Talk:Helix (multimedia project)

Defunct?
This product appears to have been dead for seven years. The last update to Helix Player was over 13 years ago.

https://www.osalt.com/helixplayer

RDT
I'm not sure about the statement that use of RDT requires binary components.

Added FreeBSD to supported operating systems
It's been actively maintained in the FreeBSD ports tree for at least a year, maybe longer, and it appears that it will remain so. It really bugs me that they don't mention this on the helix community page, given that they mention Solaris and Symbian (the version on Symbian is much older than the version available on FreeBSD).

Helix vs. Helix DNA
The German Wikipedia article states that "Helix Server" is commercial whereas the "crippled" "Helix DNA Server" is open source. Maikel (talk) 22:45, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

what does DNA means ? , the term in used many times on the page but never explicated..
 * Yes, far too many unexplained acronyms and jargon. Needs much help. See below. W Nowicki (talk) 23:28, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

Merge?
It looks like there was a proposed merge of Helix Universal Server, a proposed deletion, and then the tags were removed. Did not see any discussion? That article looks quite bad, with even worse jargon issues, and no inline citations whatsoever. I would prefer one unified article about the project, all the players, and all the servers. It would be more likely to do one that survives the deletionists that way. This is notable software, so needs to be described in Wikipedia; but claiming the server is independently notable from the players or vice versa seems wrong. W Nowicki (talk) 23:28, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

To provide further background. The Helix Multimedia project which launched in 2002 is focused on open source only and continues to be focused on codecs only Real Audio / Real Video today. There was an initial inclusion of a server (entitled Helix DNA server), however, this was a very basic, RealMedia only version of the code which was essentially a command line utility without any of the capabilities or features of the RealSystem Server or Helix Universal Server which are RealNetworks commercial products. The Helix Community / Media Project also included source code for Helix DNA media players which were very different from the commercial RealPlayer. The ethos of the project was to provide a basic starting block to external organisations to use pre-made components that would enable them to build players and servers built on RealNetworks technology and they would add their own value.

Helix Universal is a commercial product and is an evolution of the first streaming server from Progress Networks delivering "Realaudio" which launched in 1994 and essentially "Gave the Internet Voice" (in as much as Sir Tim Berners-Lee gave the Internet a usable interface). The Progress Networks Server then subsequently became RealSystem System server which delivered RealMedia (audio + video) codecs throughout the later part of the 1990's. In 2002 RealNetworks developed the brand name Helix split into two parts - Universal to cover the commercial products that were considered to utilise multiple codecs and DNA for "open source" and known as the Helix Community. The launch articles at the time speak of Helix Universal Server, which delivered RealMedia, MPEG4 and Windows Media 8 and then 9 and separate Helix Universal Server from the Helix Community.

In terms of filing the Helix Universal Server article, I believe this does require further historical background to be added prior to 2002 refering to Progress Networks and RealSystem Server to extend it's evolution path and it's notability towards pioneering and shaping digital media delivery. As a reference article Helix Universal Server has historical importance from 2002 by changing digital media delivery by becoming the first streaming server to support multiple codecs - RealMedia, MPEG4 and Windows Media, previously streaming servers were focused on single codecs only from their respective vendors. This was considered a unique bridging point at the time and has carried through to other vendors products / services today. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Davidjsmith67 (talk • contribs) 12:00, 3 August 2013 (UTC)

External links modified
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