Macintosh & The BBC
Discussion
Just a heads-up if anyone's interested. The BBC (and the BBC Trust) are consulting on plans to release video over the web. One issue that stuck out for me is that the BBC have recommended Microsoft systems for DRM-protection (where necessry), whilst the Trust have proposed Real Player as a platform-agnostic alternative. Which would mean Macintosh is locked out, or we're all lumbered with a pants system.
The consultation is now at www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/ope until March. If you're interested, you may want to consider:
- Whilst Macintosh represent only 5-7% of PC sales (including business), it is estimated to cover 20-25% of home use. I suspect most use of the service would be in the home.
- The market is far from mature, with EU investigations, competing, closed systems, battles for content exclusivity, etc. There might also be a case for considering other platforms - XBox, PS, and perhaps next-generation, internet-enabled media servers that may not rely on either Windows or Macintosh (think Squeezebox with video and balls).
This isn't about Windows vs Mac - but if you're chomping at the bit to wait 3 hours to download The Office Christmas Special, you might want to air your views
The consultation is now at www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/ope until March. If you're interested, you may want to consider:
- Whilst Macintosh represent only 5-7% of PC sales (including business), it is estimated to cover 20-25% of home use. I suspect most use of the service would be in the home.
- The market is far from mature, with EU investigations, competing, closed systems, battles for content exclusivity, etc. There might also be a case for considering other platforms - XBox, PS, and perhaps next-generation, internet-enabled media servers that may not rely on either Windows or Macintosh (think Squeezebox with video and balls).
This isn't about Windows vs Mac - but if you're chomping at the bit to wait 3 hours to download The Office Christmas Special, you might want to air your views
Not wishing to go the whole bashing thing... but... it is ever so annoying that so many places (LoveFilm, et al) make is a requirement to have WMP10 installed so they can use the Play4Sure DRM system.
Now for a commercial business that's fine, I have no arguments with them deploying which ever off the shelf DRM system they want to. I'll just happily ignore them
The BBC, however is a different kettle of fish. They've been working on digital distribution for quite a while, even going so far as developing their own codec's and practically stating that the only thing left for them to do is to figure out how to stop UK people being charged for the content whilst making all other countries go through a payment gateway.
For them to have now, in effect, turned around and gone "Yeah, we're going with Play4Sure." Is a bit of a slap in the face really.
It makes me wonder how much Microsoft have paid them to select that DRM scheme.
Now for a commercial business that's fine, I have no arguments with them deploying which ever off the shelf DRM system they want to. I'll just happily ignore them
The BBC, however is a different kettle of fish. They've been working on digital distribution for quite a while, even going so far as developing their own codec's and practically stating that the only thing left for them to do is to figure out how to stop UK people being charged for the content whilst making all other countries go through a payment gateway.
For them to have now, in effect, turned around and gone "Yeah, we're going with Play4Sure." Is a bit of a slap in the face really.
It makes me wonder how much Microsoft have paid them to select that DRM scheme.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff