The decision to release source code under the Apple Public Source License appears to have reinvigorated Apple Computer Inc’s venerable multimedia player technology, QuickTime. The company boasts that there have been more than 3 million downloads of QuickTime 4 in the month since its release. The software now supports streamed live video and audio feeds and comes with a free open source server – the latter apparently intended to undercut rival Real Networks Inc’s back-end systems. Since content providers no longer have to pay RealNetworks’ server tax, QuickTime 4 is attracting new ‘intercasters’ every week, explained perpetual interim CEO Steve Jobs.
Meanwhile in Ottawa, Canada, Corel Corp announced that downloads of Word Perfect 8 for Linux have passed the one million mark since the product was made available on December 17, 1998. We expected the Linux version to do well, admitted president and CEO Michael Cowpland, but one million downloads attempts is extraordinary… I think it is somewhat indicative of the growing popularity of Linux.
