Those of a certain age will wax lyrical and glow slightly when the BBC Micro is mentioned in a conversation. It was a computer – along with the Sinclair ZX80/81/ Spectrum – that introduced a generation of the UK to computing.
In Gordon Brown’s first New Years Honours List, Steve Furber, a principal designer of the BBC Microcomputer received one of the 32 CBE’s that were given this year.
(more…)
As promised, below is the interview we did yesterday evening with Mark Taylor, President of the Open Source Consortium, following their meeting the BBC Technology staff, giving you the latest news on the BBC’s view on changing the iPlayer to an open platform rather than the Microsoft-only approach they’ve taken until now.
We met with Mark Taylor, President of the Open Source Consortium (OSC) last night, directly after his meeting with the BBC to discuss opening-up the iPlayer to run on more platforms than just the Microsoft browser.
It appears that the meetings were positive and boiled down to two points, the BBC feels they haven’t communicated their desires for iPlayer properly and that they want the iPlayer to run on an open platform.
(more…)
We’ve had a listen to the podcasted interview with Ashley Highfield, Director of BBC Future Media and Technology, put out by BBC Backstage and thought it was worth some comment.
It’s clearly part of a PR battle against those who are voicing disappointment at the BBC making the iPlayer only work on a Microsoft platform.
(more…)
Official timings of the Switch Over last night for the Whitehaven relay.
02:00 – BBC2 switched off after the snooker had finished.
02:10 – ITV switched off
02:17 – ITV back on previous BBC2 channel
02:37 – First digital Mux came up delivering five channels on the old BBC2 analogue frequency.
Each of the other two relays Eskdale Green and Gosforth followed step by step in quick succession, synchronised via mobile phone.
We’ve dragged ourself out of bed to have a quick check that the Whitehaven Switch Over was a success.
You’ll be aware of the considerable build up to this pivotal event for UK TV.
(more…)
I suspect that you’re not going to be surprised to hear that the local paper for Whitehaven is called the Whitehaven News.
It may surprise you that they’ve has been knocking out news stories since 1852 – making it all the more incredible that it’s now at the leading the charge for digital Switchover in this fair town.
I picked up the paper today and thought it would be worth having a dissection of its Digital TV coverage and advertising.
(more…)
Vast tracts of London, UK and San Jose, California were engulfed in a buzzword blizzard as the BBC and Adobe Systems announced a strategic relationship around the delivery of Web video content.
(more…)
The Archers, a BBC radio soap-opera that has been running for over 50 years, has now become the latest podcast from the BBC.
There will be gasps of shock echoing around the UK at this news.
(more…)
Big surprise today as BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, announce their purchase of Lonely Planet, the well-know publisher of travel guides.
The purchase sum was not disclosed and the two founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler will retain a 25% holding in the company.
(more…)