2014-10-30, 20:57
(2014-10-30, 20:01)stammie Wrote: Pretty typical of the BBC, the API should be available to any license fee payer who requests it and not just for BBC employees only.
If they want to lock down the service they should contact the guys at tvcatchup.com and ask them how they manage to block pretty much all oversees viewers of the service instead of restricting their API.
The XBMC addon is by far the best way of using and viewing Iplayer, I hope one of this sites enterprising addon devs gets it working again if not I think a concerted campaign of emails to the BBC regarding XBMC/Kodi access might be warranted.
No - it's only available to BBC employees TODAY. They've already said they'll make it available more widely at different levels eventually. I just think it's a bit a**e-about-face to cease the old feeds before having the new system ready-to-go. I smell a software outsource contract here....
It isn't just about blocking content - it's about "branding." Yes, they don't want someone living, say, in the US that happens to be a Brit accessing iPlayer (which is just stupid - they could have a) made a much better channel than the flushing noise that is BBC America or b) just charged expats ~£200/year to use UK iPlayer - simps !).
BUT. Read the PDF about Nitro. They want apps to conform to a BBC Look-and-Feel. Instructions on the placing of logos, typefaces, etc. Remember - this is the age of Golgafrincham. Just making it work is no longer important - it has to be a "brand" or an "experience."
Bug*er - did my cynicism show then ?
My guess is that Nitro will be very, very limited for the amateur dev (they have rate-limiting on the keys that stops you accessing too much information - imagine what would happen if you put that in the XBMC iplayer app and hit the limit per-day ?) and that only system written by the big boys/girls will get unencumbered access.
This is EXACTLY what happened with Project Canvas/YouView. It was also going to be nice and open until the large box vendors complained. Theory - you CAN get access to the YouView API, but you have to pay for it and your app has to pass "conformance" with Beeb.