I'm curious. What closed source projects/programs would you like to go open source?

[Vincent Masamune]

I'll start:
Opera
Foobar2000
Vista (tentative)

[cardinals_fan]

It'd be nice if all software, open or closed, had open source file formats.

Life isn't always nice.

[Grant A.]

The NT Kernel
Windows XP/Vista
Spore
Civilization IV
Age of Empires III
Age of Mythology Gold
Halo PC
Halo 2 Vista
NVidia drivers
FAT32
UNIX SVR4

[mentallaxative]

All closed-source drivers, so that we can finally be rid of compatibility problems.

[Vincent Masamune]

All closed-source drivers, so that we can finally be rid of compatibility problems.

So true and necessary.

[koffeinöverdos]

Adobe Flash (Photoshop would sure be nice too)

[jenkinbr]

All closed-source drivers, so that we can finally be rid of compatibility problems.

Especially ATI - I just plain stay away from them.


Adobe Flash (Photoshop would sure be nice too)

+1

WinAmp

Wireless drivers - these things are annoying!

[doas777]

visual studio/.net framework.

Mono is very nice, but I can't find real replacements for VS.

[binbash]

opera

[PhoenixMaster00]

Ableton
iTunes
All drivers (Especially wireless)
Vista/XP
OSX
All Games for PC

[EdThaSlayer]

DirectX
Windows

So we can incorporate some of their code into Linux to make the games work!
If only that day could come.

[Grant A.]

Closed source means GOOD and working.
Reason is: NO PROFIT + NO CASH SUPPORT = gay software.

Linux is Open Source...

On top of that, RedHat, Novell, and Sun have made a ton of money off of Open Source software.

[smartboyathome]

I'm surprised no one's said this, but...

Photoshop

So people will stop moaning about it not being available for Linux and can incorporate code into GIMP. ;)

[Sorivenul]

Quibble Race :D

EDIT:

Closed source means GOOD and working. Open source means bunch of coders making programs to make games work and updating they're emulators or what ever it is they are making everyday because it simply doesnt work for one reason.
Reason is: NO PROFIT + NO CASH SUPPORT = gay software.
Smells a bit like a troll, don't feed it folks.

[MikeTheC]

All closed-source drivers, so that we can finally be rid of compatibility problems.

+1

Well, that and...

iTunes
Photoshop
InDesign
Dreamweaver
Garage Band
iPhoto
iWeb

[Giant Speck]

Since I am happy with both proprietary and open-source software, I'm going to go ahead and say I really don't care whether any program shifts from open to closed or from closed to open.

Me wanting a specific proprietary application to become open source would be like me wanting Coca-Cola to make their secret formula publicly available.

[magmon]

Windows 2000. Yeah, its old.. But we could make more software work on linux if we had even an old version of windows to work with.

[almigi]

Since I am happy with both proprietary and open-source software, I'm going to go ahead and say I really don't care whether any program shifts from open to closed or from closed to open.

Me wanting a specific proprietary application to become open source would be like me wanting Coca-Cola to make their secret formula publicly available.

I'm with you on this one. I don't have any problem using proprietary software/drivers as long as as they work. I don't mind paying for software as long as what I'm buying can perform better then something I don't pay for.

I use Linux because it's more fun then Windows (I'm a nerd at heart), not because I have some philosophical opposition to Windows.

One of my favorite Windows programs if Final Fantasy XI. I know that getting SquareEnix to release it as open source will never happen, but if they came out with a version for Linux, you'd bet I'd buy it...


Of course, I could just buy a console considering how the game is also available for XBOX 360 and PlayStation.

[Rokurosv]

Coda I love the way it looks and all the features it has.

[handy]

All of them.

[koffeinöverdos]

Since I am happy with both proprietary and open-source software, I'm going to go ahead and say I really don't care whether any program shifts from open to closed or from closed to open.

Me wanting a specific proprietary application to become open source would be like me wanting Coca-Cola to make their secret formula publicly available.

Hey, I'd happily purchase Adobe Flash if they ported it to Linux... they're just never going to.

[oedipuss]

All closed-source drivers, so that we can finally be rid of compatibility problems.

Or at least open up specifications, so it's easier to write open source drivers.

[Vince4Amy]

To be realistic I think that Opera would be good going open source, so this means that I can actually compile it from source with my own customisations.

[Eisenwinter]

Steinberg Cubase, and all synthisizers for it.

[doas777]

Since I am happy with both proprietary and open-source software, I'm going to go ahead and say I really don't care whether any program shifts from open to closed or from closed to open.

Me wanting a specific proprietary application to become open source would be like me wanting Coca-Cola to make their secret formula publicly available.

well I'm afraid I have to disagree, for a number of reasons.

Within the context of a predatory financial market, your statements make a lot of sense, but they have one common flaw; they require a liking for capitalism. now don't get me wrong, there isn't a better system as of yet (except a public/private hybrid, like socialism was SUPPOSED to be), but thats no reason to like a system as cruel and fickle as capitalism.

I got into Linux for idealistic reasons (and because I'm a tech), and as such, I feel that open is inherently better than closed, because it allows me to feel good about the software i use, in addition to getting the use-value from it.

to be honest, I believe that coke should make their recipe public. I feel the same way about aids, malaria, and cancer pharmaceutical producers. I'm against patents, beyond their original intent (to preserve knowledge (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html){article I, Section 8}, not to create a monopoly and a perpetual revenue stream). process and software patents especially (yes, I'm in the US).

I'm not into copyright either. the only reason you need compensation for creating a supposedly "cultural" artifact, is if your living under the yoke of capitalistic society.

Trademark makes sense as a consumer protection, but nowadays it's used to monitize stupid stuff like a emoticons (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/27/cingular_emoticon_patent/).

To me, IP means Internet Protocol, or Imaginary Property. theres nothing intellectual about it.

[Vadi]

All closed-source drivers, so that we can finally be rid of compatibility problems.

This is probably the only one I can reluctantly agree with. Not that it's especially true - just look for example at the lagging google gears (open source, yet no 64bit version) and java (same, until sun themselves did the job finally).

I can totally relate to Giant Speck though. I make both closed- and open-source software myself.

[cb951303]

I would like to see these open source (from impossible to likely)

hardware specs > bios/firmwares > drivers

edit: also flash would be great.

[-grubby]

Flash
All drivers

I'd list Opera, but in my opinion it would be of poor quality if it was open source, due to various reasons.

[bruce89]

Nothing.

However, specifications to stuff (such as that pointless Flash, graphics drivers) would be nice.

The reason for not wanting the non-FOSS stuff directly is two-fold. One, the licence they'd choose would be weird. Two, the code would be a mess (owing to its age).

[Vadi]

The guy has a point about open-source and support at least.

[andrek]

OS X or just the ability to open its applications.

[perspectoff]

It's not enough to be open-source. It also needs to be licensed under GPL, which allows it to be modified and shared.

Open-source software might still retain modification and trademark restrictions.

Free open source software with a GPL license. That's what we need.

A lot of the suggestion listed in the forum have FOSS, GPL-licensed equivalents.

See

Kubuntuguide at http://kubuntuguide.org

or

Ubuntuguide at http://ubuntuguide.org

[ghindo]

foobar2000
µTorrent
All drivers
Adobe Flash