John on Tech...
A look at technology from MY point of view
Thursday 19 April 2007, 6:23 PM
Auntie Relents... (reluctantly)
We'll skip over the fact that the Beeb appear to have ripped off Apple's naming style by calling it the iPlayer - even though initially they weren't going to support it.
I was more taken with the the fact that he somewhat lost it with the phrase "proprietary and closed framework for DRM" when describing Apple's platform.
I think this actually translates as "Apple machines don't support Microsoft's DRM which were were going to blanket our stuff in" WHICH in itself translates as "Microsoft are refusing to support Apple Macintosh machines with their DRM."
Now listen here Ashley...
Just coz MS make it easy to infect your material with DRM - it doesn't mean that you should lock out other platforms. There should be a choice and Microsoft should NOT be using hard earned English licence payer money on locking viewers and listeners into their way of working.
At some point I would like the full definition from the Beeb of what exactly Apple's "proprietary and closed framework" is and how it differs from Microsoft's "proprietary and close framework."
PreviousComments on this post
OK the voice of the public has spoken and the Beeb are "reworking" the iPlayer (God I hate that name, why can't they be more imaginative?) to work on a Mac. Why not now give the BBC some credit for for what it is doing, instead of moaning about it.
A few weeks ago, it was very possible that the iPlayer project could have been scrapped and so would not have happened on any platform.
I am speculating here, but is it possible that the teetering on the brink status of the iPlayer until a few weeks ago, could have contributed to the reluctance on the part of the BBC to work on expanding the project onto other platforms? Now they've got the green light. I would hope it is all systems GO.
I am extremely happy that they have relented.
I was more worried by the fact that it did seem that the BBC spokesman seemed to carry that air of faint disdain for all that is Apple. It kind of reminds one of the baddies at the end of Scoobie Doo episodes - you know "We would have taken over the world if it hadn't been for those pesky kids."
The truth is that most people in IT really wanted Apple to fail. I'm talking about that period ten years ago when Apple was on its uppers and before Mr Jobs returned. It would have made their jobs so much easier.
Unfortunately Apple came back. And probably in such numbers that surprised them. So when the Beeb announced its digital plans back at the beginning of the year it was hoping that it's Microsoft DRM driven solution would be the be all and end all.
What I was really complaining about though was the Orwellian Double-Speak references to Apple's "proprietary and closed framework" when Microsoft's DRM is far more insidious.
