Phonon is the multimedia API for KDE 4. Phonon was created to allow KDE 4 to be independent of any single multimedia framework such as GStreamer
GStreamer
GStreamer is a Pipeline based multimedia framework written in the C with the type system based on GObject. GStreamer allows a programmer to create a variety of media-handling components, including simple Audio frequency playback, audio and video... or xine
Xine
xine is a multimedia playback engine for Unix-like operating systems released under the GNU General Public License. xine is built around a shared library that supports different frontend player applications.... and to provide a stable API for KDE 4's lifetime. It was done to fix problems of frameworks becoming unmaintained, API instability, and to create a simple multimedia API.
For example, a file can be played in four lines of C++
C++
C++ is a general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as a middle-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level programming language and low-level programming language language features.... code, compared to 30 lines in the old audio framework (aRts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is most famous for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer.... )
media = new MediaObject(this);
connect(media, SIGNAL(finished), SLOT(slotFinished));
media->setCurrentSource("/home/username/music/filename.ogg");
media->play;
Phonon is not Unix-specific, and backends can be written for it in order to provide the same functionality on other platforms such as Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces .... .
Phonon is not designed to have every conceivable multimedia feature, but rather as a simple way to perform common functions of media players.
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Encyclopedia
Phonon is the multimedia API for KDE 4. Phonon was created to allow KDE 4 to be independent of any single multimedia framework such as GStreamer
GStreamer
GStreamer is a Pipeline based multimedia framework written in the C with the type system based on GObject. GStreamer allows a programmer to create a variety of media-handling components, including simple Audio frequency playback, audio and video... or xine
Xine
xine is a multimedia playback engine for Unix-like operating systems released under the GNU General Public License. xine is built around a shared library that supports different frontend player applications.... and to provide a stable API for KDE 4's lifetime. It was done to fix problems of frameworks becoming unmaintained, API instability, and to create a simple multimedia API.
For example, a file can be played in four lines of C++
C++
C++ is a general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as a middle-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level programming language and low-level programming language language features.... code, compared to 30 lines in the old audio framework (aRts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is most famous for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer.... )
media = new MediaObject(this);
connect(media, SIGNAL(finished), SLOT(slotFinished));
media->setCurrentSource("/home/username/music/filename.ogg");
media->play;
Phonon is not Unix-specific, and backends can be written for it in order to provide the same functionality on other platforms such as Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces .... .
Phonon is not designed to have every conceivable multimedia feature, but rather as a simple way to perform common functions of media players. Some developers may require more control over a backend than Phonon can provide.
Features
Phonon will interface with various backends with what developers call "engines"; each engine works with one specific backend. Each backend will let Phonon control basic functions like play, pause, and seek. Phonon will also support higher level functions such as how tracks fade into each other.
Phonon will be able to switch multimedia frameworks on the fly. The user will be able to switch between frameworks even while listening to music, with only a slight pause during the switch. This change will also be system wide, affecting all applications that use Phonon, so changing frameworks will be much easier.
Solid is a new device integration framework for KDE 4, the current release of the KDE. It functions on similar principles to KDE's multimedia pillar Phonon ; rather than managing hardware on its own, instead it makes existing solutions accessible through a single API.... , Phonon will give the users greater control over accessories like headsets, speakers, and microphones. An example was given that you could have a VoIP conversation only be played through your headset, but have all other sounds come out through speakers.
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification.... systems are xine
Xine
xine is a multimedia playback engine for Unix-like operating systems released under the GNU General Public License. xine is built around a shared library that supports different frontend player applications.... , Gstreamer
GStreamer
GStreamer is a Pipeline based multimedia framework written in the C with the type system based on GObject. GStreamer allows a programmer to create a variety of media-handling components, including simple Audio frequency playback, audio and video... , VLC
VLC media player
VLC media player is an open source, free software media player written by the VideoLAN project.VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, Video CD, and various streaming media Communications protocol.... and MPlayer
MPlayer
MPlayer is a free software and open source media player . The program is available for all major operating systems, including Linux and other Unix-like systems, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.... .
Supported backends under Windows include DirectShow
DirectShow
DirectShow , codename Quartz, is a multimedia framework and application programming interface produced by Microsoft for software developers to perform various operations with media files or streams.... , VLC
VLC media player
VLC media player is an open source, free software media player written by the VideoLAN project.VLC is a portable multimedia player, encoder, and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs, Video CD, and various streaming media Communications protocol.... and MPlayer
MPlayer
MPlayer is a free software and open source media player . The program is available for all major operating systems, including Linux and other Unix-like systems, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.... .
Mac OS X is a line of computer operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc., and since 2002 has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems.... is QuickTime
QuickTime
QuickTime is a multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, media clips, sound, text, animation, music, and QuickTime VRs.... .
Qt is a cross-platform application development framework, widely used for the development of graphical user interface programs , and also used for developing non-GUI programs such as console tools and servers.... release 4.4 and above to provide cross platform audio/video playback. In addition to the Linux backends, backends have been developed for QuickTime (OS X) and DirectShow (Windows).
