Channel4 4od service

[darrenm]

I really want to use the 4od service from Channel4. They have some great shows on there, but they only support Windows XP. This bugs me a great deal and I have told them so. If anyone else feels the same could they also let Channel4 know at this address http://help.channel4.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=22,E=0000000000011475887,K=2801,Sxi=0,T=Case,C ase=Obj(2148),VARSET_OBJECTID=1910,VARSET_OBJECTNA ME=Contact%20Us#
thanks.

[sophtpaw]

I wrote to them and this was their reply:

Dear conrad,

Thank you for your email regarding 4oD.

Unfortunately we cannot say when the 4oD service will be available to users of other platforms, including Mac OS and Linux. The problem is, our content providers (e.g. the production companies who make our shows), insist on using a DRM licensing system.

The DRM (Digital Rights Management) system basically protects the video content from duplication and broadcast outside the UK & ROI. Currently they insist on using Microsoft's DRM, and because of this we can only support Microsoft operating systems.

Linux currently has no such DRM system available and so our content providers will not allow us to support the Linux operating system. Macintosh do have a solution, however the closed DRM system used by Apple is not currently available for licence by third parties and there is no other Mac-compatible DRM solution which meets the protection requirements of our content owners. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer 4oD and other video content to Mac users at this stage.

We are sorry to disappoint on this occasion and assure you that if changes throughout the industry happen, as we would like, we will ensure the support of other operating systems.

If you require further information, feel free to email me back or visit http://help.channel4.com/4oD/

Bob Jones
Channel 4 Customer Support

Please read our Terms and Conditions at http://www.channel4.com/4od/terms.html

We've updated our website! Check out our new help section and FAQ's for all the things you've always wanted to know about our channels.

http://www.channel4.com/help

Channel 4 take no responsibility for third party websites


************************************************** ****

[tigerpants]

I wrote to them and this was their reply:

Dear conrad,

Thank you for your email regarding 4oD.

Unfortunately we cannot say when the 4oD service will be available to users of other platforms, including Mac OS and Linux. The problem is, our content providers (e.g. the production companies who make our shows), insist on using a DRM licensing system.

The DRM (Digital Rights Management) system basically protects the video content from duplication and broadcast outside the UK & ROI. Currently they insist on using Microsoft's DRM, and because of this we can only support Microsoft operating systems.

Linux currently has no such DRM system available and so our content providers will not allow us to support the Linux operating system. Macintosh do have a solution, however the closed DRM system used by Apple is not currently available for licence by third parties and there is no other Mac-compatible DRM solution which meets the protection requirements of our content owners. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer 4oD and other video content to Mac users at this stage.

We are sorry to disappoint on this occasion and assure you that if changes throughout the industry happen, as we would like, we will ensure the support of other operating systems.

If you require further information, feel free to email me back or visit http://help.channel4.com/4oD/

Bob Jones
Channel 4 Customer Support

Please read our Terms and Conditions at http://www.channel4.com/4od/terms.html

We've updated our website! Check out our new help section and FAQ's for all the things you've always wanted to know about our channels.

http://www.channel4.com/help

Channel 4 take no responsibility for third party websites


************************************************** ****

MS DRM?! If it hasn't already, it'll be hacked. MS having anything to do with security is about as effective as installing a cat flap in an elephant house.

[aeiah]

whether it is crackable or not doesnt really matter. if its the only DRM available then the company will still use it, even if a bunch of geeks know how to get around it. DRM is in place to stop the lay person breaking copyright restrictions, not the pirate, hacker or geek.

i havent looked into whether there is a way to get a dump of the stream (is it even streamed? im at work so i cant really spend a long time poking around channel4.com) or if its just a matter of cracking a wmv but it can probably be done. it may be easier just to run vmware if you have a copy of xp anywhere though.

or you could try and install windows media player using wine. you need to install v9 first then upgrade to 10. i dont know if it works well enough or not though

[PetePete]

has anyone tried using wine to install 4oD and WMPv10 ?

you also need .net framework :(

edit:
i think all the download program does is act as a browser....
going to http://vodapp.grid.channel4.com/c4site-web/schedule.do appears to be the same...
im at work currently but will investigate later...


edit2:
actualy i think the program might act as the p2p download manager aswell. would be a bit crap if thats the case

[Rebel2206]

It requires on a java script that i belive is embedded in the software
here is the link, if you could tell firefox what to do with that script you could get it to work

javascript:void( null );

[onex]

Got 4od working on Ubuntu 7.10 without much effort. Admittedly, I need Windows XP to run in VMware but the hack is pretty good and not much effort to get up and running. The upside is compiz still works with this implementation.

Check this tutorial to see how it works:

Click here to see how it works. (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Linux-Symbiosis-Not-a-Dream-Anymore-59314.shtml)

It's not perfect but it's better than running it in a VMware window or having a dual boot with Windows residing on a partition. I've also run several Windows applications using this method and is mostly seamless. The only downside is video playback is a bit stunted in full screen but that's using a Dell XPS M1530 with a 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo processor and a 256Mb GeForce 8600 graphics card. If you've got a quad core and a better graphics card it might not be an issue at all.

Good luck!

onex

[MatthewBlack]

Watch again now works on the 4od website under Linux (Firefox 3.0.8, Ubuntu 8.10). It seems to use flash instead of silverlight now.

[theo404]

I remember looking at this thread 6 months ago and wishing a port would be made.... these days the tripe that counts for television on channel 4 makes me wonder if I care.... Well maybe for shameless.... torrents anyone?

I still feel though that 4OD should be made available to the linux masses... As iplayer was (as it used to be) its a major disadvantage to the necessary proliferation of "home" linux users... As with the disgustingly poor attempts at producing a working flash platform.... [-o<

[monsterstack]

I remember looking at this thread 6 months ago and wishing a port would be made.... these days the tripe that counts for television on channel 4 makes me wonder if I care.... Well maybe for shameless.... torrents anyone?

I still feel though that 4OD should be made available to the linux masses... As iplayer was (as it used to be) its a major disadvantage to the necessary proliferation of "home" linux users... As with the disgustingly poor attempts at producing a working flash platform.... [-o<

You might want to check out get_iplayer (http://linuxcentre.net/getiplayer/) [linuxcentre.net]. It works for the BBC and ITV's on-demand systems. It also allows you to get the ITV programmes without the need for Silverlight. Bonus. It gets the un-DRM'd streams intended for the iPhone and downloads them for you, thereby removing the need to get all illegal with DRM-circumvention. I have a slow connection and being able to download the shows off iPlayer rather than sit through a stuttering stream of nothing is a big bonus.

[hyperdude111]

Guys, 4od online works for linux. Its just the full application that wont.

[hebeallrusty]

Just received an email for 4od saying that they will be making the whole 4od application obsolete in favour of releasing all content online:


Dear 4oD user,

You may have seen or heard rumours in the press about changes to 4oD. As a valued 4oD user we thought we'd let you know exactly what this will mean for you and help clear up any confusion.

No doubt you're already aware that you can watch 4oD Catch-Up on our new improved channel4.com (and if you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for?). All the content is streamed which makes it really easy to use, you shouldn't need to download anything - simply find what you want to watch and hit "Play". Oh, and non-Windows users will be pleased to know that 4oD Catch-Up on channel4.com is now Mac and Linux compatible.
space TAKE ME TO 4oD CATCH-UP NOW space

From around the end of June you'll also be able to watch all our archive programmes on channel4.com. Which means all your favourites will be in one place and available for free.

Of course you're welcome to use your 4oD application until then if you prefer, although you may find that you are no longer able to download or rent some programmes or films. However you may be interested to know that many popular 4oD programmes are available to buy and keep on itunes.
space Take me to Channel 4 on itunes space

Rest assured that if you have ever entered your payment card details to rent or purchase a programme on 4oD these will be fully removed from the system once the 4oD application closes. However your customer account will remain active and can be used for other channel4.com services.

Above all, we hope you'll continue to get loads of enjoyment out of 4oD. If there's anything we haven't covered you can find more information by clicking here.

Enjoy,

The 4oD team

[boron]

I wrote to them and this was their reply:

Dear conrad,

Thank you for your email regarding 4oD.

Unfortunately we cannot say when the 4oD service will be available to users of other platforms, including Mac OS and Linux. The problem is, our content providers (e.g. the production companies who make our shows), insist on using a DRM licensing system.

The DRM (Digital Rights Management) system basically protects the video content from duplication and broadcast outside the UK & ROI. Currently they insist on using Microsoft's DRM, and because of this we can only support Microsoft operating systems.

Linux currently has no such DRM system available and so our content providers will not allow us to support the Linux operating system. Macintosh do have a solution, however the closed DRM system used by Apple is not currently available for licence by third parties and there is no other Mac-compatible DRM solution which meets the protection requirements of our content owners. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer 4oD and other video content to Mac users at this stage.

We are sorry to disappoint on this occasion and assure you that if changes throughout the industry happen, as we would like, we will ensure the support of other operating systems.

If you require further information, feel free to email me back or visit http://help.channel4.com/4oD/

Bob Jones
Channel 4 Customer Support

Please read our Terms and Conditions at http://www.channel4.com/4od/terms.html

We've updated our website! Check out our new help section and FAQ's for all the things you've always wanted to know about our channels.

http://www.channel4.com/help

Channel 4 take no responsibility for third party websites


************************************************** ****

HI, I just went to http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4oD and was able to watch ising Ubuntu 9.04
Not sure how that worked, but it does.
Regards, Boron

[Joeb454]

HI, I just went to http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4oD and was able to watch ising Ubuntu 9.04
Not sure how that worked, but it does.
Regards, Boron

It seems they've switched to using a flash based player as an alternative so that Mac & Linux users can access the content as well

[stoutfellow]

Hi all
This is the only thread I could find on 4oD problems, and it mostly seems to date from when 4oD was a separate program. I can't get the (presumably flash) web player to work on firefox 3.5.4 on Karmic. I am in ROI but this is no longer a problem (and in any case it works fine in Vista dual boot) I'm sure it's not a flash problem since youtube, and RTE's similar online player work fine. When I try to use it it says 'loadiong content' but then says "an error has occurred trying to play the chosen item"

any ideas?

[Xbehave]

make sure you are running the latest adobe flash
create a new blank firefox profile
if list works, you probably have a bad cookie, you can clear all your cookies or use firefox's preferences to delete just eh 4od ones
move flash cookies and cache

mv ~/.adobe{,~}
mv ~/.macromedia{,~}

if it works then shuffle through the flash cache and cookies to remove anything 4od related then move any cookies/flash you want to keep back.

[stoutfellow]

thanks, but that didn't work. I right clicked on the failed flash screen, and it says

version 2.2.0
CDN: ak

about adobe flash player 10...


Now my worry is this CDN: ak business. Please someone tell me that my IP has not been recognised as Canada? it must mean something else. I promise I'm in ireland ;)

the other worry is when I go to "manage content plug-ins" I scroll to "flash video (video/flv)" and it says "VLC Multimedia Plugin (compatible Totem 2.28.2)"

Does this mean it's not using adobe to play flash?

thanks for help