Songbird drops Linux support
The developers of the open source and cross platform media player and browser Songbird, have announced they are dropping Linux support. The announcement was made on the Songbird blog, where many Linux users of Songbird have expressed their disbelieve and dismay.
After careful consideration, we’ve come to the painful conclusion that we should discontinue support for the Linux version of Songbird. Some of you may wonder how a company with deep roots in Open Source could drop Linux and we want you to know it isn’t without heartache.? We have a small engineering team here at Songbird, and, more than ever, must stay very focused on a narrow set of priorities. Trying to deliver a raft of new features around all media types, and across a growing list of devices, we had to make some tough choices.
I’m not so surprised anyway, cause when Songbird 1.4.1 was released the Windows version was bundled with new features; CD Rip Support and MSC (Mass Storage Class) Device Support, features that never arrived to Linux desktops. Unequal levels of development is always a negative sign.
Well, this is a big smack to Linux, and I fear its just the beginning, a new trend. I bet Skype will follow suite:-) and why not Opera browser. Fortunately my Linux desktop is full of media-players and browsers. I can do without you Songbird.
The Songbird team will continue to deliver untested feature-less Linux builds, for Linux desktops. Upcoming Songbird NOFX for Windows and Mac will have additional encoding support for MPEG4 and WMV, additional device support for 2 handset devices and support for device SD Cards.