Online Newspapers Do Something Right For A Change

from the tell-AP-to-shove-it dept

Thu, Mar 30th 2006 4:11pm — Mike Masnick

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.

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18 Comments

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paperchick, 30 Mar 2006 @ 4:16pm

considering...
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!~
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Darwin, 30 Mar 2006 @ 4:32pm

Quit complaining
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.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Mar 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.
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ZOMG CENSORED, 30 Mar 2006 @ 5:24pm

IE Tabs for Firefox
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.
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fishbane, 30 Mar 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.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Mar 2006 @ 6:24pm

Probably because firefuks and the other browsers suck. MS rules!
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Concerned Mac user, 30 Mar 2006 @ 6:57pm

AP shows they suck
AP sucks why would an intelligent PC/Mac user want to read their drival anyway?
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Tech, 30 Mar 2006 @ 7:01pm

That's the AP for you.
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.
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Roger Harkness, 30 Mar 2006 @ 7:14pm

I Use Linux
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.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Mar 2006 @ 7:22pm

Linux sucks too. Get a real life, PUNK!
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Jason Frank, 30 Mar 2006 @ 8:19pm

What is the point
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.
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Svensk, 30 Mar 2006 @ 8:26pm

Client-server
If it only plays for one web client it is a client-server application, not a website.
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discojohnson, 30 Mar 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.
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kossori, 30 Mar 2006 @ 9:40pm

Re: What is the point
not anymore

clicky
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A Funny Guy / The Poison Pen, 30 Mar 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
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Mar 2006 @ 5:25am

Re:
yay, flamebait!
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Mar 2006 @ 5:26am

Re:
yay, same flamebait! Mommy says to put the computer down, you have a big day tomorrow!
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Agonizing Fury, 31 Mar 2006 @ 6:16am

Re:Sarcasm
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
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