iTunes also converts to MP3 for free. But it doesn't read FLAC. I guess they all have their flaws. But who says Media Jukebox should have flaws
. WMV and AAC are both crappy copies of mp3, an infection in audio codecs. What I think OP is trying to say is that MP3 is a standard codec, and asking money for it to run a free encoder, to me also, it sounds kind of lame
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The player itself is brilliant, it outshines many other players out there. But to call it free isn't entirely true. Because people expect mp3 encoding for free, and will turn their back on Media Jukebox. Its happened to a few of my friends that cant use command line parameters. They see the iTunes style interface, know nothing about lossless audio or resource usage and go back to iTunes, just as an example. Unless they know how to use external encoders, but the minority aren't so computer literate (I study Multimedia at Uni, final year).
The way I see it, Media Center, should be kept as the ultimate media solution. And Media Jukebox should be entirely free, no strings attached, restricted only to Audio. If you download Media Center trial and like it enough to pay for it. Then for sure, go ahead and buy it. But When people hear that a player is free, they expect simple things like this. When they hear that it isn't free, but is in fact $10... I almost walked away... But I am giving it a better chance (because of the external encoder option). Media Jukebox always opens in the 'Upgrade to Media Center' or in 'Amazon'.... This forced advertising is enough I think. The only reason mp3 is charged is cause the J River know that mp3 is the most common codec now. And it will generate an income from the free software.
http://www.mediajukebox.com/ if you do not make MP3 encoding free, then it should be stated on the homepage,
NOW TOTALLY FREE *except mp3 conversion. If you are afraid that this will turn users away, then let users use the MJ interface to convert to mp3!
I suppose you could ask for paypal donations so big fans of MJ can donate to the work, that would generate about the same income as forceably asking for the mp3 encoder. People are more generous than most think.