Editing Zinf

{{Short description|Open source audio player}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{update|date=December 2009}}
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{{Infobox software
| name                   = Zinf
| logo                   =
| screenshot             = Zinf.png
| caption                = Zinf playing an audio file
| developer              = Robert Hart, Tim Lesher, David Hough<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sourceforge.net/project/memberlist.php?group_id=51494|title = Members}}</ref>
| released               = {{Start date and age|2002|07|02}}
| repo                   = {{URL|https://sourceforge.net/projects/zinf/}}
| programming language   = [[C++]], [[GTK+]]
| genre                  = [[List of free software for audio#Players|Audio player]]
| license                = [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
| website                = {{URL|zinf.sourceforge.net}}
}}
'''Zinf''' is a [[free software|free]] [[audio player (software)|audio player]] for [[Unix-like]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] operating systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zinf.org/|title=FreeAmp Zinf Audio Player for Linux & Windows|access-date=19 June 2019|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330151535/http://www.zinf.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Zinf is released under the [[GNU General Public License]].

Zinf is a continuation of the FreeAmp project and uses the same source code.<ref name="v3">{{cite news | url=http://www.v3.co.uk/vnunet/downloads/2128655/zinf | title= Zinf 2.2.1: A free audio player with streaming audio support | publisher=v3.co.uk | author= Paul Rowlingson | date= January 19, 2004 | access-date=November 24, 2009}}</ref><ref name="afterdawn">{{cite news | url=http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/3086.cfm | title= No more FreeAmp - Meet the Zinf | publisher=Afterdawn | author= Lasse Penttinen | date= July 1, 2002 | access-date=November 24, 2009}}</ref>

==Technical features==
Zinf can play sound files in [[MP3]], [[Vorbis]], and [[WAV]] formats, among others.<ref name="thefrench">{{cite news | url=http://telechargement.zebulon.fr/zinf-audio-player.html | title= Zinf Audio Player 2.2.1 | website=Zebulon.fr | date= July 29, 2004 | access-date=November 24, 2009}}</ref>  It supports [[Skin (computing)|skins]] and is part of the [[MusicBrainz]] [[computer network|network]]. The player features an optimized version of the Xing [[MPEG]] decoder, a powerful music browser and playlist editor, and a built in [[download]] manager which supports downloading files from sites using the RMP ([[RealJukebox]]) download process.  Zinf was also notable for handling all audio files based on their [[metadata]] (Author, Album, Song Title), and hiding more-technical details like actual locations and file names<ref name="tonspion"/> (but these features are now standard in many players).

==Naming==
'''Zinf''' is a [[recursive acronym]] that stands for "Zinf Is Not FreeAmp!"<ref name="tonspion">{{cite news | url=http://www.tonspion.de/neues/mp3.php/243807 | title=Winamp-Alternativen: Zinf | work=[[Tonspion]] | date=October 16, 2003 | access-date=November 24, 2009 | archive-date=February 29, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229182949/http://www.tonspion.de/neues/mp3.php/243807 | url-status=dead }}</ref>  Use of the name '''FreeAmp''' had to be discontinued due to [[trademark]] issues, as "AMP" is a trademark of PlayMedia Systems, Inc.<ref>[http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.audio.freeamp.devel/6 FreeAmp becomes Zinf!]</ref><ref name="Computerra">{{cite news | url= http://www.computerra.ru/softerra/technologizm/24396/ | title= Аудиопроигрыватель ZINF | work= [[Computerra]] | author= Sergei Yaremchuk | date= February 27, 2003 | access-date= November 24, 2009 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081201082138/http://www.computerra.ru/softerra/technologizm/24396/ | archive-date= December 1, 2008 }}</ref>

==History/Funding==
The FreeAmp project was originally funded by [[EMusic]], who paid the salaries of 3 developers working on the player.  Later, [[Relatable]] joined EMusic to help support continued development.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=6341 |title=EMusic and Relatable Team to Offer Open Source Audio |access-date=2008-02-25 |archive-date=2010-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113154141/http://streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=6341 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2001, after 2 years of funding the project EMusic pulled their support, and subsequently fired the developers.<ref>[http://lists.musicbrainz.org/pipermail/musicbrainz-users/2001-January/000139.html Important project update] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721063346/http://lists.musicbrainz.org/pipermail/musicbrainz-users/2001-January/000139.html |date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> The Zinf project was unable to find another sponsor, and development slowed greatly.  The most recent release was made in early 2004.  As of 2008, nearly all development of Zinf has ceased.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

==Adoption==
Once a popular open-source Linux audio player, it has now been largely surpassed by newcomers such as [[Audacious Media Player|Audacious]], [[Amarok (software)|Amarok]], [[Exaile]], [[Banshee (music player)|Banshee]] and (more recently) [[Songbird (software)|Songbird]]. This is largely because Zinf has not seen an official new release since early 2004, and many new features that are now standard in rival players have not been implemented; such as cover art and lyric support.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In 2010 the zinf.com website was bought by a domain squatter for the purpose of capitalizing on the site's traffic for monetary gains. A new link called "QnA" and "Ads" are now visible on the zinf.com website that is a redirect to the squatter's site.

{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|zinf.org}}

{{Media player (application software)|free}}

[[Category:Audio player software that uses GTK]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C++]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Free audio software]]
[[Category:Free media players]]
[[Category:Linux media players]]
[[Category:Windows media players]]
[[Category:2002 software]]