Creative X-FI Linux drivers officially cancelled (is anyone really suprised?)

[jiminycricket]

Linked from Digg

X-Fi running under linux is now officially dead - according to Creative Labs that is. Citing an unwillingness to enter the world of linux due to issues with DRM, (namely the distinct lack of them) CEO and general spoilsport Sim Wong Hoo has put the kybosh on any open source drivers ever being released from either it's Californian base of operations or it's Singapore headquarters.

In a memo originally intended for internal use only, all work on the open source drivers has ceased and the staff involved have been redeployed to other projects. All that remains of the original plans to provide Linux support is a scored out reference to their 2006 press release.

This old thread (X-FI Driver- Delayed...) had some hope that Creative would release their "open source" (snicker, snicker) drivers, but that hope is long gone by now I guess. Too bad for those who bought Creative for Linux.

More info at the long-running Creative Labs Linux thread.

[Mr.Clark]

Does that mean that if you have an X-Fi soundcard, you're boned?

No way to get sound at all?


There goes Linux then... a PC without sound is just a box of electronics...

[Enverex]

Does that mean that if you have an X-Fi soundcard, you're boned?

No way to get sound at all?


There goes Linux then... a PC without sound is just a box of electronics...

Just use onboard (most motherboards seem to have it these days) or get an Audigy 2.

And to be honest, I'm not suprised at this. I don't trust creative at all which is why them being a part of OpenAL worries me.

EDIT: Although, your post links to a Digg (no credibility) which links to some random guys Blog (no credibility) which claims it came from an internal memo... so...

[Lord Illidan]

This link http://opensource.creative.com/soundcard.html

says there will be closed source drivers...which while I am not so happy about, are better than nothing at all..

Let us see some sources. A blog post isn't enough.

[Mr.Clark]

Just use onboard (most motherboards seem to have it these days) or get an Audigy 2.

Well I still have Windows for gaming, so I don't want to throw away a card that I paid more than £100 for and get a worse one.

I've wondered, since my X-Fi is connected to my speakers with the normal 3.5mm cables, could I plug in the on-board optical into my speakers too, then just flick between them when in Windows/Linux ?


EDIT: http://opensource.creative.com/ says that there will be. Clicking on the link that Lord Illidan did suggests that they'll be available late Q3/Early Q4.

Funny, as I read that less than half an hour ago, and missed it completely... :s

[jiminycricket]

Why no corrections from Creative on their _official_ message board, which I linked to?

Do you trust Creative at this point? They've delayed their drivers since 2006, IIRC.

[Lord Illidan]

I am just sitting on the fence.. I'd like to get an X-Fi, but until it is supported in Linux, I am relying on onboard sound...which isn't so bad.

[WireShark]

Drivers for X-Fi are available in OSS. Most distros come with kernels that support OSS, so you just need to go to
http://www.4front-tech.com/download.cgi
and download an RPM that suits you.
I have a Creative X-Fi Extrame Gamer edition, works perfect with OSS (in the soundcard list it's stated that it's an early beta driver).

[LaRoza]

There goes Linux then... a PC without sound is just a box of electronics...

No. I don't use sound at all.

When I installed Ubuntu on my laptop, and I started it up, I was shocked to hear it make noise. (Laptop has speakers)

[Elep.Repu]

No. I don't use sound at all.

When I installed Ubuntu on my laptop, and I started it up, I was shocked to hear it make noise. (Laptop has speakers)

lol. I wasn't aware Xifis came in laptops. What a shame.