GPL = GNU Public License - a very permissive ("open" or "free" as in freedom) license you can use to distribute software code.
Code = the programming code behind the software running it.
What this could mean for you is that if Netflix is willing to accept software patches from regular people/developers, you could get new features and bug fixes faster.
What this means for the average person is that one can use their own computer or make their own, new (or old) small computer work to achieve the same goals as this box: watch Netflix videos. But it also means that completely new software can be made based on or with inspiration from Netflix's code.
This means that Roku created a device that uses a modified version of Linux as the Operating System and other GPL licensed software. According to the license, payment for using Linux includes that they MUST post the source code of modified programs. For us that means we're going to be able to play with the roku hardware, modify the Operating System, and put other stuff on these boxes. We can make cheap routers, terminal servers and all kinds of set-top computer things out of the Roku.
I doubt that this source code includes the keys to watching Netflix movies on non-windows machines, although it might help hackers to strip the technology so that we can get streaming Netflix on non-windows machines without the risk of having an account shut down.
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So what does this mean to people who own a Netflix Player, and dont know what GPL code is or does?
nothing...
This means something to someone like me with a spare PC or two who has a netflix account!
GPL = GNU Public License - a very permissive ("open" or "free" as in freedom) license you can use to distribute software code.
Code = the programming code behind the software running it.
What this could mean for you is that if Netflix is willing to accept software patches from regular people/developers, you could get new features and bug fixes faster.
What this means for the average person is that one can use their own computer or make their own, new (or old) small computer work to achieve the same goals as this box: watch Netflix videos. But it also means that completely new software can be made based on or with inspiration from Netflix's code.
Something like that, I think.
Sorry, it's "GNU General Public License".. there are a few other GNU licenses ("Affero", etc). I seem to be incapable of editing my comment :/
This means that Roku created a device that uses a modified version of Linux as the Operating System and other GPL licensed software. According to the license, payment for using Linux includes that they MUST post the source code of modified programs. For us that means we're going to be able to play with the roku hardware, modify the Operating System, and put other stuff on these boxes. We can make cheap routers, terminal servers and all kinds of set-top computer things out of the Roku.
I doubt that this source code includes the keys to watching Netflix movies on non-windows machines, although it might help hackers to strip the technology so that we can get streaming Netflix on non-windows machines without the risk of having an account shut down.