iPlayer faces petition pressure

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An e-petition on the Downing Street website has called on parliament to stop the BBC launching its iPlayer to a Windows-only audience. More than 10,000 people have signed the petition which calls for the service to be made compatible with other operating systems such as Linux.

The BBC's on-demand TV service launches as a trial version on 27 July and will only work with PCs using Windows XP. Other versions are in the pipeline, according to the BBC. A version for Apple Macs could be available in autumn, with versions for Window's Vista and mobile devices to follow, the BBC has said.

It will go live to the general public in open beta on Friday, allowing the number of users to increase over the summer in a controlled manner, before a full launch in the autumn. Speaking at the launch of the service, director of Future Media and Technology at the BBC Ashley Highfield said: "I am fundamentally committed to universality, to getting the BBC iPlayer to everyone in the UK who pays their licence fee."

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News source: BBC News

#1 antsy on 26 Jul 2007 - 10:47

Its only a Beta, they have already said they will port it eventually!

(1 reply) #2 acnpt on 26 Jul 2007 - 10:49

How inconsiderate of these linux users

The bbc is creating versions for other operating systems, so why stop an already made version for windows from being released.

#2.1 kyro on 26 Jul 2007 - 12:27

the secret deals in microsoft EULA for large organizations trying to go for cheap licenses can have this side effects. companies are discouraged to put/use/install/create products on other platforms.

" exclusive dealing arrangements or retaliate against companies for supporting products that compete with Microsoft"
- kuro5hin

This is microsoft's history. what do you expect. I dont think BBC can simply say off_with_the_deal and start installing Linux Os's.

#3 hinz on 26 Jul 2007 - 10:52

I don't get what all the fuss is about. The BBC have stated that it will be made available on all platforms as soon as they can. anyway this is only a beta

#4 bbfc_uk on 26 Jul 2007 - 11:29

Agree with the above!

It launches as a TRIAL version, probably to see how popular it is, and what better way to test it on the most popular operating system.

(3 replies) #5 southside on 26 Jul 2007 - 12:09

I see legal issues soon from Apple...

#5.1 Glassed Silver on 26 Jul 2007 - 15:20

ive never seen a product named iPlayer, wheres the problem...
lots of companies already joined the Apple naming scheme...

Glassed Silver:mac

#5.2 southside on 26 Jul 2007 - 18:20

Quote - (Glassed Silver said @ #5.1)

I believe they trademarked the "i" before a noun.

#5.3 +mrbester on 27 Jul 2007 - 10:50

It's "trademarked" just as much as "easy" in front of a noun is "trademarked" by Stelios Hajiannou. This is like Peuguot who screwed Porsche over by winning the stupid argument of model numbers such as n0n can't be used by any other manufacturer (the 911 was supposed to be 901). If there is a clear conflict of ownership (no, there isn't; iTV still means "interactive" TV, not TV from Apple) then possibly there might be a case. Should they try it, they'll get vilified for wasting my money (as in licence fee payer) for attempting to grab something that isn't theirs.

iSpitOnTheirGrave

#6 ClintEastman on 26 Jul 2007 - 12:38

How selfish and childish!

#7 Sawyer12 on 26 Jul 2007 - 12:40

So why are they partitioning to the government

#8 Glassed Silver on 26 Jul 2007 - 15:19

oh boy...

Glassed Silver:mac

#9 Lt-DavidW on 26 Jul 2007 - 17:08

As 13,881 people have asked for Jeremy Clarkson to be made prime minister, I doubt this should be taken too seriously.

#10 Patchou on 26 Jul 2007 - 18:15

.... ok then, what about people who want it on their PSP for example?... any system that plugs in a screen is supposed to have a version of everything nowadays?

#11 Croquant on 26 Jul 2007 - 23:33

It's called iPlayer and Apple hasn't sued yet? I thought they trademarked the lower-case "i"
i

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