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View Full Version : Discovery.ca doesn't allow Linux!



Zeenomorph
November 23rd, 2007, 01:53 AM
I was stumbling earlier when I came across this;

http://broadband.discoverychannel.ca/discovery/detecterror.aspx

51063

Are any of you angry about this? I know that I am. I sent them a letter about it. If more people do we can stop this discrimination.

DAVE

Blutack
November 23rd, 2007, 02:02 AM
From a techical standpoint just use the User Agent switcher firefox plugin to mask as IE.
But yep, it sucks.

LaRoza
November 23rd, 2007, 02:04 AM
I tried to access it, and used Opera to identify as IE, and I still couldn't see. I guess it is Canada only.

FuturePilot
November 23rd, 2007, 02:26 AM
Well, I used User Agent Switcher and it didn't give me that message, but it told me I need to update Flash. I guess there's always Help>Report Broken Website....

LaRoza
November 23rd, 2007, 02:29 AM
Well, I used User Agent Switcher and it didn't give me that message, but it told me I need to update Flash. I guess there's always Help>Report Broken Website....

I do not live in Canada, so the content seems to be restricted.

DarkDancer
November 23rd, 2007, 02:31 AM
I saw that message, clicked on the Discovery channel logo, and it allows me to surf all over the site. The warning appears to be a facsimile of a sham.

Coldkill
November 23rd, 2007, 02:38 AM
Those crafty Canadians :lolflag:

LaRoza
November 23rd, 2007, 02:42 AM
I saw that message, clicked on the Discovery channel logo, and it allows me to surf all over the site. The warning appears to be a facsimile of a sham.

You're correct, so much for bullet proof code.

-grubby
November 23rd, 2007, 02:45 AM
I remember trying to go tho the discovery channel a month ago or two and it wouldn't even load....

FuturePilot
November 23rd, 2007, 02:46 AM
I do not live in Canada, so the content seems to be restricted.

I do not live in Canada either ;)

TeaSwigger
November 23rd, 2007, 02:49 AM
So CTV and The Discovery Channel officially reccommend that you buy MicroSoft or Apple product mm? :-k

"A Portion of This Programming Has Been Brought to You By..."

;)

Darkhack
November 23rd, 2007, 04:06 AM
Saying that you don't have the proper OS to view a web page is like saying that you don't have the proper key to enter an unlocked door. The OS has nothing to do with web pages. That's just the browser, and even then I should be able to use whatever the hell brower I want to access a page and not be greeted with a stupid message like that.

-grubby
November 23rd, 2007, 04:14 AM
@darkhack
I know exactly what you mean. I'm sick and tired of going to pages that say:
You're (OS or Browser) is not supported so please leave. Especially when it would work fine

-Phi-
November 23rd, 2007, 04:18 AM
It's specifically the "broadband network" part of the Discovery Channel site that blocks Linux. Same with CTV actually: http://broadband.ctv.ca/primetime/detecterror.aspx or http://www.ctv.ca/ and click the "Broadband Network" thing.

They used to have a flash based system that "worked" on all systems (the streaming was lousy but functional), then they changed to this new system that needed ActiveX and other such...stuff. I emailed a complaint at the time but they didn't indicate it will ever be improved.

Of course, since it's them giving out free content (as in beer), I guess they can restrict it as they want...

CBC on the other hand has a rather nice accessible system going: http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/

- Phi

DarkDancer
November 23rd, 2007, 04:57 AM
Oh, I didn't realize it was a video portion we were going to.... oh well....

marsmissionaries
November 23rd, 2007, 05:04 AM
they are probably using a video plugin that does not work in linux.

LaRoza
November 23rd, 2007, 05:13 AM
they are probably using a video plugin that does not work in linux.

Worked for me...

boast
November 23rd, 2007, 05:20 AM
or, God forbid, they use activex

(damn you CVS photo center!)

popch
November 23rd, 2007, 11:57 AM
I wonder what's Microsoft's stance on this issue. After all, they recommend only Win2k, WinXP and MacOS. Surely, MacOS is not another name for Vista?

glupee
November 23rd, 2007, 02:08 PM
It's specifically the "broadband network" part of the Discovery Channel site that blocks Linux. Same with CTV actually: http://broadband.ctv.ca/primetime/detecterror.aspx or http://www.ctv.ca/ and click the "Broadband Network" thing.

They used to have a flash based system that "worked" on all systems (the streaming was lousy but functional), then they changed to this new system that needed ActiveX and other such...stuff. I emailed a complaint at the time but they didn't indicate it will ever be improved.

Of course, since it's them giving out free content (as in beer), I guess they can restrict it as they want...

CBC on the other hand has a rather nice accessible system going: http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/

- Phi
cbc's just better anyway. Also if they provide the content for free anyway why not just torrent what ur looking for? (yeah i know it's bad advice, aw well)

stoodleysnow
November 23rd, 2007, 03:32 PM
*Sigh*
I'll go get the garden forks, clubs, spades, torches and other various paraphernalia...
Time to start another angry mob...:mrgreen:

ticopelp
November 23rd, 2007, 06:00 PM
Someone needs to hire a competent web developer. There's no excuse for stuff like this in the 21st century.

LookTJ
November 23rd, 2007, 06:21 PM
It works by using Firefox's User Agent Switcher and switching to Opera, too bad it restricts other countries.

http://xs121.xs.to/xs121/07475/disc.ca.png

edit: oh jeez activex required.