Group aims to develop open Web TV spec

3/22/2011 1:14 PM EDT

I'm glad to hear that industry is showing an interest in this. I assume that this is being done with an eye towards the FCC AllVid concept. If the CE industry doesn't weigh in on this then there is a very real possibility that the cable industry will be able to kneecap it the same way that they did with CableCARD. That would kill off efforts like Google TV before they really have a chance to get started.

Larry M.

3/22/2011 2:12 PM EDT

if they are serious about this "Group aims to develop open Web TV spec" then they should pay attention to and be collaborative with kierank

he is writing the world's first broadcastencoder OSS code right now based on the world class x264 OSS LGPL code see his github
https://github.com/kierank/broadcastencoder/wiki

and he's taking patches and option anyone would like to have included in this professional broadcaster right now.

there's also the other part they call x262, again an mpeg2 codec based on the very same x264 cross platform assembly optimised code base
https://github.com/kierank/x262

find him every day in the #x264dev IRC channel where the main development takes place and introduce yourself and outline your wishes

3/22/2011 3:29 PM EDT

ooh instant fail in the real OSS eye's here with their
"To join DMP

Companies/organisations and individuals can join DMP by signing a copy of the DMP Statutes for acceptance and paying the yearly fee of 1,500 CHF"

why , simple sure they need fee's to support projects etc, and that's fine for asking Companies/organisations to pay a fee...

but to ask individuals, the very same individuals that will be supplying, building, and contributing in the most fundamental way to make this a success to pay any fee just for being and taking part in this initiative is totally wrong.

sticking the word "Open" in front of the "Web TV spec" words does not make it a real OSS initiative, as can be clearly demonstrated in the OpenGL organisation with their patented technology that for instance MESA cant and wont include in their OSS code even though they need them to progress past the GL3 spec etc.

OSS allows for commercial use in the LGPL ,as in the case of x264 for instance that is dual LGPL/GPL licence.

but for this unknown OCTV effort to charge private individuals a fee here is wrong ,especially individuals that use this code for personal use and yet want to contribute, and those individuals that write the OSS code these so called 'Open Initiatives' wish to profit from and gain acceptance etc.

maybe they should re-think the document and structure ASAP and iv notices several missing requirements for long term use and uptake too...

3/24/2011 12:41 AM EDT

well clearly above all else its a "poor business approach", for obvious reasons, you dont disenfranchise or exclude the very people that will build your long term and flexible OSS business model...

"unethical" too but that is the VC business as usual for many

3/29/2011 3:27 AM EDT

It is a really desireable to have this kind of standard for webTV to be used as not only for internet-connected TV, but as a HD video conference device as well.

4/2/2011 4:45 PM EDT

This is yet more devisive ca-ca de toro from Microsoft haters. Furthermore, shutting out Microsoft Silverlight and the use of .NET and in particular the C# programming language will only motivate Microsoft to acquire its own hardware manufacturer if compelled to go it alone.

None of this devisiveness is good for people who use TV, it hinders and obstructs or otherwise destroys jobs and it will only result in some other corporate entity in the bully pulpit.

The best thing for everybody is inclusion. Including everybody is the best way to avoid repeating the mistakes Microsoft has made in the past as well as those mistakes the rest of us made by enabling Microsoft.