BBC iPlayer Welcomes Linux (and Macs)
Posted by
kdawson
on Monday December 17, @07:51AM
from the audi-vox-populi dept.
from the audi-vox-populi dept.
h4rm0ny writes "After previously limiting their iPlayer to only the Windows platform (as we discussed earlier here and here), the BBC's content is now available to UK-based users of Linux and Mac OS X. From their site: 'From today we are pleased to announce that streaming is now available on BBC iPlayer. This means that Windows, Mac and Linux users can stream programs on iPlayer as long as their computer has the latest version of Flash. Another change is that you do not have to register or sign in any more to download programs ...' It seems that the BBC have listened to people who petitioned them for broader support and an open format. Well, Flash isn't exactly open, but its a lot more ubiquitous than Windows Media and Real Player formats."
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Keir Thomas writes "When the BBC released its new iPlayer watch-on-demand service, there were many complaints about the fact it was Windows-only — the equivalent of current BBC broadcasts only being watchable on, say, a Sony television. The good news is that the BBC has announced a Flash-based player for Linux and Mac due by the end of the year. (The announcement is buried half way down the page.) The bad news is that it will probably only offer streaming, and not the ability to download programs, like the Windows client has. Quote: 'It comes down to cost per person and reach at the end of the day.'"
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BBC iPlayer Welcomes Linux (and Macs)
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An Improvement (Score:5, Insightful)
Even if there were a Mac/Linux version available, I think I'd still lean more towards the Flash service for the odd times I need it since the downloadable version will get torpedoed after seven days anyway.
Re:All Hail the Lowest common denominator (Score:4, Informative)
good job bbc (Score:2)
Well, that's great... (Score:2)
I don't know -- I probably won't be using the service anyway, and I'm not a British citizen anyway, so I don't really feel that I have the right to complain, but it still bothers me when public services don't actually make their service free for real. I know I'd be bothered for real if my own government did something like it, at least.
Re:Well, that's great... (Score:5, Insightful)
can you suggest an open source solution that the BBC can use instead of iPlayer that is not proprietary and works on Windows/Mac and Linux???
Re:Well, that's great... (Score:5, Insightful)
Exactly. Flash is probably on at least 95% of PC's, and probably 99% of the people who don't have flash can install it with a few clicks. The BBC could have used something like Ogg Theora, but then 95% of users would have had to download and install something to play it.
The thing that always gets me about open source zealots who complain "Flash is proprietary" is that they offer no solution. There's Gnash, which is a re-implementation of Flash, but people complain about disseminating documents in MS Office formats even though they can read them with open source suites, so I can't imagine Gnash being full featured would stop the complaints about Flash. If people in the open source community want to complain about websites using flash for various reasons, they need to offer up an alternative that would be acceptable to them.
For what it's worth, I'm a Linux user and avoid proprietary software wherever possible, but I've been taught not to look a gift horse in the mouth, and not to complain when you can't offer an alternative.
Not a gift horse (Score:5, Informative)
It's not a gift horse. Access is restricted (at least in theory) to UK citizens, who have already paid for this service through their TV licence fees.
Re:Well, that's great... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Well, that's great... (Score:5, Funny)
So that meant I was denied access from my 8 track [wikipedia.org] simply because they refused to supply the broadcasts on it! Boy, was I mad! How was this TV service supposed to be free if they make you buy certain equipment first?!
And now they're demanding that I go out of my way to download a free software package! Their thoughtless arrogance knows no bounds!
Defacto DRM (Score:1, Informative)
Until they're using open technology, this is a hollow gesture to remove the political and social pressure on them. I just hope that the people who really care don't give up their campaign to make the BBC be open.
rippage (Score:5, Interesting)
mplayer -dumpstream -dumpfile $outfile.ra $thestream
rip the stream like what the Real stream can be ripped? (Yes I'm talking radio, it's Radio Four Boy here and without being able to rip I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue [wikipedia.org], as I've been doing for the last few years, having migrated from the Mark II Compact Cassette Tape that worked so well throughout the 80s and 90s, life ain't gonna be worth living.) Samantha agrees - the wow and flutter of older technology is a real turn-off, although she does enjoy flicking through some favourite flash videos.
kudos to the BBC. (Score:2)
Flash may not be open or perfect - but there are enough cross platform implementations to make it nearly ubiquitous. Given the choice between windows DRMware or Flash I would of made the same choice any day of the week. I am linux only at home, so I'm happy about this.
Better than iPlayer, by all accounts (Score:2)
BBC Trust and OSC response (Score:2, Informative)
Misleading summary (Score:5, Informative)
Shhh. No there aren't (Score:5, Funny)
And there are especially no Firefox plugins to download them with one easy click.
Dear BBC and other Tv netowrks or entities. (Score:5, Insightful)
If you must have DRM in it, then have your crap in iTunes. if you are one of the few smart companies and dont care about DRM, then a podcast with a format that plays on an iPod will do nicely.
This will get the largest possible market for your video. and 320X240 is acceptable on a ipod and not desired o be traded by pirates (yarr! It's low res, off to greener lands me matyes! yarr!)
As a consumer that is interested in actually watching TV the way it should be here in 2007/2008 I dont want your website, I want it in a way I can download it and play it on my ipod or phone, not your crappy website.
Re:Dear BBC and other Tv netowrks or entities. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Dear BBC and other Tv netowrks or entities. (Score:5, Insightful)
Or even accept that trying to use "DRM" is rather daft after you have broadcast it.
I am sick of having to go to random websites and having to use the half-assed players you guys think are acceptable.
It really disn't make any sense if these are harder to use than the "pirate option".
Good news (Score:3, Interesting)
Flash will suit me fine. Almost every device I have can play it in some form (except the iphone, but hopefully that's coming one day).
Not good enough. (Score:5, Interesting)
Just one reason amongst many why I hope this is not the end of the BBC's plan to open up the iPlayer content to other platforms, although I expect that it probably is.
Protest!!! (Score:1)
Of course, it will also prove their point.
Ok, what about we download the Windows version instead. Wait, no that won't work either.
I've got, go to ITV and download old episodes of Corrie. Yea! I'm off to the Rover's for a pint.
Uk only (Score:3, Interesting)
"Can I download programmes from outside the UK?
The BBC uses Geo-IP technology to identify where your are based on the location of your internet service provider (ISP). This ensures that only internet users in the UK can enjoy programmes on BBC iPlayer.
If you download a programme to your laptop or a portable hard drive, you can watch this wherever you are in the world. However, you will only be able to download new programmes once you return to the UK.
Why do I need to be in the UK to use BBC iPlayer?
Rights agreements mean that BBC iPlayer is only available to users in the UK. However, BBC Worldwide is working on an international version, which we will make available as soon as possible."
Re:Uk only (Score:5, Informative)
Volume Control (Score:2)
That's for watching TV really loud
Flash available On Linux? Or is that Linux/x86-32? (Score:2)
So, we're just waiting on Adobe to release Flash for Linux/x86-64, Linux/PPC, Linux/Alpha, Linux/Sparc, Linux/ARM, etc...
*tumbleweed rolls by...*
Yeah, right. Thought so.
After all, it's not like there aren't truly cross-platform streaming formats out there. Oh no, wait, there are!
Aaaaaarrrghhhhh!!!!
AND STOP SAYING "LINUX" WHEN YOU MEAN LINUX/X86-32 . Linux is *so* much more than Linux/x86-32.
I'll stick with BitTorrent, thanks. (Score:1)
I really don't get why the BBC think I would want to stream to my Mac, when I can already download whatever I want and watch it on the Mac, the TV, the iPod or wherever. OK, most people probably don't realise this yet but this is the technology they are competing with in my world.
And if I want to keep the episode of Space Pirates or some film which has been aired on terrestrial TV for the kids to watch at some point in the future, I don't want the BBC deciding that I've kept hold of it for more than 7 days and therefore they have the right to delete it from my hard drive. This is a step back from what I was able to do (and almost everyone did) using a VCR.
Rebroadcast Abroad? (Score:2)
Maybe a copyright? Under UK law, don't I have a protected ability to retransmit content from one place to another for my personal consumption, the way I do in US law (if not always in US courts)?
Quality is pants (Score:2)
This sort of poor picture quality is forgiveable if you're watching "woman falls down hole" on Youtube, but this is supposed to be proper telly, isn't it?
Good, but what about the rest of the world? (Score:1)
Teething problems (Score:1)
This one goes up to 11 (Score:1)
Back in the Day (MPEG) (Score:2)
Back in they day (over 10 years ago) when things were simpler, there was an open standard for video called MPEG. There were several Free, free and closed, pay mpeg players and the files had a .mpg or .mpeg extension.
Many of the *cough* specialist *cough* image/video sites in those days used it almost exclusively, and even on Linux back in 1996 one was not left out.
So what went wrong?
Why not use a normal standard format? (Score:2)
Why not use a normal standard format [wikipedia.org]? Then we won't need Flash.
Some people are never happy... (Score:1)
OK, firstly, as far as I know the BBC was under no obligation to make it's programs available to anyone over the internet. Were they not starting this off their own back?
Secondly, how many projects of this scale, that provide a public service nation-wide, were 100% effective providing 100% coverage from the outset? I can't think of any.
If people want to complain about something then complain about the poor coverage of Digital Freeview in the UK, where two houses a mere 5 metres apart can get completely different reception. What about broadband coverage? There are still areas in the UK that are lucky to get reliable dialup let alone a speedy 512K ADSL connection. Mobile phone coverage is another example, they expect you to use their approved hardware on their network, charge you for it and don't give any guarantees of coverage or signal strength. In my house two identical handsets, on two different networks receive full signal on one and low to none on the other.
I assume someone is going to say "Ah, but the BBC is a public company owned by the people". Yeah, and you could say that if I had shares in the mobile phone company then I'd own a small portion of it so they had an obligation to provide me with a better service too.
Considering this is a unique situation and this is the first attempt of such an ambitious service I think they're (BBC) doing well.
To the people who complain because they have to go out of their way to install s/w and services on their *nix systems: what do you expect? You've already gone out of your way by loading your chosen OS onto your machine because I'd be willing to bet you didn't buy it from a shop with BeOS (or whatever) loaded. If you're using a system that isn't directly supported then you should have the knowledge to either sort it out yourself or find out how to sort it out, otherwise how have you lasted so long using your chosen OS? If you find it too much of a struggle and your system doesn't meet your requirements then it's time to change to a system that does what you want/need of it.
And last of all: there are several web sites and services based in the USA that not only say for US citizens only but actively block connections from outside. This goes for radio, music downloads, video streaming etc, services that are free to people in the USA. So why should the BBC make content, that is not part of it's world-wide service, available to people outside of the UK? If you're an ex-UK resident living abroad then tough, you moved, if TV is that important to you then move back to the UK.
I'll get down off my soap box now :>
Still trying to get the WinVista BBC player 2 work (Score:1)
So, I guess I'll use my son's Mac Mini to watch it!
Re:Countdown to mplayer support starts now... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:...But it is closed to entire Planet except UK (Score:2, Informative)
Re:...But it is closed to entire Planet except UK (Score:2)
Re:...But it is closed to entire Planet except UK (Score:4, Funny)
The BBC have done this for one reason and ONLY one reason: To back up their ridiculous stance that anyone with a 'net connection in the UK needs a TV licence. Wouldn't want the OSS hippies to find a loophole in that, now, would we? That's it. Nothing to see here besides another money grab on the back of new media and shared resources. The reason you're not getting iPlayer if you're a "Johnny Foreigner" is because you don't pay the Beeb tax. Congratulations. I wish I didn't either.
Not entirely open. (Score:2)
From the Wikipedia page:
In other words, not like PDF at all.
Re:"Values Voters" (Score:2)
Flash is on the very edge of being proprietary(if, at all). Considering it can be used in linux/windows/mac/mobile/palmtop and firefox/opera/IE/etc..., it's almost more open than Java in that sense.
MS video is extremely proprietary. With all sorts of "Stop playing this we think you is a thief" gubbins on it as well.
I have used flash studio since version 4 (when it became more than just an animation tool) and it's been way ahead of the game since. (In version 4, you could even write "ajax-styley" code, communicating with a databse without reloading the page). You can even publish an exe, a projector file, a mac "executable" and a file for the web from absolutely identical code.
No turkey for you (Score:2)
I am not a turkey farmer.
Re:"Values Voters" (Score:1)
Re:...But it is closed to entire Planet except UK (Score:1)
Err, you're being a bit of a prat old son:
No, to make sure only the people who have a £135 license to own a UHF TV in the UK, which funds the BBC to produce this content, can watch it.
Again, No. The BBC produces less original programming than it once did. The vast majority is commissioned from third parties and it is entirely possible that such agreements allow only for UK distribution. This allows the original production company to sell the programme or the concept overseas and reduces the cost to the BBC.
I really don't understand why people who don't live in the UK somehow think they've got the right to watch something they haven't paid for. Perhaps I am missing something...