Due to copyright law differing in various countries, and the fact that the MP3 standard is not completely 'free', it is not enabled by default in Ubuntu Linux (or most other Linux systems for that matter).In Ubuntu 8.04, to hear your MP3 music, simply do perform the following steps to download the MP3 codec:
- Start the Synaptic Package Manager (System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager).
- Go to the Settings Menu, click on Repositories.
- Ensure that in the tab entitled Ubuntu Software, all the boxes are ticked.
- Press close. You should see a notice telling you to 'Reload'. Click on the blue button entitled 'Reload' at the left of the main Synaptic window.
- Once the reload has finished, click Search.
- In the search box, enter ubuntu-restricted-extras. Hit Search.
- You will likely see three boxes. Left click on the box that reads ubuntu-restricted-extras, Select 'Mark for Installation'.
- Press the Green apply (tick icon) at the top of the Synaptic Window.
- The program will then be downloaded.
- Close down any music program you may have had open such as Rhythmbox or Banshee and start them back up again. You should now be able to hear MP3 Music! If you can't, please let us know in the forums so we can help you out!
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