Bye Bye Microsoft WMV, Bye Bye Real, Hello Flash Video And Extra Views

I expect this was when the BBC's online division (run by ex-MicroSoft people) finally realized that things the BBC produces *must* be usable by everyone who pays for it (just like everyone can, in theory, build a TV receiver) and brought out an online Flash-based version of the previously Windows only '7 days catch up' iPlayer. In only a few months. For hardly any money. Compared to years and millions of pounds for the older system (which can't even stream, it was more like a fancy front end to someone elses P2P system). As I said in the post about the BBC and AIR - I really now wont be taking bets on a Flash-streaming AIR-based desktop. Adobe's media player has already proved the platform.

similar to joe, I am also a heavy mac user and I think the switch to flash is a much better approach. to echo both Joe and Ben, I too would never install the real player on any machine.

Now if we could just get flash video to work on the daggone CrackBerry - I'd be much happier :-)

And the clincher, of course, is this little winner: "causing video views to double". Now, that speaks volumes.

Joe, I've not allowed Real on my machines in years, and commented on that several years ago: http://www.forta.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=A61BA19A-3048-80A9-EF900D37DF307AE2 --- Ben

I'm glad they've made this switch. With the increase in Mac sales, you'd have to be mad to only offer video in WMV or Real. WMP on a Mac is a joke, and I wouldn't let RealPlayer near any machine, Mac or PC.