Moonlight 2.0: Microsoft and Novell Loosen Agreement
In close collaboration with Microsoft, a Novell team behind developer Miguel de Icaza has released version 2.0 of its Silverlight clone Moonlight.
Silverlight is Microsoft's attempt to embed modern content such as videos and animation in the Web. It's often viewed as a direct competitor to Flash. Because the Silverlight .NET application runs on Windows only, Mono developer Miguel de Icaza's team at Novell has been working on a corresponding open source version called Moonlight.
The current Moonlight 2.0 release is technically in a status somewhere between Silverlight 2.0 and 3.0 and depends on the recently released Mono, Cairo and Gtk+. The development is prioritized on the most desired features, among them transmission of the Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Microsoft Photosynth tool.
Like Mono, Moonlight development isn't without controversy, considering that Microsoft owns a number of its software patents. As a rule Microsoft's proprietary WMA and WMV video and audio formats also apply (the tool installs the corresponding codecs from the Internet). Novell therefore sealed an agreement with Microsoft from the start whereby Microsoft agreed not to hold claim against users of the Novell implementation. The two firms have now renewed and expanded the agreement. Users of other Linux and BSD distros can now use Moonlight and distributors can deliver Moonlight packages without the risk of being sued over patent infringement.
The catch is that only the Novell version will have access to licensed media codecs so that other distros will have to forego automatic codec support. A few options are available, but the matter is still based on the agreement being between Microsoft and Novell only.
The current Moonlight runs on Firefox browsers, but work is underway on a corresponding implementation for Chrome on Linux, according to de Icaza in his blog.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.