14 DAY TRIAL // Not long after reporting that VLC Player for Mac was in deep cow droppings, the VideoLAN Project issued an updated version of the software, featuring SubRip extra style improvements, and fixing potential crashes in SSA and svg decoders. No word on how development has been going ever since. Instead, the people behind the popular media player for Mac, Windows and Linux decided to post a different announcement – VideoLAN’s acquisition by RealNetworks.
Assuming we’re dealing with an April Fools' post (and, we are, most likely), fans of the VLC Player should not be alarmed. Still, there’s no evidence to dismiss the news either. Here’s VLC’s announcement reproduced below:
“VideoLAN is proud to announce that it has been acquired by RealNetworks, the world's premiere provider of Internet media delivery tools. RealNetworks will be working with VideoLAN over the next few months to leverage the powerful Real toolset to improve VLC media player and other VideoLAN software. Accordingly, with the introduction of Real's superior solutions, we will be dropping all other encoders from the streaming component of VLC media player. Additionally, to better serve our customers, we will be introducing a new VLC media player Pro application, with cutting edge streaming capabilities and the ability to play back and edit all Real video and audio formats. This new application will be available for the low price of $30/€30. We hope you enjoy the new VLC media player!”
As soon as we read through the post ourselves, we went straight over to RealNetworks’ press room which, unsurprisingly, doesn’t show any announcement on the supposed acquisition. The latest headline reads, “Syniverse and RealNetworks Sign Long-Term Alliance” and it is dated March 24, 2010.
For those who are not very familiar with VideoLAN’s media playing app, VLC Player is a free piece of software and open source multi-platform video streaming solution available on both Mac and Windows, as well as Linux PCs. The software boasts a cross-platform nature.