Ubuntu: "We have no plans to fork GNOME" (derStandard.at)

Posted Aug 9, 2010 22:48 UTC (Mon) by jspaleta (subscriber, #50639)
In reply to: Ubuntu: "We have no plans to fork GNOME" (derStandard.at) by sahko
Parent article: Ubuntu: "We have no plans to fork GNOME" (derStandard.at)

It's going to be interesting to see if Gnome Project can work directly with 7digital and provide a different application level store front interface that isn't tied to a 3rd party service like U1. It really comes down to 7digital's business model and whether they are willing to give API access to some of their advanced features to independent program developers like the upstream banshee or rhythmbox developers instead of to a business entity like Canonical.

You'll note that 7digital storefronts on other platforms like blackberry and android aren't tied to a 3rd party service... they allow direct purchasing and downloads from 7digtal onto the client device. Its clear that a buffer service like U1 isn't strictly needed and Canonical is trying to position U1 between 7digital and end-consumers as a value-add service.

If Gnome as at project level could enter into a business deal with 7digital, they could encourage 7digital to open the necessary APIs for Gnome application usage and receive the referral revenue similar to how Gnome is getting referral revenue now via the Amazon Music integration in banshee and Magnatune referral revenue in rhythmbox without U1 acting as an interfacing service. Clearly if Gnome is okay working with Amazon for referral revenue for music, Gnome should be okay working with 7digital in a similar manner. 7digital just needs to open up their APIs enough to make it possible for independent developers to build the application storefront.

It should be noted that Canonical has worked a separate deal with Magnatune such that referral income that would have originally gone to the Gnome Project when Ubuntu users use the Magnatune rhythmbox plugin is set aside for distribution to Canonical instead of Gnome. Reference:
http://blogs.magnatune.com/buckman/2010/03/magnatune-send...

-jef

Ubuntu: "We have no plans to fork GNOME" (derStandard.at)

Posted Aug 11, 2010 11:03 UTC (Wed) by filip7d (guest, #69503) [Link] (1 responses)

jef,

i hope you'll be happy to hear that opening our 7digital API to independent developers is something we're actively working on.

And we're especially keen on getting the open source community involved. Although most of the 7dgital API is already open to everyone there are still some advanced features that are not available out of the box as unfortunately each use of these requires us getting approval from the music labels. But if anyone is interested in integrating these just get in touch with us and let us know what you'd like to build and we always try to help.

More info on the API can be found at http://developer.7digital.net

Filip
7digital API Team

Ubuntu: "We have no plans to fork GNOME" (derStandard.at)

Posted Aug 11, 2010 17:47 UTC (Wed) by jspaleta (subscriber, #50639) [Link]

I'd be happier if you provided vorbis and/or flac files so no vender would have to continue to work around the problems associated with mp3 patents and all vendors can provide out-of-the-box support for your music catalogue and would put your service into a position of being held high as a vendor who supports open standards, open protocols, and open data exchange formats.

But in the meantime, having an open API that upstream banshee, amarok and rhythmbox developers can rely on to write plugins to provide a means for users (across the myriad linux distributions available) to interact with your storefront would be a serviceable addition. Its clear that at least the banshee developers are interested in working directly with music stores as evidenced by the newly integrated Amazon music store support. Both Amarok and rhythmbox have shown upstream support for magnatunes so there's probably the potential there for discussing support for a mainstream music vendor if you can provide a published and reliable API.

-jef