iPlayer cross-platform. What should the BBC do?

You should be able to download on vista now Justin, that functionality was released in the early part of December. Like I metioned, it's not much of an issue currently, but it will be a big one when HD content is available.

Advantages of downloading;
* Store content for upto 30 days. As soon as you watch it, a 7 day limit is imposed.
* Better quality - HD will available later this year.
* You can move the WMV files onto other devices, such as a media center connected to your TV.
* Watch it at your convenience, without an internet connection - for example, on the train to somewhere.
 
AdamSee said:
It's already there Von; http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/

The answer seems to be; technically it's currently not possible to keep the content protected on Linux as well.
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What I meant was they could do proprietary web page embedded player for other platforms - with java or flash - rather than that media player library malarky of theirs - and stream content without any DRM. The content wouldn't be downloadable as files and wouldn't need DRM play limits and "valid until", but instead could keep track of your time limits and progress per login via simple logging - on 19th of Jan, user v0n started playing file number 2222222, stopped after 10 minutes, he's got 30 days to finish watching that file, etc.
 
By the way you guys are talking, it sounds like someone on the BBC side is actually taking linux into consideration, which in itselfs (As far as i see things) is a big step in itself since most companies *** rather have it for windows and then leave it for done.

I think its perfectly understandable what bbc hav done with iplayer. Yes its a shame that it won't work with linux, but there are plenty of other services linux misses out on.

It will always be a case of one thing works on one OS but not on another, thats why people use different OS's, if there is something in particular u want, dual boot or use something like virtual box

Gaunt
 
We're passionate about providing a cross-platform solution, but it seems we don't have adequate technologies available, whilst at the same time conforming to the program holders rights wishes.

Von, you can view all the pages using flash, which works cross-platform and streams all the content. This was added on the 13th December.
 
What is the purpose on placing DRM on freely downloaded content. Surely when the DRM license expires I can simply download the media again. The net result is seemingly increasing web traffic needlessly.
 
It's only freely downloadable for a specific time. Once the DRM licence expires you will find it is no longer available for download online.
 
I would rather that there was a drm enabled non oss solution for linux than it not be available. People could then choose whether to instal it or not.
 
freebooter said:
I would rather that there was a drm enabled non oss solution for linux than it not be available. People could then choose whether to instal it or not.
Click to expand...

I guess that would be similar to using the non oss nvidia driver for 3d acceleration, which loadsa people seem happy about using (for ut2004 etc) - not everyone though, which is understandable, but I would probably find it acceptable to start with :) (not sure how I'd feel in the long run as I do really like the idea of open source).
 
I'm a part Linux user, but have to agree with what some people are saying here - there's a failing on the Linux community's part to provide any kind of DRM platform on Linux. There's therefore essentially no way the BBC can do any better than they're doing at the moment in terms of Linux supprort (of course, whether the BBC could justify the time to develop for Linux even if there was such a DRM platform remains to be seen).

Of course I can't see such a thing being developed any time soon on Linux - as there seems to be a feeling that any kind of DRM is evil whatever it's used for...
 
The other issue is this, how much would it cost to provide an iPlayer for MAC OSX and Linux.

The BBC has limited budget and so money spent on developing these would take up money from other area's.

They have to try and find a balance between offering a service and aiming at as wide an audience at possible. This then has to be accounted for.

Out of all of the population that uses this sort of technology, what percentage would be gained by adding non Windows service.
 
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