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VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

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Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#21

Post by daxelrod »

antr wrote: post #2

I'm a big fan of VLC, it's been my default video app since I can remember. Can't wait to see it again on iOS. The "big" feature I would like to see is some kind of "super-easy" drag and drop feature where I could easily send video files to my iPad/iPhone without doing the whole Browser->IP:Port->Choose file, etc. A "video file right click -> VLC -> Send file to iPad (upload in background)" would put a smile on my fac…

The old VLC for iOS used iTunes's transfer capabilities rather than presenting an HTTP server.

Here's a screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/cRwg8Rr.jpg

Not quite as slick as the context menu you're suggesting though.

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#22

Post by jbk »

daxelrod wrote: post #21
antr wrote: post #2

I'm a big fan of VLC, it's been my default video app since I can remember. Can't wait to see it again on iOS. The "big" feature I would like to see is some kind of "super-easy" drag and drop feature where I could easily send video files to my iPad/iPhone without doing the whole Browser->IP:Port->Choose file, etc. A "video file right click -> VLC -> Send file to iPad (upload in background)" would put a smile on my fac…

The old VLC for iOS used iTunes's transfer capabilities rather than presenting an HTTP server. Here's a screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/cRwg8Rr.jpg Not quite as slick as the context menu you're suggesting though.

The new one has the HTTP server...

I've added it...

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#23

Post by sparkie »

jbk wrote: post #9
cube13 wrote: post #4

So how exactly has the licensing issue been resolved? Has the core VLC library been re-licensed or dual licensed under the Mozilla license?

See my blogposts on LGPL relicensing of VLC engine http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/post/2012/I-did-it Note that the relicensing was not done for the iOS port. And the app above the VLC engine is dual licensed GPLv2/MPLv2

I don't see get how the LGPL solves the problem the GPL had with Apple's policy. Particularly, 6.a of the LGPL cannot be met simultaneously with Apple's code signing mechanism; so that the user can modify the Library and then relink to produce a modified executable containing the modified Library.

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#25

Post by mtgx »

Have they made the Android app excellent yet? Last I checked it was still nowhere as good as MX Player performance wise. I'm just saying they might want to fix that before venturing into other platforms, especially platforms that have been very hostile towards them in the past.

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#26

Post by smtddr »

Enquiry wrote: post #15
mehrzad wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>it's been my default video app since I can remember. Curious as to what you think about MPlayer, MPC-HC, or mpv, which have mostly taken the crown in nerd circles as being the de facto video players.

The only "nerd circle" I know that is fixated on MPC are otakus, for no meaningful reasons except to make themselves feel superior. (Especially subbing groups) I use FooBar2K for audio and VLC for video.

So, if you're going to say that about otakus then can you explain why your choices are superior?

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#27

Post by air »

jbk wrote: post #9
cube13 wrote: post #4

So how exactly has the licensing issue been resolved? Has the core VLC library been re-licensed or dual licensed under the Mozilla license?

See my blogposts on LGPL relicensing of VLC engine http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/post/2012/I-did-it Note that the relicensing was not done for the iOS port. And the app above the VLC engine is dual licensed GPLv2/MPLv2

Bradley Kuhn (who has worked for FSF for license stuff) says LGPL does not help. http://ebb.org/bkuhn/blog/2012/11/22/vlc-lgpl.html

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#28

Post by untog »

captiva12 wrote: post #13

Instead of downloading media to your iPhone you can use Tonido iOS ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tonido-file-access-music-vid... ) app to play/stream pretty much all the video formats directly from your PC, Mac or Linux (or) you can use the app to download the media and play with VLC.

Pretty different use case, IMO. Streaming is far less useful on the go than playing locally stored files.

(and I can only assume you are involved with Tonido, given that half your HN posts are promoting using it)

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#29

Post by jbk »

sparkie wrote: post #23
jbk wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See my blogposts on LGPL relicensing of VLC engine http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/post/2012/I-did-it Note that the relicensing was not done for the iOS port. And the app above the VLC engine is dual licensed GPLv2/MPLv2

I don't see get how the LGPL solves the problem the GPL had with Apple's policy. Particularly, 6.a of the LGPL cannot be met simultaneously with Apple's code signing mechanism; so that the user can modify the Library and then relink to produce a modified executable containing the modified Library.

The full source code is provided and all the build script, see the beginning of 6.a. Any user can rebuild it.

Re: VLC for iOS returns on July 19, rewritten and fully open-sourced

#30

Post by 0x0 »

kansas wrote: post #24

VLC app used to drain my battery. I moved to Plex and Tonido after the removal. Hopefully this release doesn't drain the battery.

As I understand, VLC is unable to leverage the hardware codecs of the iPhone, because it doesn't use the official media frameworks, so it has to run stuff less efficiently in software.
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