Comments for Linuxcentre

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by benjymous

benjymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:42:47 +0000

How depressing. I only started using get_iplayer because the BBC’s own Adobe Air based “iplayer desktop” software ran so uselessly on my netbook - watching a video would consume 100% of the CPU time, and still stutter horribly. Movies downloaded with get_iplayer play perfectly in VLC and use barely any CPU time at all. I’d be happy to use their official software if they’d make it actually work!

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by G. Din

G. Din — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:51:13 +0000

Oh no!!!!
I just came here to mention a little bug/feature, and I found the party is almost over :((
Thanks for all your excellent hard work and for providing me with an iPlayer solution that actually worked on Slackware.
You have earned much good karma, can’t say the same for the Beeb in this matter, grrrhhhhh.
Again, thanks!

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by conrad1on

conrad1on — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:25:14 +0000

Well, I’m ballsed.

Seriously though, thanks for all of your hard work here.

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by F Pathman

F Pathman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:41:04 +0000

You, sir, are and idiot. Go troll somewhere else.

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by Stroller

Stroller — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:11:58 +0000

Thanks for backing down, dude!

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by linuxcentre

linuxcentre — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:04:40 +0000

This doesn’t make the BBC’s stance on giving in to the rights holders any less pathetic given their size and the nature of the BBC as a public entity.
The use of VCRs for recording TV was judged to be legal - not because they couldn’t be technically stopped but because the overwhelming usage of VCRs was judged not be be for infringing copyright (at least this was what the Sony case concluded in the 80’s in the US)

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by linuxcentre

linuxcentre — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:39 +0000

Yes of course contracts are legally enforceable - but then you misunderstood what I said - I was referring to the fact that the contract terms that supposedly prevent the BBC from streaming without DRM should not have be agreed to in the past few years. The BBC are just being spineless in this matter over negotiations with rights holders. The BBC should just say that they are going to allow such streaming and they have to either then not sign the contract or put up with it…

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:49:07 +0000

“This is not really about the BBC’s ‘legal obligation’ as it’s purely a contractual matter between the BBC and the rights holders.”

Pardon me if I’m misunderstanding, but how can it not not be a question of legality, but still be a question of contractual obligation?

If the BBC sign a contract says they can/can’t do something, it is enforceable by law. Same difference.

Saying can/could means nothing really. Realistically, its not their choice. They just need to hope that the benefits of providing their programmes over a streaming service tempts the content owners into playing ball.

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:43:38 +0000

Yes I did, but TV studios have no control over this (as they had no choice if people wanted to VCR programs in the 80-90’s)

But they *do* have a choice about whether they want to allow the BBC to stream their content over the internet.

Do you not think these TV studios would have taken steps to prevent VCR recording if there had been a technical way of doing it?

Comment on get_iplayer dropped in response to BBC’s lack of support for open source by linuxcentre

linuxcentre — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:11 +0000

This is not really about the BBC’s ‘legal obligation’ as it’s purely a contractual matter between the BBC and the rights holders. The BBC can/could have chosen to change or renegotiate contracts when they were agreed in the past and future.