In order to make the viewing of Microsoft Windows Media content possible on the new Turbolinux 10 F desktop, the Tokyo, Japan-based company has licensed Windows Media codecs from Microsoft and developed a new application called Turbo Media Player that works with the xine Linux multimedia engine to enable users to stream video in Windows Media format.
Turbolinux is the first Linux distributor to announce support for Windows Media since Microsoft announced plans to license the software for use on Linux in January 2003, although multimedia software specialist InterVideo Inc also licensed the software for use in Linux-based set-top boxes.
Turbolinux 10 F is based on the existing Turbolinux 10 Desktop product, and also includes support for CyberLink’s PowerDVD for Linux, Apple’s Quicktime software and iPod MP3 player, Macromedia Flash, and RealNetworks’ video and audio formats.
The product will be released in Japan at the end of May priced at $149, and will be available to customers in the rest of the world at the end of June. The current owner of Turbolinux, Software Research Associates Inc, last month agreed a deal to sell it to Japanese ISP and Linux reseller Livedoor Co Ltd.
This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire
