[Gllug] Which architecture?

[Joel Bernstein]

On 4 May 2009, at 10:02, John Winters wrote:

> lesleyb at herlug.org.uk wrote (of amd64 Debian installation):
>> So far so good.  I have no control over audio sound at the moment  
>> and it isn't playing the BBC videos in iceweasel.
>
> The Beeb seem to have done all they can to make iPlayer as  
> inaccessible
> as possible.  Unfortunately you need Realplayer to access it and  
> AFAIK,
> there isn't yet a version of that for 64-bit browsers.
>
> The workaround is to install the 32 bit compatibility libraries and a
> 32-bit copy of IceWeasel (or genuine Firefox even).  Then you can
> install the RealPlayer plug in for 32-bit Linux - provided you don't
> mind the licence issues.

John, much as I respect you for the good input you provide on this  
list, I have to take issue with the FUD expressed here.

iPlayer requires Flash for browser based use (which is available cross- 
platform and in 32-bit and 64-bit varieties) or has desktop (download  
video) apps for Windows, Mac and Linux.

As far as I can tell, none of your statements above are correct. I  
think the BBC generally have been pretty good about providing open- 
platform-friendly versions of the iPlayer. They certainly don't seem  
to mind someone-I-met downloading DRM-free versions of their  
programmes using get_iplayer, which is a good step.

Naturally this isn't intended as a personal criticism but to set the  
record straight and offer my own experiences of using iPlayer on Mac  
OS X and Linux.

/joel
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