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The inauguration was streamed using Silverlight. Way to go ... http://www.pic2009.org/blog/entry/watch_the_swearing-in_ceremony_on_the_web/

I did it both ways:

• recording the TV version (here in Channel NewsAsia Singapore, the coverage was marred by extremely talkative voiceovers)
• watched the pic2009.org version (marred by a shaky video camera and poor colours), and
• watched the inaugural.senate.gov version (same as the local TV version, minus the talkative voiceovers and tickers and logos on screen (thank goodness))

I did it both ways:

• recording the TV version (here in Channel NewsAsia Singapore, the coverage was marred by extremely talkative voiceovers)
• watched the pic2009.org version (marred by a shaky video camera and poor colours), and
• watched the inaugural.senate.gov version (same as the local TV version, minus the talkative voiceovers and tickers and logos on screen (thank goodness))

http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer

http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer Posted about... 10 times before, INCLUDING TFA

I installed the moonlight plugin (linked from microsoft's install page for sliverlight) and loaded the special Linux-compatible page, but I don't get streaming video. It buffers for a few seconds and stays on the first frame. I can refresh for a new frame. Anyone else having better luck seeing it in Firefox under Linux with the moonlight plugin? http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer

http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer

GO TO http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer NOT http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/live

GO TO http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer NOT http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/live

I installed the plugin using the link in the summary for Firefox 3.0.5 on x86_64 and restarted the browser. When I go to http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/live I get the message "Moonlight was compiled for 1.0 support only. This page requires 2.0 support. I don't care to watch the inauguration, just was curious to see if it really worked.

This page doesn't say that it works fine. http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer

http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer

http://www.pic2009.org/page/content/linuxplayer - works fine moonlight link - http://www.go-mono.com/moonlight/

Good news everyone. After burning some midnight oil, we (Microsoft) and Novell have pulled together a Silverlight 1.0 compatible verison of the inauguration player that's compatible with both Moonlight Beta 1 and Silvelight 1.0 on PowerPC Macs.

Miguel's Blog: http://tirania.org/blog/archive/2009/Jan-20.html
My Blog: http://on10.net/blogs/benwagg/The-Obama-Inauguration-coming-to-Linux-and-PowerPC-Macs-Plus-compression-details/

The updated player should be up around 6 am EST if you want to validate your installs.

http://pic2009.org/

The parrent said he would be happy with flash, not me. I'm not sure I or anyone in their right mind would be wanting to watch the inauguration on an Iphone though. Then again, an Iphone isn't a computer even though it performs some functions a computer does- it's an appliance. The Iphone doesn't run OS/X either, it's some hybrid OS based around it and it's limited in it's abilities which is why Adobe is making a light version of Flash instead of using what they already have.

Anyways, I would be happy just streaming it into a media player of some sort so then I could even use it on older versions of windows that MS no longer supports. About all operating systems have media players and the ability to stream media through it. Phone and appliance providers can stream the video to their sites and then reprocess it into something your Iphone or a NetTV box can use. A simple link to the raw feed and instructions to enter it in the open dialog of their media player would likely be enough but then again, they would have to use a format and a codec that has been around long enough for there to be popular support.

The problem isn't really just the stream format. It the promise of change and inclusion, it's the idea that you have to pay Microsoft a fee in order to meet the ideal espoused by the people and the site attempting to claim "will organize an inclusive and accessible inauguration that reflects the new Administration's commitment to leadership" yet in order to be included, you will pay to pay some third part money that isn't otherwise necessary. The entire claim seems to be a ruse and I don't care if your happy to participate in the fallacy being created. You can spice up a shit sandwich but don't expect me to call it anything other then shit. This is more of the you have to buy Office to do business with the government. You wouldn't expect to have to pay the corner gas station to walk into the town hall and get a permit to build a porch or replace your siding. I seriously don't understand why people think it is perfectly fine to expect a payment to MS for something tax payers are paying for which is being billed as all inclusive. Just because a lot of people who are well off already paid the fee shouldn't make a damn bit of difference.

I'm sure that they meant open as in open access. Assuming that they meant open software is a bit of a stretch.

I suppose you missed the little bit on the parent's clicky... that part where it says (and I quote) "As long as you have an Internet connection, you'll be able to watch the ceremony as if you were there."

Note it didn't say "As long as you have an Internet connection and Windows". Like it's already assumed that you're running Windows...

[...] in that only one website requires Silverlight to watch the inauguration, whereas [...]

Yeah, it just so happens that the "one website" is the official presidential inaugural committee site, which pompously dares to call it the most open inauguration in history.

Welcome to the change.