Getting started with Ogg
Increasingly proprietary software companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe are pushing video and audio formats that restrict access and restrict software developers, but there is an alternative that can be played on all computers without restriction — Ogg. Ogg provides professional grade multimedia formats. Ogg is used extensively by free software projects, artists and a growing number of music and video distributors.
Step 1: Install VLC Media Player
To play Ogg files you need a media player that understands these formats. Many different free software players work with Ogg. We like one called VLC Media Player. To download and install it, please follow our instructions. (Spanish version)
Step 2: Join the PlayOgg campaign
Sign-up for the mailing list to find out about news, actions, and ways you can support the campaign.
Step 3: Find Ogg friendly sites
Visit our list of Ogg friendly sites. If you know of a site that has videos or music in Ogg format, then send email to campaigns@fsf.org to let us know about it so that we can add it to the list.
Step 4: Promote Ogg
To help promote this excellent format place this web button on your webpage or blog.
With thanks to Xiph
Play Ogg — it's easy!
Getting started with Ogg is easy... you can play Ogg on your computer, using a variety of free software, as well as in your home or car and in your pocket with a wide range of hardware that supports Ogg.
The PlayOgg FAQ
What is Ogg?
Ogg is professional-grade media format. Ogg Vorbis encodes audio and Ogg Theora encodes video. When you see a file with the Ogg extension—musicfile.ogg—Play it!
How do I use Ogg?
To access streaming Ogg Vorbis and Ogg Theora files you need a media player that understands these formats. Many different free software players work with Ogg. We like one called VLC Media Player. To download and install it, you can follow these instructions. (Spanish version)
How can I help?
You can share your ideas for promoting Ogg by joining the campaign discussion mailing list -- this is a second separate list from the main announcement one. You can also meet other PlayOgg supporters in our microblogging group on identi.ca..
Why use Ogg?
No Patent Restrictions!
Unlike MP3, Ogg Vorbis is not restricted by patents. Microsoft had to pay $1.5 billion after being sued for using MP3 without a license. With Ogg Vorbis, they would have been safe!
These patent lawsuits might never affect you directly, but they create a culture where creative and skilled individuals cannot develop multimedia software without fear of being legally attacked. Using Ogg is one way to support them in their efforts and to encourage a better culture.
Choose Free Software!
RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, iTunes, and other popular formats require people to use non-free software: controlled by companies, not by the users. The companies that control the software design it to restrict the users and spy on them. If you choose Ogg Vorbis and Ogg Theora, you can listen to audio and stream video using many different media players, including free software that respects your freedom.
Nothing to Lose!
You don't lose any technical quality with Ogg Vorbis. It can compress down to a smaller size than MP3 while still sounding good. Best of all, it is designed to be completely free of patents and does not require the use of proprietary software.
Encourage your friends to join the campaign
Here's a brief letter you can send to your friends and family. Please only contact people who know you personally. Spam hurts our efforts.
Send the email directly from your desktop mail client, or copy and paste the following into an email.
I'm writing today to ask you to support the Play Ogg campaign (http://playogg.org).
Are you tired of constantly being prompted to download proprietary
software and plugins to play the videos and listen to the music you
want? Are you fed up with seeing new gadgets that only use incompatible and
restrictive audio and video formats? Did you know that it's not a lack
of technological know-how that causes this, but software patents and
other legal restrictions?
Increasingly proprietary software companies like Microsoft, Apple and
Adobe are pushing video and audio formats that restrict access and
restrict software developers, but there is an alternative that can be
played on all computers without restriction—Ogg.
Ogg provides professional grade multimedia formats. Ogg is used
extensively by free software projects, artists and a growing number of
music and video distributors.
Soon over a million children and their families will be receiving the
One Laptop per Child XO computer designed to play and create Ogg
files. By advocating now for Ogg we can help ensure that those
children will gain access to, and not be unnecessarily restricted from
thousands of educational resources and materials on the web.
Join us in advocating for Ogg right now by taking 4 Easy Steps: Install VLC multimedia player, sign-up for the PlayOgg advocate mailing list, find and share Ogg friendly sites, and put PlayOgg Buttons on your web site or blog. After all that, if you are still looking for more to do, consider encouraging others to do the same.
Start here: http://playogg.org/