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BBC Launches APIs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the unleash-an-avalanche-of-applications dept.

Stefan Magdalinski writes "The BBC is opening up a slew of APIs to its content and applications via a new site, backstage.bbc.co.uk, and actively encouraging users to remix, mashup, and otherwise play with their content to create new applications. Already there's a few cool featured apps, my own BBC News wikipedizing proxy, and a del.icio.us-enabled version of BBC News "Use our stuff to create your stuff" is their slogan. Could a commercial broadcaster ever take a step like this?"

9 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. wait, hold up, what? by TheHonestTruth · · Score: 5, Funny
    I'm confused... it sounds like someone is actually encouraging people to share information. I'll need to read that again. Hold on...

    -truth

    --

    I had a steady B+ in my AI class until I failed the Turing test...

  2. Where's the Monty Pythonizer? by Cr0w+T.+Trollbot · · Score: 5, Funny
    I want an API that turns any webpage into a Monty Python sketch!

    Customer: Excuse me, I would like to complain about this Windows Security Update what I downloaded just yesterday.
    Shopkeeper: Oh yes, a great Windows Update! Beautiful plummage.
    Customer: The plummage don't enter into it! The problem is that this Windows Security Update is dead.
    Shopkeeper: No, it's just resting! It will hop up any minute and dance around destroying viruses.
    Customer: This Windows Security Update would not dance around even if Linus Torvalds himself gave it CPR!

    Crow T. Trollbot

  3. Extract from the Api by Zangief · · Score: 4, Funny

    Stream getMovie(char* movieName)

    getMovie returns a stream of data, if a movie called movieName exists, null otherwise.

    Stream getAd()

    getAd must be called before every call to getMovie. Otherwise, your computer explodes.

    From time to time, a call to getMovie is forwarded to a call to getAd.

    1. Re:Extract from the Api by ChairmanMeow · · Score: 3, Funny

      You must be thinking of RealPlayer ;)

      --
  4. Automatic slashdot stories by ganhawk · · Score: 4, Funny

    We should use the API's to generate automatic stories on slashdot.
    Ofcourse, generated stories will be rejected if it does not contain certain keywords or dupes. So I propose combining this with Slashdot random story generator

    --
    Python script to convert photos into "artsy" portraits: http://p2pbridge.sf.net/pyPortrait/
  5. Coding style... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does this mean that we will have to program in proper English with a stiff upper lip? Will we get a compiler error if we use American slang and/or spelling? As long as we don't have to program in Esperanto...

    1. Re:Coding style... by peterpi · · Score: 3, Funny
      streamer.c:1: error: local time 16:01:43 GMT. Tea break detected. Recompile in 4 minutues 17 seconds
  6. Parent is troll by rokzy · · Score: 3, Funny

    you don't need a license if you don't watch TV. even if you have a TV but only use it for watching videos you're fine.

    plus it's not just a TV license, it's for radio too.

    plus if you were really an "English man" you'd probably realise that it's one word.

  7. Collaborative Tagging by delete · · Score: 4, Funny

    Interestingly enough, as part of the BBC's new service, they've provided a tagging system (associated with delicious).

    For example, the tags for Malcolm Glazer's takeover of Manchester United football club are currently given as:
    "utd wanker wanker asshat asshat utd beard"

    It's actually a great idea, but perhaps a little more tweaking may be in order.