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Songbird (software)

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{short description|Music player}}

{{Primary sources|date=April 2010}}

{{Infobox software

| name = Songbird

| logo = Songbird Logo 2.0.0.png

| screenshot = Songbird 2.0.0 (Windows 7).png

| caption = Songbird 2.0.0 on Windows 7

| developer = Pioneers of the Inevitable aka POTI Inc.

| discontinued = yes

| released = {{start date and age|df=yes|2006|2|8}}

| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q632028|P348|P548=Q2804309}}

| latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q632028|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q632028|P348|P548=Q51930650}}

| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q632028|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}

| programming language =

| operating system = {{Plainlist|

  • Windows XP and later
  • macOS
  • Android (removed from Play Store, not open-source)
  • iOS (not open-source)
  • Linux and Solaris (unofficial){{citation|url=http://blog.songbirdnest.com/2010/04/02/songbird-singing-a-new-tune/ |title=Songbird Singing a New Tune |first=Georges |last=Auberger |date=2010-04-02 |work=Songbird Blog |publisher=Songbird |access-date=2010-04-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404074919/http://blog.songbirdnest.com/2010/04/02/songbird-singing-a-new-tune/ |archive-date=4 April 2010 }}

}}

| platform = {{ubl|IA-32|x86-64|PowerPC (unofficial)}}

| language count = 98

| language footnote = {{cite web |url=http://translate.songbirdnest.com |title=Translate Songbird! |website=Translate.songbirdnest.com |access-date=2012-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821064307/http://translate.songbirdnest.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-21 }}

| genre = Media player

| license = GNU GPLv2 with exceptions; Android client closed source

| website = {{URL|getsongbird.net}}

}}

Songbird is a discontinued music player originally released in early 2006 with the stated mission "to incubate Songbird, the first Web player, to catalyze and champion a diverse, open Media Web".{{cite web |url=http://www.songbirdnest.com/about |title=About |publisher=Songbirdnest.com |access-date=2012-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914022759/http://songbirdnest.com/about |archive-date=2008-09-14 }}

Songbird utilizes the cross-platform frameworks Mozilla XULRunner and GStreamer media framework. Songbird runs on Windows and macOS. In 2012, an Android version and an iOS version were released. Songbird at one point also supported Solaris and Linux, but this support was dropped. As a result, users forked Songbird and created a Windows, Mac, and Linux compatible derivative under the name Nightingale.

Songbird announced on 14 June 2013 that it would stop all operations and shut down by 28 June. The company was unable to fund further business operations and as a result, all operations and associated services were discontinued.{{cite web|url=http://blog.songbirdnest.com/ |title=You gotta know when to fold 'em |publisher=Songbirdnest.com |date=2013-06-14 |access-date=2013-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701070726/http://blog.songbirdnest.com/ |archive-date=1 July 2013 }}

Features

  • Multi-platform compatibility with Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X v10.5 (x86, x86-64).
  • Ability to play multiple audio formats, such as MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, Apple Lossless and WMA
  • Ability to play Apple FairPlay-encoded audio on Windows and Mac platforms via hooks into QuickTime (authorization takes place in iTunes)
  • Ability to play Windows Media DRM audio on Windows platforms
  • A skinnable interface, with skins called "feathers"
  • Media files stored on pages viewed in the browser show up as playable files in Songbird
  • MP3 file download
  • Ability to subscribe to MP3 blogs as playlists
  • Ability to build custom mixes
  • Ability to scan the user's computer for all audio files and add them to a local library
  • A configurable and collapsible graphical user interface similar to iTunes, and mini-player mode
  • Keyboard shortcuts and media keyboard support
  • Automatic updates
  • Last.fm integration via a plugin, complete with love/hate buttons
  • Insound.com and HypeMachine integration
  • Microsoft MTP compatible device support
  • Ability to edit and save metadata tags
  • Gapless Playback & ReplayGain
  • Watch Folders
  • Media Importing / Exportings (from and to iTunes)
  • Automatic Library Files Organization

Add-ons

=Extensions=

Users can add features and change functionality in Songbird by installing extensions. Extensions are similar to the Extensions for the Firefox browser and can be easily ported.{{cite web|last=Wayner|first=Peter|title=Top 10 specialty Web browsers you may have missed|url=http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/top-10-specialty-web-browsers-you-may-have-missed-026?page=0,7|publisher=InfoWorld|access-date=28 October 2010|page=7|date=19 October 2010}} Community coded extensions are available on Songbird's addons support page. Known community designed extensions are: Qloud Tagging & Search, eMusic Integration, iTunes Importer, Artist Tracker, Library File Organizer, Audioscrobbler Notifier, Wikipedia Artist Display, SHOUTcast Radio Directory, UnPlug, Adblock Plus, Taglib metadata handler, ChatZilla, and FoxyProxy.

=Skins=

Skins are referred to as "feathers" in Songbird and give users and artists the ability to change the look of Songbird via an extension which generates a default skin. Using CSS (and optionally XUL), and an image manipulation program such as Photoshop or GIMP, users are then able to make Songbird look however they want.

History

Songbird was founded by Rob Lord and developed by Pioneers of the Inevitable (with members who previously developed for both Winamp[http://www.songbirdnest.com/jobs Songbird Jobs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225144712/http://www.songbirdnest.com/jobs |date=25 February 2008 }} and the Yahoo! Music Engine).

In January 2010, Philips announced they would ship a personalized version of Songbird with some of their line of portable audio/video players.{{citation |url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=5565 |title=Songbird now in convenient Philips hardware form |first=Dana |last=Blankenhorn |date=2010-01-07 |publisher=ZDNet |access-date=9 January 2010 |archive-date=9 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109200855/http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=5565 |url-status=dead }}

On 2 April 2010, it was announced that official Linux support would end with Songbird version 1.7.2. POTI Inc. would instead focus on its Windows and Mac OS X versions of Songbird, providing only unofficial support for Linux releases.

Sometime during late 2012 or early 2013, Songbird's public SVN was taken down, along with their wiki and other source code related utilities. A survey later sent out via Twitter by Songbird suggested that POTI was closing the desktop player source code, planning to later sell an updated version, fixing many outstanding bugs and feature requests by users who had been ignored for years.{{cite tweet|user=songbird|author=songbird|number=304651125460725760|date=21 February 2013|title=Use Songbird Desktop? Please take our 5 question product improvement survey}}

class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
Color

! Meaning

style="background:salmon;"| Red

| Old release

style="background:khaki;"| Yellow

| Unreleased, internal milestone

style="background:#a0e75a;"| Green

| Current release

style="background:skyBlue;"| Blue

| Future release

class="wikitable"
Version

! Release date

! Codename

! Significant changes

style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 8 February 2006

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Hilda

|

style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.1.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 22 February 2006

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • UI fixes.
  • More file types supported.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.2 RC1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 26 September 2006

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • Cross-platform
  • Windows 2000, XP
  • Mac OS X (PPC, Intel)
  • Linux (Intel)
  • 30+ languages
  • New features
  • Bug fixes
  • Automatic updates
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.2

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 17 October 2006

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • Cross-platform compatibility.
  • Multi-language support.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.2.5

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 28 February 2007

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • Windows Media DRM audio playback.
  • FairPlay audio playback.
  • USB mass storage device support.
  • iPod device support.
  • Automatic locales downloading.
  • Improved OS integration.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.3

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 30 October 2007

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Bowie

|

style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.3.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 6 November 2007

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • Six major bug fixes.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.4

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 27 December 2007

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Cher

|

  • Display panes.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.5

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 26 March 2008

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Dokken

|

  • Media library API.
  • MTP device support.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.6

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 13 June 2008

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Eno

|

  • Memory and performance improvements.
  • Write metadata back to the file.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.6.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 25 June 2008

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • Three major bug fixes.
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 0.7

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 20 August 2008

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Fugazi

|

  • Layout and feather changes
  • Smart playlists
  • Drag & drop
  • Dropped support for Mac OS X PPC
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.0

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 2 December 2008

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Genesis

|

style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.1.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 10 March 2009

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Hendrix

|

  • Watch folders for changes and auto-import media
  • Fetching Album Art
  • Playback normalization (ReplayGain)
  • Improved sorting
  • Gapless MP3 playback via file metadata{{cite web |url=http://blog.songbirdnest.com/2009/03/10/songbird-11-is-here/ |title=Songbird Blog » Songbird 1.1 is here |access-date=2010-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112093444/http://blog.songbirdnest.com/2009/03/10/songbird-11-is-here/ |archive-date=2010-01-12 }}
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.1.2

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 9 April 2009

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Hootie

|

style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.2

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 18 June 2009

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Isan

|

  • Automatically Organize Library Files
  • 2-way Sync with iTunes
  • Last.fm Radio
  • 10-band Equalizer
style="white-space:nowrap; background:khaki;"| 1.3

|{{n/a}}

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Jackson 5

|

  • Dropped iPod device support{{cite web |url=http://wiki.songbirdnest.com/Docs/IPod_Device_Support |title=iPod Device Support - Songbird Wiki |publisher=Wiki.songbirdnest.com |access-date=2012-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613161722/http://wiki.songbirdnest.com/Docs/IPod_Device_Support |archive-date=2008-06-13 }}
  • Mass Storage Class device support
  • Playback of additional formats
  • Metadata support for MP4 and ASF files
  • Transcoding to MP3 or WMA formats
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.4

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| December 2009

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Kanye

|

  • MP3 encoding
  • Mobile device firmware updates
  • CD ripping
  • CD information lookup
  • Notification for un-synced DRM controlled media
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.4.3

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 23 December 2009

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| KoЯn

|

  • New Feather (Purple Rain)
  • Addons Visual Redesign
  • New First Run Bundle
  • Additional Device Support
  • Critical Bug Fixes
  • Easily Resizable Display Panes
style="white-space:nowrap; background:khaki;"| 1.5

|{{n/a}}

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Led Zeppelin

|

  • Video Library
  • Video Playback
  • Video Metadata
  • Video Device Sync
  • Performance and Stability
  • Vendor Rebasing
  • General Build Improvements
  • Video Transcoding
  • Windows 7 Support
style="white-space:nowrap; background:khaki;"| 1.6.0

|{{n/a}}

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Madonna

|

  • Video Transcoding
  • Video Transcoding Device Support
  • Device Video Compatibility
  • Firmware Support
  • Import Network Settings
  • Gracenote metadata
  • Performance and Stability
  • Codec Profiling
  • Startup Localization
  • Some Firefox Addons Start Working on Songbird
style="white-space:nowrap; background:khaki;"| 1.7.0

|{{n/a}}

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Nirvana

|

  • Photo Device Synchronization
  • AAC Decoder
  • Windows 7 Support
  • Additional Device Support
  • Performance and Stability
  • Ability to subscribe to new podcasts removed.{{Cite web |url=https://getsatisfaction.com/songbird/topics/songbird_1_7_3_where_did_the_subscriptions_go |title=Songbird 1.7.3: Where did the subscriptions go? |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-date=2 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302064541/https://getsatisfaction.com/songbird/topics/songbird_1_7_3_where_did_the_subscriptions_go |url-status=dead }}
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.7.2

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 3 June 2010

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| NOFX

|

  • Additional Encoding Support
  • Additional Device Support
  • SD Card Support
  • Video Window
  • Performance and Stability
  • Official Linux support dropped
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.8.0

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 2 September 2010

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Orbital

|

  • New Device Support
  • Mac USB/MSC Support
  • Mac Partner Integration
  • Service Pane Cleanup
  • Device Synchronization and UI Cleanup
  • AAC Encoding
  • Stream Transcoding (Backend)
  • Performance and Stability
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.9.3

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 9 February 2011

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Pink Floyd

|

  • Online Media Store Integration
  • Play Queue Addon
  • CD Rip for Mac
  • Firmware Updates
  • Seamless Update for Partner Releases
  • XULRunner 1.9.2
  • Misc Minor Projects
  • 7digital Addon Rewrite (new API)
  • Performance and Stability
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.10.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 1 November 2011

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| Qbert

|

  • Device 2-Way Sync
  • Performance and Stability
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.10.2

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 25 January 2012

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • Playlist and track sync with Android devices has been improved.
  • Added official support for Google/Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy SII, HTC Evo 3D, and Galaxy Nexus.
  • The issue with WMA tracks not being playable after updating to 1.10.1 should be resolved.
  • When creating a Smart Playlist with the criteria of "Playlist is Library", Songbird no longer crashes
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 1.10.3

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 22 May 2012

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • ?
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 2.0.0

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 8 June 2012

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • New skin matches the Songbird.me web app and updated Android skin{{cite web |url=http://www.filehippo.com/download_songbird/changelog/12536/ |title = Download Songbird 2.2.0 for Windows - Filehippo.com}}
style="white-space:nowrap; background:salmon;"| 2.1

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 31 October 2012

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • ?
style="white-space:nowrap; background:#a0e75a;"| 2.2

|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 15 February 2013

|style="white-space: nowrap;"|

|

  • ?

See also

{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons|Songbird (software)}}

  • [https://sourceforge.net/projects/songbird.mirror/ Songbird homepage](sourceforge)
  • [https://sourceforge.net/projects/ngale/ Nightingale homepage] - A community supported fork of the Songbird media player and library.
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130921102942/http://www.getsongbird.com/ Songbird homepage], at archive.org
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917164156/http://addons.songbirdnest.com/ Songbird Add-ons], at archive.org
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060215010302/http://www.boingboing.net/2006/02/08/songbird_the_open_so.html Songbird, the "open source iTunes killer," flies today] - Boing Boing interview with Rob Lord
  • [http://gigaom.com/2007/12/08/lord-of-the-birds-songbird/ Lord of the Birds…Songbird ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625184619/http://gigaom.com/2007/12/08/lord-of-the-birds-songbird/ |date=25 June 2009 }} - Interview with Rob Lord
  • [http://lifehacker.com/5432567/songbird-142-released-brings-new-look-cd-ripping-and-device-support Songbird ver. 1.4.2 review at Lifehacker.com] - 23 December 2009, accessed 14 January 2010

{{Media player (application software)|free}}

{{gopher clients}}

{{web browsers}}

{{aggregators}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Songbird (Software)}}

Category:2006 software

Category:Free media players

Category:Free web browsers

Category:Gecko-based software

Category:Gopher clients

Category:IPod software

Category:Jukebox-style media players

Category:macOS media players

Category:Solaris media players

Category:Tag editors

Category:Windows media players

Category:Windows web browsers

Category:Portable software

Category:Linux media players

Category:Software that uses GStreamer

Category:Software that uses XUL

Category:Discontinued web browsers