BBC Quietly Announces Linux/Mac iPlayer 218
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.'"
Quietly?? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Version that has fewer features is unacceptable (Score:2, Funny)
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 (Score:2, Funny)
Why all the Fuss? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Why the "i" (Score:3, Funny)
Or maybe they secretly did, and Apple got the contract?
Re:Equivalent? (Score:3, Funny)