Why I can't use Amarok

[Thomas Lübking]

On Sunday 28 August 2011 10:58:12 Shlomi Fish wrote:
> What I need from Amarok is to have a Phonon backend that will:
> 
> 1. Play all files I throw at it
> - .mp3, .ogg, .flv, .mp4, .mod/.s3m/.xm/.it, .avi, etc. Phonon-gstreamer is
>   unable to play .mp4 files due to this bug -
> https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=267319 - and
> Phonon-VLC was much more quirky in this respect last time I tried.
> 
> 2. Be able to play streamed or remote media like the one that is present in
> Last.fm, Magnatune or Jamendo (all of which have Amarok interfaces). Here
> Phonon-gstreamer is much worse (due to an unreleased bug fix), and
> phonon-vlc is better.

a) the provided file is actually invalid. It plays only because of the 
generosity of the various mediaplayers.

b) The linked bugreport indicates (esp. comment #1 - nowhere denied) that this 
is a problem with the gstreamer backend only. Do yourself a favour and kick 
it. Even the "perfomance enhanced" latest version has serious timing issues 
everybody with non damaged ears can *hear*

c) i've just tried that file and in plays w/o any problems (but a wrong 
length... as mentioned: the file is not valid) on phonon-vlc
phonon 4.5.55
phonon-vlc 0.4.1
vlc 1.1.11

All in all it seems your only problem is (phonon-)gstreamer. So just switch 
the backend an wait until gstreamer is in a shape where one really should use 
it. I'm fairly sure our grandsons (and daughters ;-) will have fixed the 
mimetype issue until then as well....

Disclaimer:
I have no "Last.fm, Magnatune or Jamendo" accounts and cannot comment on the 
backend issues/quality regarding those.

Cheers,
Thomas