H.264/AAC/MP3 decoding support for Boot To Gecko | Hacker News Reader

MP3 decoding support for Boot To Gecko

bluishcoder.co.nz

19 pointswglb9 comments

Initial support for libstagefright decoding (giving H.264, etc) on Android landed in "mozilla-inbound" today too. These should go in mozilla-central soon and be available in Firefox Mobile nightly builds. It's turned off by default (enabled via a pref in about:config) while bugs and performance are worked on.

Happen to have relevant bug #s? I'd like to track this work and maybe lend a hand.

Software decoding using libstagefright: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=759945

Metabug for Android decoding support: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=755364

Hardware decoding support using libstagefright on B2G: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=759506

It's sad, in some ways, but I'm not sure that Mozilla had any choice in the matter here. Using the OS to provide decoding makes sense as a compromise here.

I thought from this story http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3692771 they already decided to do it on the desktop. Did that not materialize?

I'm not aware of an actual decision being made with regard to desktop support yet but I think it is inevitable.

> What about support for desktop? This is trickier since some desktop operating systems don’t include H.264, AAC or MP3 decoders

Does this mean Gonk (the B2G OS [0]) will include these decoders? How is this any different to desktop Firefox including them?

[0] https://wiki.mozilla.org/B2G/Architecture

Gonk has the libstagefright libraries which expect to be able to dynamically load shared libraries provided by the carrier or phone maker which contain the decoders. They are expected to have all the relevant licenses.

In the case of desktop Mozilla could take the same approach (use system libraries, expect OS supplier to provide licensed decoders) but some platforms would miss out on support if the OS supplier doesn't provide the decoders.

So the difference is Mozilla expect current phone vendors to always provide these licenses but the desktop vendors not to? Isn't the whole point of Firefox OS to disrupt the current lack of openness in mobile? Do Mozilla not hope the mobile industry will become as open as the desktop one?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com