NOTE: A newer version of Songbird is available and is a stable version. Click here to know more and install in openSUSE using 1-click install.
Songbird is a free opensource customizable media player and web browse powered by Mozilla. Songbird runs on Mozilla’s XULRunner platform, thus capable of running on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Solaris and Linux. On the Windows and Macintosh platforms, Songbird utilizes the VideoLAN Client for media playback. For Linux & Solaris, Songbird utilizes the GStreamer media framework instead of VideoLAN. The Qtrax client is based on Songbird.
Some of the features of SongBird include
Cross platform support for Windows Linux and Solaris
Play multiple audio formats, such as MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and WMA
Play Windows Media DRM audio on Windows platforms
Simple and more intuitive design. Much like Apple iTunes on the interface
Smart Playlists to dynamically updates based on set criterias
Discover concerts in your local based on artists in your library
Shoutcast Radio to stream music from Shoutcast radio directory
Last.fm integration
Customizable Add-ons to enhance SongBird
Install SongBird
There is no 1-click installer available for SongBird but it isn’t a difficulty installing SongBird. Download the latest stable release of SongBird by clicking on one of the following based on your platform
SongBird Beta (0.7.0) Linux i686
SongBird Beta (0.7.0) Linux x86_64
You can download from the a terminal window as follows:
opensuse:~ # wget http://download.songbirdnest.com/installer/linux/x86_64/Songbird_0.7.0_linux-x86_64.tar.gz
Unzip & Untar
opensuse:~ # tar -zxvf Songbird_0.7.0_linux-x86_64.tar.gz
This creates a directory “Songbird” where you downloaded and extracted the files. Change directory to the Songbird directory and start Songbird as follows:
opensuse:~ # cd Songbird
opensuse:/Songbird # ./songbird &
When started for the first time, SongBird prompts to accept the license agreement. Tick the box and click continue. This will start downloading the default addons.
Click continue on the welcome screen and select either importing directories on your computer or migrating from iTunes library
Select your choice of recommended addons and click continue
Select options on SongBird setup and click Finish
This performs the import option (import songs from my directory here) and starts SongBird for you.
The browser tab allows you to browse and install Addons. Similar to firefox, you may be prompted to restart SongBird. If prompted, please do so.
SongBird options can be set from Tools-Options menu or from Edit -Preferences menu.
Using SongBird needs no introduction and if you are familiar with iTunes, its even more simpler!
To visit the project homepage, click here
I keep getting cannot execute binary file when I do the./songbird &.
You can also chat using Songbird, if you install this ext http://www.sameplace.cc/
How do I create an icon to start the program once installed?
Does the linux client work better than the windows? On windows it would take forever to start, it was slow, and it took up an ungodly amount of memory. I was however impressed with the features and presentation, it was just to damn slow.
It’s great, it’s simple, er… simply unusable.
On Debian it starts with an error message: …has detected an error in the internal playback core and will now quit… click on the “more info button”. Okay, but there is no further info.
I found that using the command “songbird” would not work in the terminal. When I double-clicked the executable songbird in the file explorer {Dolphin}it executed. I then used the menu editor to create a menu entry that used the command “songbird” and it worked.
Yeah, file won’t execute for me either in Debian:
aquamarine:/home/userzero/Songbird# ./songbird &
[1] 20485
aquamarine:/home/userzero/Songbird# -su: ./songbird: cannot execute binary file
What gives?
-cj
Gary,
What OS are you using?
-cj
PLEASE change the name to “Songbird”. There’s no capital ‘B’.
Thanks, Rob
Hi,
I’m using Amarok to play my .mp3s on my pc and GNOMAD2 to drive my Creative ZEN .mp3 player. GNOMAD2 is one great application!
Is there any .mp3 player support using Songbird? I’ve tried it with Amarok, but was not successful.
To do Streaming Audio I have streamtuner. Anything going there?
Sorry for so many questions, but this might be the answer to all my media wishes.
I’m using opensuse 11.0 with kde 4.1
Gary
I tried using this thing a while back. It crashed or locked up on me three times in the first ten minutes of trying to get it to do something. Not ready for prime time. For now I stick to Kaffeine and simply play songs from the directory my music is in – very simply, no complicated playlists. If I find a media Kaffeine won’t play, I use VLC or Mplayer and they usually handle it. I don’t know why people need unbelievably complex music players.
I finally was able to install using the i686 download directly from Songbirdnest. Everything works for me including the add-ons to convert certain music to different standards. Since I have used this on windows I know the shortfalls and how to overcome them. The main advantage of Songbird is the ability to change the standard instead of having to play just iTunes or mp3 and the search mechs to find songs. Being able to play all medias in one program is a advantage over other music players. Read the help and learn how to use the program and the add-ons.
Hi All,
Consider this a BUMP.
Can I get my Creative Zen .mp3 player recognized Songbird? As I said above I can’t using Amarok, and keep using GNOMAD2, plus my /Music folder. All that works great.
But, want to have a better experience.
I was getting the same error running OpenSuSE 11.x (cannot execute binary file). I attempted sudo and su but to no avail.
I found the easiest way to install on SuSE is to use YaST.
Go to the following URL and type songbird in the search box
http://packages.opensuse-community.org/
Good luck!
I tried “Songbird” in UBUNTU and SUSE and never could get any sound. I deleted UBUNTU and SUSE and then installed SUSE on it’s own hard drive and finally got sound out of “Songbird.” I think it’s all right but I like “Amarok” a lot better. I have no idea why the sound didn’t work before. I guess the new install fixed whatever I had messed up. I also didn’t have sound on “YOUTUBE” but it works now also.
I found that I like SUSE more than UBUNTU.
I love the site