tapoo said:
^^ Microsoft in talks with AOL for acquire Winamp....
Looks like the llama may not get off so easily after all. AOL yesterday announced that it was shutting down Winamp, media playing software for Windows and Android devices that it picked up through its 1999, $80 million acquisition of Nullsoft in 1999. But today Techcrunch has learned that AOL is talks with Microsoft to sell Winamp, along with Shoutcast, a media streaming service also developed by Nullsoft. We have also learned that AOL has been planning to announce the closure of Shoutcast next week.
AOL has declined to comment for this story, and we are still waiting to hear back from Microsoft with a response. From what we understand, the deal is not yet finalized, with AOL and Microsoft still working out the price. It could also be very wishful thinking from those intent on trying to save both services.
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http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/21/source-microsoft-in-talks-to-buy-shoutcast-and-winamp-from-aol/
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/125352-winamp-to-live-microsoft-rumoured-to-buy-ancient-software-from-aol
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This is actually great news, if Microsoft did buy Winamp and keep its services alive, this would benefit everyone. Out of all of the AOL products and services, their online media services are the best. They do special unplugged videos and music not available on Youtube or any other media sites.
Microsoft online media services have always basically sucked.
The developer of JRiver Media Center also offered to host the Winamp Forums and Plugins- http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?t=373758
However if JRiver Media Center did acquire Winamp, they would probably turn it into a closed-source paid product which would be bad since JRiver doesn't have any freeware products.
MediaMonkey, MusicBee and AIMP are also interested in Winamp since they rely on its services and plugins.
Just knowing how AOL has did in the past, they are most likely to sell Winamp to the highest bidder (which would be Microsoft) instead of making it open-source unless they are looking a for tax write off.
A lot of users have compared Winamp to VLC which is just a audio/video player, Winamp is a complete music organizer with many features not offered in any other similar product.
Enjoy!!
