Online Newspapers Do Something Right For A Change
from the tell-AP-to-shove-it dept
Earlier this month, the Associated Press launched a streaming video offering for its partner newspapers, so they could offer video on their websites. There was just one problem: it only worked on Microsoft IE on Windows. While Microsoft still has the majority of the browser market share, that's still an odd decision. Firefox and other browsers do have enough marketshare to matter at this point, especially among early adopters and the type of people you'd want to watch the video. The same is true of the Mac community. This raised a lot of discussion online, and it appears that at least one newspaper company has turned down the AP until they figure out how to make the service cross-platform compatible. It's nice to see a newspaper willing to stand up for its users -- as this seems like the type of story that could just generate a lot of discussion, without the newspapers actually doing anything, leaving the AP to stick with it's Windows IE-only policy.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
considering... by paperchick on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 4:16pm
most papers use macs to do their design work, why on earth would the AP offer something only available on windows machines?
~first-ever first post!~
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Quit complaining by Darwin on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 4:32pm
Yes, IE is the most used browser out there. So it make perfect sense that they would FIRST offer usability to this browser. Common, I like MAC and firefox as well, but you can't expect them to release it to a mutiplatform base without having some production time first.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 4:45pm
If they built it right in the first place, it wouldn't make any difference which browser was used. If you build an website or web-based tool for a single platform or browser, you are missing a key point of the Internet.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
IE Tabs for Firefox by ZOMG CENSORED on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 5:24pm
Just get that extension and you don't really have to worry about this "problem". Most savvy "Foxers" already have it installed and aren't stopped by such minor hiccups.
However, with that said. A good designer designs for all platforms not just one, so that a maximum amount of accessibility can be reached.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by fishbane on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 5:43pm
If they built it right in the first place, it wouldn't make any difference which browser was used.
You neglect to consider that there might be business deal involved.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 6:24pm
Probably because firefuks and the other browsers suck. MS rules!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
AP shows they suck by Concerned Mac user on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 6:57pm
AP sucks why would an intelligent PC/Mac user want to read their drival anyway?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
That's the AP for you. by Tech on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 7:01pm
This is par for the course for the AP. When they came out with their pciture service, on the web, it ws the same way. After about 2 years, it could be used on other platforms and with other browsers. They promise to get a service out by a certain date and NEVER make that date. This is the result. I am surprised, though, that a newspaper would not take the service. They must not be on the board of directors, or low on the list of meber newspapers. AP is run BY it's membership which is mainly newspapers.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
I Use Linux by Roger Harkness on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 7:14pm
As much as we used to put down Real Player, now that I have Linux I wish everyone chose to stream in Real Player because Quicktime and Windows media player doesn't work in Linux, at least not streaming, but Real Player Works.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by Anonymous Coward on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 7:22pm
Linux sucks too. Get a real life, PUNK!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
What is the point by Jason Frank on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 8:19pm
of the flaming, get back on topic.
Anyway, Macs do have an available IE for them. In which case, that would give a much broader audience access.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Client-server by Svensk on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 8:26pm
If it only plays for one web client it is a client-server application, not a website.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by discojohnson on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 8:51pm
FTA, "'The issue isn’t Microsoft’s business practices,' he wrote. 'The issue is a decision by Associated Press that the immediacy of revenue from Microsoft’s ad network is more important than the fact that X percent of people using AP member sites will not be able to view its product (at least, not initially). When we [at Network World] decided on a video platform, we went with Flash because of the cross-browser compatibility. But we have a dedicated sales staff (in a niche market) so we didn’t face the revenue issues described by AP. Our first advertiser? Microsoft.'
that is exactly why it's an IE based product. this forum is finished.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: What is the point by kossori on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 9:40pm
not anymore
clicky
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
by A Funny Guy / The Poison Pen on Mar 30th, 2006 @ 10:39pm
You people have come up with some of the craziest shit i have ever heard.....
Bottom line there needs to be a web based lauguage that works the same in any browser. That would bring standarization to the broswer world and this crap would not keep happening
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: by Anonymous Coward on Mar 31st, 2006 @ 5:25am
yay, flamebait!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: by Anonymous Coward on Mar 31st, 2006 @ 5:26am
yay, same flamebait! Mommy says to put the computer down, you have a big day tomorrow!
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re:Sarcasm by Agonizing Fury on Mar 31st, 2006 @ 6:16am
Bottom line there needs to be a web based lauguage that works the same in any browser. That would bring standarization to the broswer world and this crap would not keep happening
I hope that was meant to be sarcastic remark ~Agonizing Fury
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment