Songbird halts major support for linux

Posted: 2nd April 2010 by leftyfb in FAIL, linux, technology, ubuntu
46

update: Songbird has now been forked and will keep supporting linux! The new project is now Nightingale.

As many of you know we’re hard at work on NOFX and the release is looking really good – lots of cool improvements, including video playback. Some of you have noticed that the Linux version has fallen behind, leading to some heated, but healthy debate internally about how to prioritize the development hopper.

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.

Article continued…

Songbird was usually my answer for people when they asked about iTunes on Ubuntu(linux). Good thing we have the Ubuntu One Music Store now. Maybe this was part of the reason they gave up on linux. Who knows. Such a shame when decent projects just up and throw the towel in.

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  • rr1ww

    If “Songbird drops Ubuntu” can we use 'wine' to run the windows version?
    ric mann
    rr1ww@aol.com

    • Grundoko

      Most likely, but remember, Sonbird isn't dropping “Ubuntu” It's dropping Linux as a whole. Ubuntu isn't the only distrobution that's no longer supported.

  • Grundoko

    Banshee is the ultimate media player for Linux. (Beta version available for Mac, and they're working on a Windows version)

    • nnonix

      It's hardly “the ultimate” … or I'd be using it.

  • http://aarontoponce.org/ Aaron Toponce

    This is a wrong move, and they'll feel it. The only people who used Songbird on Windows and Mac, were also Linux users looking for a single product to use on all platforms. Now that Songbird is out, their fan base will likely be out as well. Oh well, you live and learn. It's bloated anyway, and there have been some very shaky design decisions IMO, so meh.

    • Astron

      When I came to Linux (obviously rather recently, as Songbird is not that old), I was expecting to be using Songbird on Linux, too (I had been using it on Windows since 0.2). However, Rhythmbox did simply work better (tried Banshee as well, but it was somewhat unstable) and looked more integrated. So, personally, I don't think your argument actually is valid.
      And then, this only another “wrong” move: before that were an importer for I-Tunes libraries, the abandonment of their own I-Pod plug-in (in favour of using I-Tunes directly to transfer to I-Pods), an MTP plug-in based on Microsoft technologies (which therefore is not portable to Linux / OS X) and the inclusion of a proprietary CD ripper.

      Finally, Songbird will be bundled with new Philips MP3 players, so it must target an entirely new userbase which will probably consist of less computer-affine people (who should be fine with the thing burning a few too many cycles).

  • bjb1959

    I could never get myself to prefer Songbird over Amarok or Rhythmbox even though I tried. Now I am glad I didn't. I understand that they want to focus on platforms where they feel they can make money (I don't believe it's because Mac has more users then Linux because we all know it doesn't but it is commercial and their users will pay through the nose for stuff). Oh well, maybe the community can make a rocking Fork of the old code.

  • Yva

    very sad…

  • Stefan

    Sad day. I never used it, but nevertheless… I am not sure if Rhythmbox can do everything as Songbird did. Support for devices…

    RIP Songbird.

  • ssj6akshat

    Why don't they be honest and say that their hardware partners weren't interested in supporting linux

    • RIP SONGBIRD

      Thats why its so sad. They've prioritized the most important OS and the OS that need songbird the most out of the picture.

    • http://ethangibson.com/ Ethan Gibson

      This is probably true but POTI is a company like any other and if they want to continue to develop Songbird then they need money to do so.

      So in all honesty if the partners don't want Linux support then theres no point wasting man hours developing something that they not only have time for but not being paid for.

      I'm sure most of us would have done the same in similar situations.

      • http://ethangibson.com/ Ethan Gibson

        Sorry the last line was meant to read “not only don't have time for”

  • http://wakoopa.com/ovnandan OVI

    It's such a shame and what about other Linux users who don't have Ubuntu one store loaded :(

    Very disappointed, It's indeed a painful decision ;'(

  • Jackflap

    I have to say, conceptually Songbird looked promising. The web-aspect (xul) of it could have yielded a new era of social music.

    Unfortunately, the application was bloated, limited in features and far, far too slow in its development to accomplish that.

    Spotify has accomplished what Songbird couldn't, and now that they've dropped iPod support, I have to wonder what it is good for at all.

  • Zac

    I think it was too much for them to support Linux as it's still being refined. Ubuntu's music store won't be the reason.

    I much prefer doubleTwist to be supported for Linux, actually even default for Ubuntu. I think doubleTwist is a good match for Ubuntu. Well, we'll wait see.

  • http://www.rwdubsreviews.com/ Lyle

    Disappointed the developers have abandoned Linux. Must not have enough Linux users to make it worth their while?

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  • ethana2

    *shrug*
    It was XUL.

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