AlexT said: „It might be easier to convince Apple or Microsoft to
implement one codec rather than two codecs and containers”.
This has not got anything to do with „convince Apple or Microsoft”.
They are proprietary software producers and we want a free & open
video format. So, I think we actually do not have to convince anybody
because this cause is all about good willing.
AlexT said: „The main point in my argument was that browsers should
drop support for the theora codec and the Ogg container and the wave
codec so that the only path is WebM”.
I cannot believe you are really asking for drop support of Theora &
Ogg... o_O What is the benefit of it? Theora is definitely not a
yesterday-done codec, its creation did not take a few months, but
whole years, did you know that? You've got to respect other people's
efforts, specially when they are so unique as Ogg is.
AlexT said: „Given the short time theora support has been out”...
Say what...?! What about Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora and many, many
others GNU/Linux distributions already using it? There are millions
and millions users out there using Ogg Theora/Vorbis (.ogv/.oga) files
right now. As you can see, this is not about „short time”, it's about
how many users are using them nowadays.
AlexT said: „I would like to know what arguments are there to keep
Theora/OGG around”.
Drop the support for Ogg Theora right now and name me at least one
useful, free video codec and one useful, free video container...
We actually don't know how much time WebM will take to be fully ready
and standardized. I know you like this project, AlexT (so do I), but
WebM should not mean an Ogg-killer because of WebM itself.
Right now (and I mean RIGHT NOW) Ogg Theora and Ogg Vorbis both are
closer to be the main, standardized, free formats than WebM. In short,
Ogg Theora is the current free, open web-video format, and it will be
at least for several months until WebM reaches mature. In the
meanwhile, we just can not wait until that moment comes. So, keep
supporting Ogg Theora & Vorbis is such a really good idea, in my
humble opinion.
Best regards,