BBC Quietly Announces Linux/Mac iPlayer

Keir Thomas writes "When the BBC released its new iPlayer watch-on-demand service, there were many complaints about the fact it was Windows-only — the equivalent of current BBC broadcasts only being watchable on, say, a Sony television. The good news is that the BBC has announced a Flash-based player for Linux and Mac due by the end of the year. (The announcement is buried half way down the page.) The bad news is that it will probably only offer streaming, and not the ability to download programs, like the Windows client has. Quote: 'It comes down to cost per person and reach at the end of the day.'"

Comments

Quietly??

[violet16]

That's it! I can't take it any more! Every second Slashdot story tries to make something seem more evil and mysterious by saying it's been done "quietly." Now you can be quiet even when you make an announcement?

Re:Version that has fewer features is unacceptable

[montyzooooma]

Unless the versions are equal in terms of quality I will consider refusing to pay the fee in full. A bit of civil disobedience might be in order.


You'll consider it and then just pay your license, having realised that your position is untenable. If I was the BBC I'd ask Apple if they want to partner on an equivalent DRM-infested system and if they don't then what else are they meant to do over and above the Flash-based system? Next I'd just double-check that the existing iPlayer can't be made to work under Wine and if it can't ask the Linux community to come up with a DRM-infested system of their own for the BBC to use. If they can't then it's the Flash iPlayer for them too.

Finally I'll turn to my trusty four tuner GBPVR box and watch whatever BBC content I want, whenever I want for as long as I want without worrying about whatever DRM crap-du-jour they're trying to foist on me. A Freeview stick costs about 15 quid so if you're that keen to watch BBC material on your PC why not invest in one of those instead.

Re:flash

[Thwomp]

its NOT "iPlayer for linux" - its flash based player for ANY OS that support flash. I really hope the player is compatible with the Wii's Opera browser. Assuming there is a full screen option I can watch the shows on my t.v! Yay.

Why all the Fuss?

[Junior Samples]

If you want unencumbered BBC programming, It's readily available for download via Bit Torrent or the news groups. Most of the popular shows are available. Watch it on any platform you like including your DVD player. This is a non-issue.

Re:Why the "i"

[TheVelvetFlamebait]

Surely with all the tax money they collect (and yes the license fee is a tax), they could have come up with a more original name for thier online digital video player.

Yes, some things truly are better left to the private sector. The government should have set up a contract bid for companies to come up with original names for this player.

Or maybe they secretly did, and Apple got the contract?

Re:Equivalent?

[Oktober Sunset]

PAL tvs can support NTSC signals, but they look like dogshit, kinda like they do on an NTSC set actually.