I think YouTube runs as some kind of browser-based app on a lot of devices. Mainly due to fragmentation and development challenges but it also gives them a consistent environment to integrate custom codecs and DRM checks.
The UI is pared down to be a convincing app.
TV: Now What?
141–150 of 168 posts
Re: TV: Now What?
#142Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I would like to see a standardized streaming protocol be developed. Like... HLS? > It would eliminate content providers having to roll their own streaming back ends and front end apps for so many platforms. Oh you mean metadata. Forget it. We built a live streaming service specializing in classical works (opera, ballet...), and even within that tiny particular niche, nobody can agree what "standardized" metadata sh…
Yeah more than HLS. It would need to handle authentication and authorization such as is the user subscribed and what content is available them that they may have purchased a la carte. It would need listing of available content for search and indexing by the client. Presumably the major forms of content are standalone (ie movies), series which are a collection of content broken up into seasons, and potentially live st…
In the system we built, some content was live, some was VOD, some was covered by subscription, some could be purchased individually, some was free (sponsored by a patron org that needed attribution), some was available all year round and some only for a very limited period.
On top of that we supported purchases/subscriptions on every major mobile/TV platform and then some - all shared, so when you paid on AppleTV, you could watch it on the web, etc. This included working around platform-specific brain damage, e.g. on Amazon FireTV you can only offer VOD content purchases through Amazon's own catalogue. This also included interoperating with local vendors running the most oddball systems you'd ever witness.
Because of this complexity (which "only" reflected real-world streaming rights deals), we needed a hero UX designer and tight collaboration between frontend, backend, video, and design teams. Forget devops, we have VideoOps.
If you think you can draft a standard that covers each and every possible case, I will happily rate it - the measurement unit is blood sweat and tears. If it gets a 10/10, I will personally rewrite every part of our system to comply - no joking.
Re: TV: Now What?
#143Earlier quoted context omitted.
The fragmentation is a phase until the industry matures. Take a look at other industries, like woodworking. They have established practices which don’t change much. The software industry has so much potential I don’t expect it to mature for another hundred years. Although some patterns are emerging, like strong typing and universal cross-platform runtimes (most notably Web).
There's enormous incentive for somebody to create a tool that actually lets you "write once, run everywhere" by automatically compiling your code to the right format for every platform. This would dramatically reduce development time for companies that have to support multiple platforms which means they'd be willing to pay a substantial sum of money for it. You already kind of have something along those lines with ga…
There is Tauri. Afaik it’s like Electron but doesn’t bundle a browser and instead uses the existing “native” browser on the system. This means you can have 100 Tauri apps and they won’t be any more performance intensive than having 100 open browser tabs.
Re: TV: Now What?
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
You are a power user. Less savvy people can’t or won’t figure this out
Really? Only power users can search on an iPhone and click on a link and go to the TV app or is it only power users who know how to subscribe and cancel a subscription? And only power users search Google for “Orange is the New Black” and click on “How to Watch”?
Yes, the interfaces are clunky, different and confusing. That’s why people despite the cost eventually liked cable because it is an inclusive bundle.
Re: TV: Now What?
#145Earlier quoted context omitted.
Really? Only power users can search on an iPhone and click on a link and go to the TV app or is it only power users who know how to subscribe and cancel a subscription? And only power users search Google for “Orange is the New Black” and click on “How to Watch”?
yes, switching between Netflix and Disney plus actually is difficult. usually, people just give up to use it.
People have become accustomed to using apps since 2008. I assure that most people - including my 80 year old dad - knows how to switch applications.
Re: TV: Now What?
#146Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is a non extreme version of not letting content producers distribute thier own content and where do you draw the line?
Line would be drawn at operating a distribution business for profit. That wouldn't prevent you from putting your own stuff on your own website. Other ideas in this vein include things like requiring non-discrimantory licensing agreements (no "netflix" only licenses)
So now no content producer is ever allowed to sell thier own content on thier own website?
Re: TV: Now What?
#147Earlier quoted context omitted.
Line would be drawn at operating a distribution business for profit. That wouldn't prevent you from putting your own stuff on your own website. Other ideas in this vein include things like requiring non-discrimantory licensing agreements (no "netflix" only licenses)
So now no content producer is ever allowed to sell thier own content on thier own website?
That's correct. You have it nailed down. Any regulations that can be conceptualized are exactly what you say they are. We decided to make child labor illegal so now there are no children working on family farms, no children working in their family stores, and everyone under 18 is not allowed to work at all. We mandated safety in workplaces so now every person has to wear a respirator and a hard hat even in office jobs. Your obviously completely honest arguments are completely right and there is no room at all for anything but the most extreme possible position.
Re: TV: Now What?
#148Earlier quoted context omitted.
yes, switching between Netflix and Disney plus actually is difficult. usually, people just give up to use it.
People have become accustomed to using apps since 2008. I assure that most people - including my 80 year old dad - knows how to switch applications.
You are incredibly cocky and arrogant.
Re: TV: Now What?
#149Earlier quoted context omitted.
People have become accustomed to using apps since 2008. I assure that most people - including my 80 year old dad - knows how to switch applications.
You are incredibly cocky and arrogant.
I would say that you are incredibly insulting to most people if you think they can’t use apps in 2023 after a decade and a half of smart phone usage
Re: TV: Now What?
#150Earlier quoted context omitted.
So now no content producer is ever allowed to sell thier own content on thier own website?
That's correct. You have it nailed down. Any regulations that can be conceptualized are exactly what you say they are. We decided to make child labor illegal so now there are no children working on family farms, no children working in their family stores, and everyone under 18 is not allowed to work at all. We mandated safety in workplaces so now every person has to wear a respirator and a hard hat even in office job…
I am still waiting where do you draw the line and tell someone that they can’t sell the content that they produce on thier own website?