VLC For iOS Returns On July 19, Rewritten and Fully Open-Sourced

An anonymous reader writes "VideoLAN revealed some very exciting news today: VLC for iOS will be back in Apple's App Store by tomorrow (July 19). The company tells TNW the app will be available for free worldwide, requires iOS 5.1 or later, as well supports the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. As you can expect, VLC for iOS version 2.0 will be open-source. This time, however, its code will be available online (also by tomorrow), bi-licensed under both the Mozilla Public License Version 2 as well as the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later."

Re:3 2 1 Takedown

[kthreadd]

Either that, or Apple could stop abusing its users.

Exciting news?

[Arker]

Yeah, this doesnt seem like exciting news to me at all. Dual-licensing it to get it in the app store is a failure, not a victory. If the app store isnt compatible with GPL software, then the app store shouldnt be getting access to GPL software. Dual-licensing to work around Apples error seems actively counterproductive to me.

support for remote streaming?

[MMC Monster]

Don't particularly care about the licensing issues.

My question is whether it will allow me to stream from my home system, or will I have to upload every video file or use Dropbox or some other kludge.

Apple store incompatible with free people

[Arker]

Here's the thing: for most of us, if the only way to assert our rights involves hiring attorneys for what could easily be a protracted court case, then we have been effectively stripped of our rights.

Apple's contract, on its face, clearly and plainly requires us to agree to onerous conditions which, on their face, render Apple incapable of qualifying for the GPL. Apple has absolutely zero interest in changing that in any way and has made that very clear. That is their right.

Using GPL software to entice people into their "system," however, is not their right. Not morally, and not legally. It's a privilege extended only to those willing to comply with the incredibly reasonable, and extraordinarily specific, terms of the GPL. Given that Apple has made it clear they have no interest or intention whatsoever of allowing their customers the essential freedoms the GPL was built to preserve, why on earth would anyone expect them to be allowed to use the code?

Come on.

Re:3 2 1 Takedown

[psergiu]

One of the VLC devs requested to have it removed because of licensing after said developer was hired by Nokia.
Note that same developer has not complained over VLC being distributed for Nokia phones under similar conditions with Apple's AppStore.