Hacker News Reader

> 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

View on HN

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