[SWLUG] S4C and video streaming - an update

[Peter Bradley]

Just in case anyone should be interested.

I've now complained officially to S4C that their web site continues to 
say, "You will need Windows Media Player to watch video content on the 
S4C website."

I've pointed out to them that this is not correct and that they know it 
isn't because of the previous emails that I've sent them.  The complaint 
also contains a handy list for them of video players for Windows and 
Linux that I have now proved work:

Windows:
*  MPlayer (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/dload.html)
*  xine (http://forums.fedoraforum.org/archive/index.php/t-21722.html)
*  vlc (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
*  WMP

Linux:
*  KMPlayer (http://kmplayer.kde.org/)
*  Xine (http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Xine-026.shtml)
*  vlc (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
*  Kaffeine (http://kaffeine.kde.org/)

I haven't said anything about the Mac because I don't have one to test.

I also refer to the judgement of the European Court of First Instance 
that "unbundles" WMP from Windows.

The complaint says that there is no objection to them recommending WMP 
on a Windows (or Mac) platform if that's what they want to do, but they 
really can't say or even suggest that there is no option: and they 
should also include instructions for receiving video on Linux.  And 
lastly I've reiterated my willingness to write an article about 
connecting from Linux, to which they could link if they wanted, rather 
than have them write the thing themselves and therefore accept 
responsibility for it.

Happy days!

If anyone else felt like writing with a similar complaint, by the way, 
I'm sure it would help.  You can even do it in English, if you want:

http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_complaint_form.shtml

However, when I used the form (Welsh version) it fell foul of their spam 
filters - I guess because of the number of links in the email.  So an 
alternative email address is:

gwifren at s4c.co.uk

(It's the "Listener's Hotline" - or something like that)

Cheers


Peter