Wikipedia

Helix (multimedia project)

Not to be confused withHelix (database).

Helix DNAwas a project to producecomputer softwarethat can play audio and video media in various formats and aid in creating such media. It was intended as a largelyfree and open-sourcedigital media frameworkcompatible with numerousoperating systemsand processors (including mobile phones) and it was started byRealNetworks,which contributed much of the code.[1][2]TheHelix Communitywas an open collaborative effort to develop and extend the Helix DNA platform.[3]The Helix Project has been discontinued.[4][5]

Helix DNA Clientis a software package for multi-platform, multi-format media playback.Helix Playeris amedia playercompatible withLinux,Solaris,Symbian,andFreeBSDand uses the Helix DNA Client. TheHelix DNA Producerapplication aids in producing media files, andHelix DNA Servercanstreammedia files over a network.

Licenses

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The code is released in binary and source code form under various licenses, notably theproprietaryRealNetworks Community Source License and thefreeandopen sourcesoftware RealNetworks Public Source License. Additionally, the Helix DNA Client and the Helix Player are licensed under the popularGNU General Public License(GPL) free and open source license.[6]

Use of theRDT,the default proprietary Real data transport, and of theRealVideoandRealAudiocodecsrequires binary components distributed under the Helix DNA Technology Binary Research Use License.

Helix DNA Client

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Helix DNA Client
Original author(s)RealNetworks
TypeMedia playback engine
LicenseGNU General Public License
Websitewww.realnetworks/helix/

Helix DNA Client powers many digital media applications, includingRealPlayerfor MS Windows, Mac OS and Linux (since version 10), RealPlayer Mobile, and Helix Player. It is used onNokia,Motorola,SamsungandSony Ericssonmobile phones. 800 million mobile phones with the Helix client have been shipped since 2004.[7]It is also being used in embedded devices like theInternet Tablet OSfromNokia,which is found on theNokia 770,N800andN810Internet Tablets.CingularVideo is also based on the framework. Other projects that use the Helix framework include RealNetwork'sRhapsodyonline music service, theBansheeandAmarokmusic players, and MediaReady 4000. Helix DNA also manifests itself as the RealPlayer on Mobile Internet Devices (MID) and on Netbooks.

Developers from theOpen Source Labannounced in 2007 they would use Helix technologies for content creation applications and collaboration in theOne Laptop Per Childproject.[8][9]

Helix DNA client contains support for the following media formats:[10]

Helix DNA Client for Android

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Helix DNA Client for Android
Original author(s)RealNetworks
Stable release
1.1.2 / November 8, 2012;12 years ago(2012-11-08)
Written inJava
Operating systemAndroid 2.2, 2.3.x, 3.x, 4.x
TypeMedia playback engine
LicenseCommercialproprietary software
Websitewww.realnetworks/helix/

Helix DNA Client for Android provides an HLS, MPEG-DASH, Verimatrix DRM and Microsoft PlayReady DRM media player for Android 2.2 to latest devices. Supporting H.264 and AAC codecs with Adaptive Bit Rate support (H.264 / AAC) including audio only. Armv7 and Armv6 supported using Stagefright media platform. Helix SDK is supplied as a library which is included within Android Java applications for over the air installation.

Helix DNA client contains support for the following media formats:

Helix DNA Server

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Helix DNA Server
Original author(s)RealNetworks
Initial releaseJanuary 22, 2003;21 years ago(2003-01-22)
TypeMedia streaming
LicenseRealNetworks Public Source License, RealNetworks Community Source License[citation needed]
Websitewww.realnetworks/helix/

The Helix DNA Server, first released on 22 January 2003,[11]supports streaming of following formats:

  • RealVideo, RealAudio (.rm,.ra,.rv)
  • MP3

It supports streaming to any device or application that supportsHTTP,RTSP/RTP,TCP, UDPunicastand UDPmulticaststreaming protocols.[12]

There is also a commercial version called Helix Server, which has more features and supports more media formats.[13] It was originally called the Helix Universal Server when it was announced in or before 2002.[14]

Helix Player

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Helix Player
Original author(s)RealNetworks
Stable release
11.0
Operating systemLinux, Solaris, Symbian, FreeBSD
TypeMedia player
LicenseGNU General Public License
Websitewww.realnetworks/helix/

It is based on the Helix DNA Client. It is available for Linux, Solaris, Symbian and FreeBSD. Users ofMicrosoft Windowsand Mac OS X can use RealPlayer, which has similar capabilities.[15][16]

Helix DNA Producer

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Helix DNA Producer
Original author(s)RealNetworks
Stable release
11
Operating systemWindows, Linux, Mac OS X
TypeMedia encoder
LicenseRealNetworks Community Source License[citation needed]
RealNetworks Public Source License[citation needed]
Websitewww.realnetworks/helix/

It is a media encoding engine for creating streaming broadcasts, on-demand streaming content, and downloadable audio video files. The Helix DNA Producer runs on MS Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.[17]

The Helix DNA Producer contains output support for the following data types:[17][18]

  • RealAudio 10, 8, G2
  • RealVideo 10, 9, 8, 7, G2
  • Ogg Vorbis

Developers who wantMP3encoding can license the code from RealNetworks for a fee.[17]There is also an add-on package for Helix DNA Producer SDK withAACoraacPlusencoding support.[19]

Helix DNA Producer was also available in a commercial, closed-source version –RealProducer Plus for MS Windows and Linux.[20][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"RealNetworks opens more Helix DNA - ZDNet.co.uk".Archivedfrom the original on 2008-07-25.Retrieved2009-08-02.
  2. ^"RealNetworks releases player code for Linux - ZDNet.co.uk".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-22.
  3. ^"HelixCommunity - The Foundation of Great Multimedia Applications".helixcommunity.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-12-20.Retrieved2023-08-31– viaarchive.today.
  4. ^"Helix Media Delivery Platform | RealNetworks".Archivedfrom the original on 2023-05-11.Retrieved2023-05-11.
  5. ^"RealNetworks Discontinues Helix Media Delivery Suite of Products".Streaming Media Magazine.October 31, 2014.
  6. ^"RealNetworks releases source code for Helix DNA client".Network World.Retrieved2024-02-28.
  7. ^"Resources".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-26.
  8. ^Milko Boic (May 4, 2007)."Helix DNA Client"(PDF).RealNetworks. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on September 16, 2008.RetrievedAugust 1,2013.
  9. ^"Helix media activity - OLPC".Archivedfrom the original on 2009-06-29.Retrieved2009-08-02.
  10. ^"Codecs & Formats".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-26.
  11. ^"Press release".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-06.Retrieved2007-07-12.
  12. ^"Helix DNA Server".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-06-14.
  13. ^"Helix v11 Server Technology & Product Feature Comparison Chart".2006-10-12. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-10-12.Retrieved2023-06-26.
  14. ^"RealNetworks Announces Helix Universal Server and RealOne Player Now Support Windows Media 9".Press release.September 9, 2002. Archived fromthe originalon December 2, 2013.RetrievedAugust 1,2013.
  15. ^"Helix Player".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-01-17.
  16. ^"Archived copy".Archivedfrom the original on 2009-07-31.Retrieved2009-08-02.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^abc"Helix Producer Category FAQ".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-26.
  18. ^"Helix DNA Producer SDK Overview".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-07-26.Retrieved2009-08-02.
  19. ^"Helix DNA Producer Downloads".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-26.
  20. ^"RealProducer > Product Resources".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-08.
  21. ^"RealProducer > Specifications".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-05.
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