BBC iplayer

Downloaded the beta software for the BBC iplayer.

Seems very similar to channel4's 4od software but it seems with the BBC
software that the entire program has to be downloaded before viewing
whereas the channel 4 software allows streaming.

Anyone used the BBC software and got any comments.

Geoff Lane

I find iPlayer excellent. The advantage with iPlayer is that the
downloaded file is on your computer so you are able to view the
programme again within the time limit without having to be on-line.

In a recent message, Geoff Lane wrote ...
Downloaded the beta software for the BBC iplayer.

Seems very similar to channel4's 4od software but it seems with the BBC
software that the entire program has to be downloaded before viewing
whereas the channel 4 software allows streaming.

Anyone used the BBC software and got any comments.

Geoff Lane

--
David G4DMP
Leeds, West Yorkshire
------

Geoff Lane wrote:
Anyone used the BBC software and got any comments.


It should be humanely put down now, or the BBC should license someone
else to run a proper download service with the content properly paid for
by downloaders - like itunes does it. The 'Free' service is doomed IMO....

(enjoy it while you can)

--
Adrian C

David Pratt wrote:
I find iPlayer excellent. The advantage with iPlayer is that the
downloaded file is on your computer so you are able to view the
programme again within the time limit without having to be on-line.

True but the channel4 4od allows download or streaming so one has the
choice.

Personally, I'm not sure I'd fancy waiting for a 250MB+ size file to
download before viewing it.

Geoff Lane

In message , Adrian C
wrote

. The 'Free' service is doomed IMO....
(enjoy it while you can)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6944176.stm

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

True but the channel4 4od allows download or streaming so one has the
choice.

You'll have a choice with iPlayer in a later phase.

"Geoff Lane" wrote in message
...
Downloaded the beta software for the BBC iplayer.

Seems very similar to channel4's 4od software but it seems with the BBC
software that the entire program has to be downloaded before viewing
whereas the channel 4 software allows streaming.

Anyone used the BBC software and got any comments.

It looks rubbish compared to the Channel 4 player and there's less on it. It
wont let you resize the viewing window even to 2x so to be able to see
anything you have to watch it gull screen. Even worse when you do go
full-screen it used Software Overlay because the Hardware Overlay is not
released by the tiny viewing window when it changes to the stand alone Media
Player so the motion isn't as smooth because you can just about see it
rendering on scene changes.


Geoff Lane

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Geoff Lane wrote:
Anyone used the BBC software and got any comments.


It should be humanely put down now, or the BBC should license someone else
to run a proper download service with the content properly paid for by
downloaders - like itunes does it. The 'Free' service is doomed IMO....


And this is made worse by the fact that neither player or 4oD allow you to
limit the bit rate at which you are downloading or uploading data like the
torrent downloader do, or set a time window when uploading/downloading
should be allowed or stopped. The 4oD player still uploads data to other
users even when you exit it and won't stop until you delete the programme of
your hard drive, so if you have a data transfer limit set by your ISP it
will exceed it an about a day at the rate its going which is as much as your
internet connection can take.

(enjoy it while you can)

--
Adrian C

Agamemnon wrote:

"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
Geoff Lane wrote:
Anyone used the BBC software and got any comments.


It should be humanely put down now, or the BBC should license someone
else to run a proper download service with the content properly paid
for by downloaders - like itunes does it. The 'Free' service is doomed
IMO....

And this is made worse by the fact that neither player or 4oD allow you
to limit the bit rate....

No. The problem is that the content is not secure. Microsoft's digital
rights management is extremely flawed, and is in bad need of
strengthening. Shoring up the security infrastructure is something that
will burn a lot of cash to stop the cat and mouse game with hackers and
those that want to re-distribute the BBC's programs illegally worldwide.

Indeed, programme makers are not going to have their work freely
redistributed on the internet without asking for even more money up
front (Millions) or being provided (as proven by the want of the big
film studios for DVD-HD and Blueray) with even more expensive and
'uncrackable' protection systems.

Because of this, programme standards are just going to fall - and
eventually there won't be anything worth watching let alone download.

Also, only the well healed PC users are taking part in this trial. Those
fortunate with fast broadband and having some technical knowledge about
installing programs. Probably less than 2% (air plucked figure) of the
population. Think about it, this is not fair.

The BBC should have these services freely accessible to _all_ if it has
the capability to do so. If not, as is plainly the case here, then it
should collect funds e.g. subscriptions, so that the other 98% can enjoy
BBC services without detriment.

These funds could be spent on a high definition streaming service with
someone like Akamai Technologies, rather than belts and braces
downloading through peer-to-peer which encorages piracy.

IMO They should stop iPlayer now and wait until competant technical
authorities (for the BBC isn't even that nowadays) have established a
proper working standard (and maybe burned someone elses money doing so)
and then think about how this could work to the advantage of license payers.

Trying to be the worlds first is not such always a sensible idea!

--
Adrian C

Shoring up the security infrastructure is something that will burn a lot
of cash to stop the cat and mouse game with hackers and those that want to
re-distribute the BBC's programs illegally worldwide.

Anyone with a video capture card, a DVD recorder or a VHS can do this
already. A security infrastructure achieves nothing. The BBC has to face the
fact that it is a "free to air" broadcaster whether it likes it or not.