Ubuntu

Installing restricted codecs in Kubuntu

Asked by Robert Dzikowski

These are features omitted in Kubuntu Feisty that are present in Ubuntu:
- enabling proprietary codecs - KDE Add/Remove Programs doesn't have such option (Ubuntu restricted extras
  package);
- Kubuntu doesn't propose to install needed codecs when I try to play media which needs not
  installed codecs.

The only solution is to install Ubuntu desktop but this messes KDE desktop - programs start
to use Gnome widgets instead of KDE widgets, one can't set font size for KDE environment, etc.

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Markus Thielmann (thielmann) said : 		#1

Thanks for sharing your point of view.

Please respect that this is a technical issue tracker. So I'd like to invite you to http://ubuntuforums.org/, to discuss this issue further.

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Robert Dzikowski (rdzikowski-gmail) said : 		#2

But this is TECHNICAL issue - Kubuntu lacks some crucial features that are present in Ubuntu. If Ubuntu doesn't want to add them to Kubuntu then tell me how to add them to the default installation of Kubuntu.

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Alan Pope 🍺🐧🐱 🦄 (popey) said : 		#3

Your question is posed as a deliberately pejorative one, and not technical at all.

The reason the auto codec download isn't in Kubuntu is because it's based on gstreamer, and the KDE media players don't use gstreamer.

See this specification for details:-

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EasyCodecInstallation

"Kubuntu doesn't currently use gstreamer for its media players, so it won't benefit from this until that changes (amarok (using xine) in Edgy has this resolved for mp3 codecs being installed by a script). Apparently, the issue is that they need porting to gstreamer 0.10."

So this isn't anything to do with kubuntu being an "unwanted cousin" at all. It's just that someone needs to write/fix/debug the code.

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Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#4

Follow these links.
There is no package difference between Ubuntu and Kubuntu, where required just use Kate instead of Gedit and Adept instead of Synaptic. Command Line Interface commands are the same:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

If you believe that Kubuntu is missing some nice features feel welcome to post your views to the official kubuntu forums:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php

There is a new feature request area for Gutsy already:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?board=48.0

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Robert Dzikowski (rdzikowski-gmail) said : 		#5

Thanks for the answers, I didn't want to be pejorative at all. I will look to those links and give you my final answer.

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Markus Thielmann (thielmann) said : 		#6

Ubuntu also lacks some crucial features available in Windows and MacOS. I'm quite sure we share the same opinion in that case: It's not a technical issue. Please be considerate enough to respect hat.

Besides that: On the german LinuxTag (see http://www.linuxtag.org/ for details) Oliver Grabert (Technical-Lead for Edubuntu and project manager LTSP, also Kubuntu developer) was asked exactly the same question. The answer is just easy: Kubuntu is lacking developers and so he encouraged every user to participate in development and community work.

So the answer is easy Robert: Get involved! Have a look at http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate and help us making ubuntu (and kubuntu) better.

Please accept that you:
a) preach to the choir
b) did it on the wrong place

So please discuss this issue (and related topics) at Ubuntuforums.org.

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