In addition to my last message re. playing BBc IPlayer files in WMP, here's what part of a Wiki article has to say:
One of the key features of the original iPlayer download service was the use of peer-to-peer technology to enable the distribution of large video files (i.e. TV programmes)to scale effectively. Once downloaded, the content was only playable within the iPlayer itself or Windows Media Player 10 or 11, and digital rights management. In December 2008 the BBC moved to an Adobe AIR based client that downloaded content via HTTP rather than P2P. The new system replaced the Windows DRM system with Adobe's own. (DRM) software will prevent it being directly copied to another medium (e.g. another computer or CD-ROM). Additionally, the DRM allows the BBC to decide how long the programmes remain watchable. Programmes will be available for download for seven days following broadcast. Once a programme is downloaded a user will have thirty days to start watching it. Once a user starts to watch a programme, it will continue to be available for the next seven days. These limitations do not apply to viewers using the online streaming service. More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_iPlayer#DRM_criticism Ray Caroline Ford wrote: Ray, Thank you for the advice. I have read the article but it doesn't seem to offer much help as to what the problem is. The files I am trying to play are downloaded programmes from the BBC iPlayer so they will have DRM protection. I have been able to stream a short sample of these programmes successfully just to make sure everything was working properly, and then proceeded to download the two versions on offer, one for portable players and one for Windows Media Player. Neither of these will play on my PC. I don't know whether there's something I need to do to allow Windows Media Player to play DRM files, but I have checked for updates and am already running version 11 with no updates on offer. I'm surprised the BBC have made it so fiendishly difficult to play these files. Perhaps they prefer people just to stream their programmes instead. Caroline. -----Original Message----- From: pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Ray Sent: 01 November 2009 02:06 To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: Re: Problems Playing WMV and MOV Files It's only a guess, but I imagine you need possibly an updated codec for the WMV files installed for Windows Media player.there's a Wiki at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Video#Players MOV is an Apple format and should play in the Windows version of Quicktime, which does handle quite a few file types. Not the most straightforwardly accessible player as you can usually only navigate through a file after stoping play first - with the space bar I think. HTH. Ray Caroline Ford wrote: Hello, I have several files on my PC which I was hoping to be able to play in Windows Media Player, but neither the WMV nor MOV files will play on my Vista laptop. Windows Media Player returns an error telling me that my sound card may need to be updated or isn't installed properly, but I don't think this is the case as I have been able to stream part of the TV programs which these files contain from the internet. Does anyone know whether I need a plug-in for Media Player to allow these files to play, or do I need a different program altogether, and if so, which one? I have looked on the internet and have found reference to Apple QuickTime and Silverlight, but I'm not sure whether either of these would be suitable. Thanks, Caroline. To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4561 (20091031) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4563 (20091101) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: pc-audio-unsubscr...@pc-audio.org
