Ubuntu
libgimme-codec package

handling of missing codecs for internet radio streams

Bug #89611 reported by majb on 2007-03-04

This bug report is a duplicate of: Bug #58617: mp3 installation script crashes and/or hangs. Edit Remove

Affects		Status	Importance	Assigned to	Milestone
	libgimme-codec (Ubuntu)	New	Undecided	Unassigned

Bug Description

Will try to be as succinct and readable as possible.

Basically, I thought that Feisty's claim to fame was that it could handle missing codecs (MP3, etc.) by downloading them automagically when the user wanted to play, say, a locally stored MP3 or AAC. This is why I installed Feisty instead of SUSE 10.2, as I want an workstation that "just works". Whilst this might work for a file stored on the local hard drive (I have yet to test this), I can say that if I go to http://shoutcast.com and click on any stream's link, it will bring up Amarok... who will then simply not play anything.

I think the ability to auto-install missing codecs (to get around the silly patent laws in the USA?) should extend to radio streams too. I do not think that the infamous "Joe Sixpack" will be impressed if he cannot listen to the very same radio stream he can on windows. I cannot imagine the hell raised if Winamp could not play a stream found on shoutcast.com ...

I hope this can be fixed before Feisty's release in april.

Cheers.

Bruno

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majb (jdsmitte) wrote on 2007-03-06:

follow-up, next (?) day -- 20070305:

I have tried locally stored media files and:
(1) .wav will play fine
(2) .mp3 wil not, in either amarok or kafeine.

there is no message saying something along the lines of "this seems to be a file of type abc, you are missing codec xyz in order to play it, do you want to download and install?". Though amarok will give an error message, unhelpful for non-technical users (I have to go from memory as I cannot get amarok to start again; it refuses to start again after I quit it the first time).

I have attempted again to get a stream listed on http://www.shoutcast.com to play "automagically" and:
(1) amarok still does not do anything, other than filling some playlist and leaving it at that.
(2) kafeine will actually stream the music... but nothing comes out of the speakers.

I hope this can help.

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majb (jdsmitte) wrote on 2007-03-08:

test result, 20070307:
* with konq, going to shoutcast.com, clicking on stream's link: amarok comes up, then complains needed decoder not loaded (have to go from memory again, i'll explain). Quit amarok.

* clicking on a locally loaded MP3, amarok comes up, says it needs to install the proper codec, but hangs there. I click on the "yes install" button (again, from memory), but nothing happens. Amarok totally froze.

* trying to play the same mp3 with kafeine, not successful (sp?): kafeine has the same behaviour as amarok had yesterday or the day before.

* cannot re-launch amarok: the "wait" bouncing icon is displayed, but nothing comes up.

Again, it would be neat if trying to play an internet radio stream whose codec is missing could result in the automatic installation of said codec (after asking the user, of course).

/bm

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majb (jdsmitte) wrote on 2007-03-16:

20070315:

forgot to add new information: in Feisty Fawn, at least on my box, libgimme-codec was not installed. That did not help.

Furthermore, even after installing it, Amarok (and Kafeine, I might add) did not deal gracefully with MP3s (and aacPlus) files & streams (that's where I tried to make use of aacPlus).

things only started working after I installed (going from memory here) libxine-extracodecs and some other mpeg packages via the adept package manager.

(I hope someone reads this, that I am not typing this for nothing.)

Cheers.

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Sujee Maniyam (sujee) wrote on 2007-03-28:

Possibly similar issue : #77059

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kaffeine/+bug/77059