Configuring Multimedia Apps

Configuring Multimedia Applications

Configuring your sound card. Listening to CDs. Playing and encoding MP3s. We’re starting to build a bit of a library of multimedia applications and uses. So far, we’ve said nothing about video in Linux. That changes today.

Neither the KDE nor the Gnome desktop managers provide DVD players. There are some strong contenders that may be included in future releases. For Gnome, the choice is vlc (Video Lan Client). For KDE, the choice is the recent KDVD. If you’re going to download a DVD player, though, there’s really no better choice than Ogle. Ogle has all the features of a commercial package with a price to suit Linux users.

Ogle, unlike some current Linux DVD players, works with encrypted DVDs. You may need to download and install libdvdcss but both the download and installation are quite easy. With libdvdcss installed, Ogle treats encrypted DVDs as if they were unencrypted.

The Ogle interface is based on common metaphors and is quickly understood by any user. Arrows, Xs and other common icons control its operation. Ogle also handles full screen mode quite well by pressing the “f” key. Other features include the ability to grab screen shots, both with and without a subpicture overlay, subpicture commands including fade and wipe, and automatic aspect ratio adjustments.

If your computer is equipped with a DVD player, there’s really no reason not to view those favored movies in Linux. With vlc, KDVD and Ogle, the choices for video applications in Linux get better and stronger every day.