[d@DCC] CBC's use of audio/video media formats.

[Ross Jordan]

It would seem Jem, on Sun, Sep 12, 2004 at 10:10:46PM -0500, wrote:
> > I guess I was a little unclear on the meaning. I think one of the big
> > reasons CBC has gone with Windows media player is due to ease of use. It
> > will work with the vast majority of systems out of the box. The end user
> > doesn't have to install anything. For any other format -- mp3, ogg, even
> > real media player -- the end user (in most cases) will have to install
> > something. In many cases (kiosks, workplaces, schools etc.) this may not
> > even be possible. It may be unfortunate that big companies can leverage
> > their monopolies in such a way -- but CBC is making a practical decision
> > to make things as easy as possible for _most_ end users.
> 
> I have yet to see any system out there that can't play MP3 audio. Linux 
> distros come loaded with plenty of software that can play mp3 streams - 
> xmms, totem, mplayer, mpg123 to name a few. And any Windows Media Player 
> except for the terribly old ones will support MP3. Anyone who has run 
> Windows Update in the past 2 years will probably be able to play MP3s 
> through Windows Media Player.

I am fairly certain that none of Windows 98 2000 or NT shipped with
a media player that plays mp3s out of the box. Redhat and several other
Linuxes do not ship an mp3 player due to patent issues. Certainly
it is quite simple for most people to install their own player.
But, there are still many people who are not comfortable installing
their own software or who may use a computer in a restricted setting (lab,
kiosk, work or whatnot) who cannot install an mp3 player.

-Ross
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