Is the BBC Perpetuating the Microsoft Monopoly?
,----[ Quote ]
| The BBC recently released its Public Value Test for "public consultation"
| with respect to its proposed on-demand services. The problem is that, while
| the EU has hammered Microsoft for using its monopoly unfairly, the BBC is
| poised to prop up the convicted monopolist with a Windows-only service.
|
| [...]
|
| According to Alan Cox, a well-known Linux kernel hacker, "Such a proposal
| IMHO completely violates the expectations that the BBC does not use public
| funds to distort markets, and there is no sign that the BBC trust who
| should be overseeing this have done the relevant market distortion
| analysis."
`----
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/80699/index.html
The BBC will not have a problem purchasing Dell and Intel products either,
despite all their illegal multi-million kickbacks. Industrial crime should
not be encouraged by taxpayers.
Related:
BBC plans to lock viewers into Microsoft monopoly says Open Source Consortium
,----[ Quote ]
| The Open Source Consortium (OSC) believes the plans are anti-competitive
| and will use public money to lock viewers into the technologies of
| a repeatedly convicted monopolist.
`----
http://www.publictechnology.net/article_avantgo.php?sid=7655
Beeb slammed for 'fawning' to Bill Gates
,----[ Quote ]
| BBC viewers have flooded the corporation with complaints over how it
| covered the launch of Microsoft Vista earlier this week.
|
| In one cringingly servile interview worthy of Uriah Heep, the
| Beeb's news presenter Hugh Edwards even thanked Gates at the
| end of it, presumably in appreciation at being allowed to give
| the Vole vast coverage for free.
|
| In other TV news items presenters excitedly explained how Vistac
| ould be obtained and installed - details courtesy of the BBC's
| website.
|
| But British viewers, currently forced to pay a £131.50 licence
| fee to maintain the BBC's "impartiality", were less than impressed.
|
| Scores got in touch to complain that so much was Auntie up Bill's
| bum that you could barely see her corset.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37411
http://slated.org/bbc_microsoft_bias
Brits! Act now to save the BBC from Microsoft
,----[ Quote ]
| The BBC are holding an open consultation regarding how they're
| going to delivery on-demand content, they want answers to
| questions like: "How important is it that the proposed seven-day
| catch-up service over the internet is available to consumers who
| are not using Microsoft software?"
`----
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/31/brits_act_now_to_sav.html
Beeb breaks out with Windows WMA protection
,----[ Quote ]
| According to a press release from Sonos, the blokes over
| at the Beeb have decided to jump ship for relying on
| Realplayer for web content, and have switched over
| entirely to the Windows-friendly WMA format. Now
| that the BBC has made The Big Switch, BBC radio
| stations will be received automatically for users
| of wireless music and radio provider Sonos.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35282
BBC Looks To Microsoft For Web 2.0
,----[ Quote ]
| However, you don't sign deals or commitments if you're a quasi-autonomous
| Public Corporation operating as a public service broadcaster, as the BBC
| is. BBC Director General Mark Thompson met Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates
| in Seattle on Wednesday to sign the non-exclusive memorandum of
| understanding and discuss the BBC's digital strategy.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/28/bbc-microsoft-internet-cx_cn_0928bbc.html?partner=yahootix
http://tinyurl.com/j5pn7
An open letter to Bill Gates
,----[ Quote ]
| Dear Bill Gates
|
| Give me back my weekend. I bought a new Windows Vista laptop -- and
| that's when the trouble began.
|
| [...]
|
| But what really grates is that your system is incompatible with two
| of the vital tools of my trade. Vista refuses to load the software
| for my newish Olympus digital recorder. And here?s what takes the
| biscuit. Vista rejects my HP IPAQ handheld device ? even though the
| software for that was created by Microsoft!
|
| So in order to put Vista at the centre of what I do, I would have to
| buy hundreds of pounds of new hardware.
|
| [...]
|
| My conclusion? For all the expensive and much-extended gestation,
| Vista was not ready for commercial release. And, just so you know,
| I've never once had a comparably horrible experience with the
| Google boys.
`----
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2007/02/an_open_letter_to_bill_gates.html
http://tinyurl.com/2tlc8w
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