VLC Running Kickstarter Campaign To Fund Native Windows 8 App

New submitter aaron44126 writes "Some VLC developers have launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of a native port of VLC as a Windows 8 app. The goal is to create an app with a UI that fits into the rest of the Windows 8 ecosystem that supports the playback of all of the types of files that VLC already supports. Playback of optical media (DVD/VCD/BD) is also on the list. They hope to use as much existing code as possible while doing whatever necessary to get VLC running in the 'Metro' environment and meet Microsoft's requirements for distribution through the Windows Store. Porting to ARM so that it can run on Windows RT devices will happen after the Windows 8 app is complete. The campaign has actually been going on for almost two weeks but they published their first update yesterday, in which they announced their intent to produce a Windows Phone 8 port as well."

Win 8

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not going to contribute. Not because I don't like VLC, I do. But because I don't support windows 8.

Source...

[Niedi]

What is the situation with the source/GPL?
"Any code touching the user interface created within this endeavor will be licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later (GPLv2+), possibly with an exception for the Windows Store if needed."
I remember vaguely that there once was a VLC for iOS around before some internal debate about whether or not this sort of port was acceptable with the GPL caused apple to remove it. Exception for Windows Store? How should that work out then?

Have Microsoft Pay

[tvlinux]

Why would any sane person donate to have VLC ported to Windows8? If MS wants windows8 to succeed have them pay for the development.

Not for me

[kelemvor4]

I'm a long time user of VLC. I use it on windows 8 currently. I don't want to see a metro version because metro apps are full screen only, and that's not for me. The regular VLC works just fine in win8 so basically they're raising money to more or less create a VLC skin...

On the other hand it could end up being the first metro app that's worth a flip. Every one I've tried so far has serious technical problems (for example Netflix and Skype).

As an aside, it's worth noting that even MS doesn't take metro seriously when it comes to actually selling applications. Office 2013 apps are desktop mode. Visio 2013 is desktop mode. Visual Studio 2012 is desktop mode. See a pattern here?

Re:Source...

[UnknowingFool]

Yes and no. Rémi Denis-Courmont one of the lead VLC developers objected when someone else ported VLC to iOS and put it on the App store. Denis-Courmont did not want DRM on VLC code. So Apple removed it.

Why?

[michealPW]

This has never made any sense to me whatsoever

Why do FOSS developers waste their time porting their hard work to Windows, of all platforms? Windows use have access to anything they want whereas Linux and UNIX-like users do not. Even if they wanted the proprietary crap offered to Windows users, in many cases it's not an option for us.

So... Lets make Windows even more appealing by porting the good FOSS applications to Windows? Brilliant...

Here's a crazy idea.. Why don't we just work on making VLC better for the Linux users? You know, it's firefox pluggin is a unkept POS... But yea, lets divert our attention to porting to Windows 8 (rolls eyes)

Re:Not for me

[Barlo_Mung_42]

I would really like to have a metro version that I can snap to the side while working on other things. So yeah, I'll kick in a few bucks.
Oh, and I'd also like to have the RT version to run on my Surface.