Phonon (KDE)

Infobox Software
name = Phonon



caption =
collapsible =
author =
developer = [http://phonon.kde.org/cms/1009 Matthias Kretz u.a.]
released =
latest release version = 4.2
latest release date = 2008
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
frequently updated =
programming language = C++
operating system = Linux, BSD, Mac OS X, Solaris, Windows
platform =
size =
language =
status =
genre = Multimedia framework
license = LGPL
website = [http://phonon.kde.org/ phonon.kde.org]

Phonon is the multimedia API for KDE 4. Phonon was created to allow KDE 4 to be independent of any single multimedia framework such as GStreamer or Xine and to provide a stable API for KDE 4's lifetime. It was done to fix problems of frameworks becoming unmaintained, API instability, and to create a simple multimedia API.

For example, a file can be played in four lines of C++ code [cite web
url=http://api.kde.org/4.0-api/kdelibs-apidocs/phonon/html/classPhonon_1_1MediaObject.html
title=MediaObject Class Reference
accessdate=2007-12-19
last=Kretz
first=Matthias] , compared to 30 lines in the old audio framework (aRts)cite web
url=http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/05/05/1540250
title=Phonon and the future of KDE multimedia
accessdate=2007-12-19
date=2006-5-9
last=Sanders
first=N.] media = new MediaObject(this); connect(media, SIGNAL(finished()), SLOT(slotFinished())); media->setCurrentSource("/home/username/music/filename.ogg"); media->play();Phonon is not Unix-specific, and backends can be written for it in order to provide the same functionality on other platforms such as Microsoft Windows.

Phonon is not designed to have every conceivable multimedia feature, but rather as a simple way to perform common functions of media players. Some developers may require more control over a backend than Phonon can provide.

Features

* Phonon will interface with various backends with what developers call "engines;" each engine works with one specific backend. Each backend will let Phonon control basic functions like play, pause, and seek. Phonon will also support higher level functions such as how tracks fade into each other.cite web
url=http://dot.kde.org/1170773239/
title=The Road to KDE 4: Phonon Makes Multimedia Easier
accessdate=2007-12-19
date=2007-2-6
last=Unrau
first=Troy]

* Phonon will be able to switch multimedia frameworks on the fly. The user will be able to switch between frameworks even while listening to music, with only a slight pause during the switch. This change will also be system wide, affecting all applications that use Phonon, so changing frameworks will be much easier.

*Using Solid, Phonon will give the users greater control over accessories like headsets, speakers. and microphones. An example was given that you could have a VoIP conversation only be played through your headset, but have all other sounds come out through speakers.

*Supported backends on Unix-like systems are xine, Gstreamer, VLC and MPlayer. [cite web
url=http://code.google.com/p/phonon-vlc-mplayer
title=VLC and MPlayer backends
last=Krotoff
first=Tanguy]

*Supported backends under Windows include DirectX, VLC and MPlayer.

*The backend supported under Mac OS X is QuickTime.

Use in Qt

Phonon is used in Qt release 4.4 and above to provide cross platform audio/video playback. In addition to the Linux backends, backends have been developed for QuickTime (OS X) and DirectX (Windows). [cite web
url=http://doc.trolltech.com/4.4/phonon-overview.html
title=Phonon Overview
accessdate=2008-10-09
publisher=Qt Software
date=2008]

References

External links

* [http://phonon.kde.org/ Phonon home page]