A new twist - NBC online Olympic coverage for Vista only

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Moley's Musings

I'm concerned with aspects of freedom, choice, respect, courtesy and consideration. This is obvious from my contributions. I also believe in the value of common sense.

I just picked up this bit of news. NBC are partnering with M$ to provide full online coverage of the Olymic Games in Beijing this summer but, wait for it, only for Windows Vista users. Windows XP and earlier are excluded, as are Mac and Linux users.

If this is tied in to the Media Centre, then it's only Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate that will provide coverage. If not then are we looking at something a little more sinister and deliberate to force Vista sales by optimising for Vista only.

So it appears that the usual strong arm tactics of a convicted monopolist may still be alive and well, and indeed flourishing. Or am I wrong and that it's only Vista's technology that can actually deliver?

Talkback

I think I'm going to hurl...

J.A. Watson 1 July, 2008 15:51
Reply

Update

To download and watch the Olympic Games from NBC, Windows Vista Media Centre is required (Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate). Apparently this will be High Definition.

However, it does appear that it will also be possible to steam video of the Olympic Games from MSN using Silverlight, rather than Adobe Flash. This is presumably available on Windows versions which support Silverlight.

However, if I understand correctly, there will be a delay of about 12 hours for the Vista HD content but the delay for the streaming video hasn't been specified, which suggests that one may not be able watch the Games live onlne, as originally implied. Perhaps the streaming video on MSN will be highlights rather than full coverage anyway.

What about BBC?

Moley 4 July, 2008 12:22
Reply

I get the feeling they chose the wrong event, the olympics are widely covered, the BBC will cover all events live and I pressume other networks will do so in their respective countries, highlights too will be all over the news and Youtube!
I can't imagine anybody will folk out the hundreds of pounds on upgrading their OS just so they can download the olympic games.

Next time, Microsoft, choose something more exclussive!

harpless 4 July, 2008 18:27
Reply

M$ has to do everything it can to force people to use vista, as they aren't using it voluntarily. Seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot more often now-a-days, and I appreciate their efforts. Apple and Linux should send them thank you cards for bringing vista to the public, I know I have.

ator1940 25 July, 2008 07:38
Reply

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