Former star of software for organizing and listening to your MP3 library, Winamp in 2024 is a long way from its glory days. It must be said that YouTube and the music streaming industry, or even competitors like VLC, have been there, making the solution almost obsolete. In its eventful history, Winamp will nevertheless attempt one last move: going open source.
Winamp will meet in September
The source code for the Windows version of Winamp (the macOS version having been abandoned several years ago) will be accessible from September 24. According to the software developers, Llama Group, this will allow “for the entire community to participate in its development” and that'”it is an invitation to global collaboration, where developers from around the world can contribute their expertise, ideas and passion to evolve this iconic software.“
Winamp
Winamp, an audio and video player that has been a benchmark for many years.
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Version :
5.9.2 -
Downloads:
138 -
Release date :
04/26/2023 -
Author :
Nullsoft -
Licence :
Free license -
Categories:
Audio
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Operating system :
Online Service, Windows
Rather than a final nail in the coffin, the team hopes that the Windows version will catch up with the mobile version of Winamp. The CEO of the firm, Alexandre Saboundjian, declared: “We will focus on mobile players and other platforms. We will launch a new mobile player in early July. However, we don’t want to forget the tens of millions of users who use the software on Windows and who will benefit from the experience and creativity of thousands of developers. Winamp will remain the owner of the software and will decide on the innovations made in the official version.“
A software with a turbulent history
Launched in 1997 by Nullsoft, Winamp has evolved a lot since its beginnings almost 30 years ago. Today quite far from its original philosophy, namely being above all a small, modular and lightweight software for reading your library, for several years it has given pride of place to radios and the integration of external elements. Abandoned by AOL in 2013 after buying it for $80 million in 1999, the software will make its return in 2018 through Radionomy, now Llama Group. To be continued in the next episode ?