[MEncoder-users] using mencoder as a virtual device

[Reza Roboubi]

RC wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 19:07:55 -0700
> Reza Roboubi <reza at parvan.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>>(which qemu then takes as pure pixel data presumably, and
>>sends it to the _real_ hardware.)
> 
> 
> I would imagine qemu just sets-up an overlay itself, and directly
> outputs everything to the videocard, bypassing X11.  So, you have the
> same problem, and another level of indirection and unnecessary
> slow-down.

Unless of course, qemu could be told to output to X directly
instead of going to OpenGL, which is probably much easier to do
because unlike RealPlayer, qemu is unlikely to get nasty about it.
That is of course, _if_ qemu isn't already doing that, in order
to support applications like this "Windows 2000 over FreeNX" demo:
http://dot.kde.org/1120050176/

> 
>>Do you think this can be done?
> 
> 
> Yes, but with so much hassle, that I wouldn't even try it.  What could
> possibly make this video so valuable that you'd waste that much time and
> effort to copy it?

Somewhat off-topic, but I didn't find an "mplayer-marketing" mailing list:
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I have no doubt RC, that you can agree there is a larger issue here than this
one video.  Just imagine the _countless_ hours, effort, and legal brainstorming
that our community _continues_ to spend on reverse engineering and supporting
Billy and the rest of the gang.  See Kevin DeKorte's recent post about MplayerPlug-in
support for MSN, in which
case his effort was truly wasted, because he finally decided to give up.  The
thought of that _wonderful_ human talent being wasted like that, really
bothers me.

The minute I read your paragraph above, I felt there may be perhaps a deeper
underlying ideological issue here.  Maybe it's the feeling that "why bother
wasting all this effort to go to RealPlayer?"  or, "why not just spend the
effort on MPlayer?"  In case you're having such thoughts RC, I really sympathize
with you a great deal.

I have often wondered what would happen if we stopped spending our efforts
supporting the "commercial world."  And today, with our _immense_ amount of
talent, and fantastic software, we could pose a _mighty_giant_ competition to
"Billy and the gang."  It's not just about David vs. Goliath any more, it's
much bigger than that.

We can go much bigger, and really _amaze_ the "end user" market with glory.
All it takes, is just a few very simple business oriented approaches.

To "end users", we're just slightly confusing.  A little terminology for
instance, can make a _huge_ difference.  Imagine the poor, confused
end-user, comparing different products:

Windows              <--->  Breezy Badger
PhotoShop            <--->  Gimp
Notepad              <--->  Micro Emacs (not even comparing the two of course)
Visual Pascal        <--->  Delphi
(Visual) C++         <--->  g++
Windows Media Player <--->  MPlayer

Or look at this recent thread about the MPlayer "core dumped" message:
http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2006-April/059562.html

I know we geeks enjoy that.  I know it's fun.  But imagine, we could be
making a lot more money, and serving our beautiful planet better, if we
just communicated to the outside world more clearly.

The original video that I posted, is from one of the most trusted
news sources in America(funded by public television.)  Why does a
news organization, supported by the public, support Windows
Media Player and RealPlayer, but not MPlayer?

Incredibly, these people are not evil.  They just don't know any better,
and are confused like everybody else.  That can change :)

But I don't think that the suggestion, "forget this one video," is
really the one you mean to promote in your heart RC.  That wasn't
why you(we) worked so hard on MPlayer to begin with.

Reza.