[Bradford] Ordnance survey get-a-map and silverlight

[David Carpenter]

I sent them an email to complain following this post from Bernie. I got
the same email back word for word.

Cheers
David

 On Thu, 2011-04-28 at 14:05 +0100, Bernard Czenkusz wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I was recently dismayed when connecting to Ordnance survey get-a-map to
> find it required the Silverlight plug in.  I sent an email to them, and
> have just received the following reply:  You  may find it interesting.
> 
>   Cheers,
> 
>      Bernie
> 
> -----------------
> 
> >From CustomerServices at ordnancesurvey.co.uk
> 
> Dear Mr Czenkusz,
> 
> Thank you for your email.
> 
> As you may know many websites use plug-ins from various companies to
> provide a richer web experience. There are many such plug-ins available,
> for instance Flash (from Adobe) or indeed Silverlight (from Microsoft).
> However as with any program it is always unlikely that the plug-ins will
> be compatible with every variation of computer, operating system or
> browser. 
> 
> Silverlight works on various Windows operating systems including Windows
> XP, Vista and 7 as well as Mac's (OS X 10.4.11+) and most popular
> browsers. Microsoft's requirements for Silverlight can be seen on the
> link below on the system requirements tab - 
> 
> http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/Get-Started/Install/Default.aspx 
> 
> Ordnance Survey chose to use Silverlight as it provides a unique user
> experience on the web and, importantly, has a deep zoom feature which
> allows customers to keep zooming in on the map without distorting it.
> Our research shows that around 80% of visitors to the site already have
> Silverlight installed and, of those who do not, nearly all can
> successfully install it. 
> 
> I am sorry if you are unable to access the new getamap service;
> unfortunately in providing a rich web experience such choices do
> sometimes have to be made. However we are continuing to develop getamap
> and it may become possible to make it available for more operating
> systems or browsers in the future. 
> 
> Lastly, you may be interested to learn that the old Get-a-map service is
> still available from the link below: 
> 
> http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm 
> 
> I trust you will find this helpful.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Mrs Janet Keep
> 
> Customer Service Advisor
> 
> Customer Services, Ordnance Survey 
> 
> Adanac Drive, SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, SO16 0AS 
> 
> Phone: +44 (0)8456 050505  | Fax: +44 (0)8450 990494 
> 
> http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ | customerservices at ordnancesurvey.co.uk 
> 
> Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this
> email.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bernard Czenkusz [mailto:bernie at skipole.co.uk] 
> Sent: 23 April 2011 22:03
> To: Open Data; Customer Services
> Subject: Changes to get a map service
> 
> Very disappointed in the new get a map service.  I use Linux/firefox,
> and was saddened to see the requirement for a Microsoft plug in
> (proprietary and from a non-uk company) .
> 
> I tried the silverlight download, which directed me to the Linux mono
> version, and which seemed to install ok on my Firefox browser, but I now
> get a blank screen when going to get-a-map.
> 
> For your info: I'm using Firefox 3.6.15 on Ubuntu 10.04
> 
> What is wrong with a standards based system? The word 'opendata' surely
> implies 'open' as in as standard as possible. To require a plug-in,
> which was previously not necessary is a backward step.
> 
> Do you have any links to the previous system which worked perfectly?
> 
> Please consider this email as a complaint and a request for a fully
> open, and truly standards-based method for accessing the map data.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Bernard czenkusz
> 
> bernie at skipole.co.uk   
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Bradford mailing list
> Bradford at mailman.lug.org.uk
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford

-- 
David Carpenter

nornir

E: david.carpenter at nornir.co.uk
Skype: carpenter.david

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