Microsoft will offer a downloadable version for Windows.

"The version of Windows Media Player you get from an initial installation is not the full product," he said.

"If you register the player online, which involves answering some very personal questions and effectively allowing Microsoft a good look at your PC, then you get the full version. Otherwise you're left with a cut down version.
_That_ is the interesting thing.

PS: Sorry for being a bit short in my initial post.

[mikeX]

who would want that anyway, wmp sucks & m$ sucks,i can understand running gnu programs on window$, but m$ programs on gnu/linux?, no...

[Neo Neko]

Well it could go something like this. If big business gets DRM which it is so hot for. Without such solutions all BSD/Linux users have no legal recourse whith witch to view these files in their OS of choice. In addition more claims of Microsoft abusing their leverage as a monopoly would surface.

Doing this covers many angles. It weakens claims that Microsoft is abusing their monopoly(not that they aren't). And it gives BSD/Linux users a way to legally watch those files. Circumventing the need for a future "DVD john" and Microsoft loosing face when a 15 year old cracks their bullet proof drm. :p

[pyt0n]

im pretty sure its already broken (the drm),
but ive yet to see the tool(s).

:P

[artronic]

Doesn't that mean that they may be able to chage Linux users for this?

[shevegen]

u mean charge fees?

[artronic]

Yeah, sorry, I didn't realize I didn't type the 'r'.