To make firefox handle mms protocol here is a technique that works well. [SOLVED for some versions]

Question

Okay folks. Mozilla is playing their cards very close to their chest with this one, though I can't understand why all the secrecy.
<p> '''2012 EDIT''' Since version 7, Firefox appears broken and unable to recognize mms protocol. HOWEVER, if you copy your mms:// URL to a tab in the browser and edit it so that it begins <b>http://</b> instead of <b>mms://</b> then the browser will successfully hand the task onto your audio player, such as mplayer or vlc. So this provides a way to successfully skirt around the problem. There is nothing further in this thread applicable to versions newer than 7, so you can close this tab and go try it. Good luck!</p>
<p>'''2011: HERE'S THE SOLUTION''' for handling mms protocol for Firefox version 3.6 and versions near that, but not version 7 or later. '''This is Linux specific; I can't help you with Windows solution. Sorry.''' Windows users maybe look here: [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Register_protocol#Firefox_3.5_specific__.28works_without_installed_Gnome_libraries.29] or try the Gecko suggestion given by cor-el in a reply in this thread.</p>
<p>
<h3>'''Linux Solution'''</h3>
</p>
I'm using Firefox 3.6.9 with these plugins:
mplayer,quicktime,realplayer,shockwave flash,windows media player
In the firefox address box type this simple but weird-looking URL '''about:config''' and open it. Then right-click on any entry in the long list that comes up. Right-clicking brings up the menu we will use to create a new entry. Select '''new''' and of type '''boolean'''. Carefully type in the name of the new preference as '''network.protocol-handler.expose.mms''' and then select for its value '''false'''. We are finished with this window, so you can close it.
We now need a page with an mms link to click on. (For this step, it '''''really must''''' be a clickable link. It won't work if you just type the URL yourself.) Here's a page [http://beelinetv.com/] with plenty of mms links including a delightfully-named '''Al Karma'''. Go there now and left-click on '''Al Karma'''. You'll see a window open. Double-click on '''Select an application''' and navigate through your file system to a media player you have installed which will handle mms streams. I have mplayer, and its pathname is /usr/bin/mplayershell. (You might have gxine, or totem, or VLC, or ... etc.) Click the box to '''Remember my choice'''. We're now done. Your new configuration info will get saved when you quit the browser. Now, whenever you click on a mms link, whether it's a movie, or radio or a television channel, the browser should automatically hand the job of playing it to your chosen player. ''Though I found I had to select the player a few times before it eventually remembered; firefox can be a slow learner.'' :(
If you want your browser to also accommodate rtsp:// links, repeat the above. For handling rtsp audio stream, I use the helix player, through many will use realplayer. Don't forget, you'll need to find a page with a clickable rtsp link to set this up. Or you can create your own link, it doesn't need to have an actual stream. To do this, create a text file, say '''text.html''' containing this line of code:
<p>
'''<a href="rtsp://1.1.1.1/">rtsp link</a>'''</p>
and open it in a new TAB in your browser, using a URL something like: '''file:///path/text.html'''. You should see a link to click on.
The job is done. You can ignore the remainder of this thread.
Any problems? Add a message to the end of this thread.
<hr>
Note: my solution has nothing to do with the gecko player

Answer 1

I've added The One Line :) and mms streams are now supported.<br>
Thank you pawpaw for your effort! Much appreciated.
The only thing to report is that when I click any mms link, 2 copies of VLC start up (I've associated with /usr/bin/vlc).
What am I doing wrong?<br>
Edit: Oh, interesting enough, if instead of clicking the link I open it in a new tab, only 1 copy of VLC starts...