Comments on: On open video and exclusion http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/ And Other Unfocused Things Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:36:31 +1200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: voracity http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6455 voracity Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:36:03 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6455 The perils of unenlightened self-interest. There do seem to be a lot of people that get it, though. The real problem is Apple first and foremost, then Google and Vimeo. (Obviously there's also MS, the patent system and so on, but Apple, Google and Vimeo have the power to easily Do The Right Thing --- but they aren't.) What's amazing about this is that Mozilla might end up being screwed because it becomes a selling point for the other browsers from organisations with fewer principles. [sigh] The perils of unenlightened self-interest.

There do seem to be a lot of people that get it, though. The real problem is Apple first and foremost, then Google and Vimeo. (Obviously there’s also MS, the patent system and so on, but Apple, Google and Vimeo have the power to easily Do The Right Thing — but they aren’t.)

What’s amazing about this is that Mozilla might end up being screwed because it becomes a selling point for the other browsers from organisations with fewer principles. [sigh]

]]> By: Jack http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6438 Jack Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:50:30 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6438 Since it's not going to work out, what's your alternative to H.264? Since it’s not going to work out, what’s your alternative to H.264?

]]> By: Al Jigen Billings http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6437 Al Jigen Billings Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:51:58 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6437 anonymous, that just fractures the web on OS lines, which is really against the nature of the web. What are the Linux users going to do if they, legally, want to play h.264 video? anonymous, that just fractures the web on OS lines, which is really against the nature of the web. What are the Linux users going to do if they, legally, want to play h.264 video?

]]> By: Anonymous http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6430 Anonymous Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:28:30 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6430 I don't see how using OS codecs qualifies as selfish. On OSes with sensible codec frameworks, the user can always install an appropriate codec. Thus, using the OS codecs changes the problem from "never supported" to "improve your OS and it'll work". As for the people who just want to ignore the patents: obviously Mozilla cannot ignore the patents itself, but using the OS codecs allows the *user* to choose for themselves to ignore patents. I don’t see how using OS codecs qualifies as selfish. On OSes with sensible codec frameworks, the user can always install an appropriate codec. Thus, using the OS codecs changes the problem from “never supported” to “improve your OS and it’ll work”.

As for the people who just want to ignore the patents: obviously Mozilla cannot ignore the patents itself, but using the OS codecs allows the *user* to choose for themselves to ignore patents.

]]> By: pd http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6427 pd Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:18:44 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6427 Selfish seems to be a common word thrown out amongst this discussion. It is wrong to call users selfish for simply wanting a better experience. Mozilla's stance will achieve nothing. Flash based players will remain the only real solution for developers who rely upon one simple thing: cross browser compatibility. The *only* cross browser solution developers can rely on in the foreseeable future will Flash plugin based video unless Google gifts Mozilla an On2-based codec that surpasses the poorly-perceived Theora AND the EU forces MS to support Theora and/or a mystical free On2-based codec. Selfish seems to be a common word thrown out amongst this discussion. It is wrong to call users selfish for simply wanting a better experience.

Mozilla’s stance will achieve nothing. Flash based players will remain the only real solution for developers who rely upon one simple thing: cross browser compatibility.

The *only* cross browser solution developers can rely on in the foreseeable future will Flash plugin based video unless Google gifts Mozilla an On2-based codec that surpasses the poorly-perceived Theora AND the EU forces MS to support Theora and/or a mystical free On2-based codec.

]]> By: Dave http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6425 Dave Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:12:21 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6425 Most people seem to really just want Mozilla to just not dignify software patents with any recognition of validity whatsoever and just use an open implementation of h264. Problem is that no matter how bogus those patents may be, they're held by companies with enough power to (ab)use to enforce them. Everyone would like this confrontation to be settled, but none of us really want the mess that would be. Most people seem to really just want Mozilla to just not dignify software patents with any recognition of validity whatsoever and just use an open implementation of h264. Problem is that no matter how bogus those patents may be, they’re held by companies with enough power to (ab)use to enforce them. Everyone would like this confrontation to be settled, but none of us really want the mess that would be.

]]> By: Havvy http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6421 Havvy Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:32:17 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6421 Why not use this as fodder to prove that patents harm innovation? Why not use this as fodder to prove that patents harm innovation?

]]> By: Boris http://theunfocused.net/2010/01/26/on-open-video-and-exclusion/#comment-6420 Boris Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:22:24 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=382#comment-6420 The funny part is how many people mouthing off on the third suggestion above live in countries where H.264 is in fact patented.... The funny part is how many people mouthing off on the third suggestion above live in countries where H.264 is in fact patented….

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