Because the default video player requires Silverlight 2 (Intel Macs only), Mac PPC users are apparently locked out. From what I've read, there is a Windows Media based stream that might work with Flip4Mac. But when you try to play a video, the NBC Olympics site puts up an unsupported browser/hardware error page before the window for the video can load, and the error page is simply a notification page with no option to choose the "standard player" link that would allow access to the non-Silverlight Windows Media stream.

Has anyone found a way around this or found another site with good video coverage of events? The BBC and CBC have coverage, but don't provide access to U.S. viewers.

Have you tried this through FireFox? Just wondering....

I don't have much experience yet with extensive video on any of the Macs because
other than ready to go avi/mp4/.mov, etc., I just haven't had the need. But I do find it
extremely irritating when there is something proprietary going on, when it need not
be.

Then again.... M$ and NBC "go together" - so you shouldn't be surprised. Not with
Balmer the Palmer in charge.

Silverlight is optional for viewing - there is a smaller link that will say 'continue without installing', or something to that effect.

[silverlight.net] - OSX download there too.

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[www.alleyinsider.com]

> Silverlight is optional for viewing - there is a smaller link
> that will say 'continue without installing', or something to
> that effect.

Only under Windoze from what I've observed.

I've played with user agent strings quite a bit and although some bloggers say that ppc Macs are supported with the latest Flip4Mac, they seem to be repeating an unsupported rumor from before the Olympics started. No user agent string for a PPC Mac results in any viewing option to turn up.

As soon as I switch the user agent to Intel, the "Install Silverlight" message pops up, and no option not to use Silverlight is available.

It isn't until I set the user agent to IE for Windows XP or Vista that any option not to use Silverlight appears and although I can then get to the video player, video content won't load, apparently because it uses ActiveX.

There are alternatives to trying to get the NBC/Microsoft @#$%& to work. See my link, above.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2008 08:31AM by MacMagus.

An update and a restatement:

- The default player requires Silverlight 2, which is for Intel Macs only.

- The site throws up an unsupported browser/hardware error that prevents access to the link for the non-Silverlight stream. This happens regardless of browser.


- Switching the identity of the browser, using the debug menu, to a Windows browser does not work in Safari.

- However, switching to identity of Firefox to IE 7 does get you far enough to click the link for the non-Silverlight stream.

- BUT, the video doesn't play.

On my set-up, Powermac 1.8DP tower/10.4.11/Firefox 3.01, Firefox won't play the video saying that it needs a plug-in; specifically Flip4Mac 2.1. I actually have the latest version installed, 2.2.0.49, and right now I'm not sure I want to go as far as downgrading Flip4Mac if there are other sources.

After breakfast, I'll try a few of the suggestions in Magus's (Thanks!) link.

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Blankity Blank
Has anyone found a way around this

TV?

I'm watching Danish streaming coverage

[www.aelling.lir.dk]

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The Taoist Zhuangzi said, "Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone".
The sociologist, and historian, Adam Ferguson described the phenomenon of spontaneous order in society as the "result of human action, but not the execution of any human design".

you can see highlights here, [www.aelling.lir.dk]

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The Taoist Zhuangzi said, "Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone".
The sociologist, and historian, Adam Ferguson described the phenomenon of spontaneous order in society as the "result of human action, but not the execution of any human design".

You can also see lives streams--no NBC/MS/Adobe bullshite required--at: CBC:

[www.cbc.ca]

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Article Accelerator
You can also see lives streams--no NBC/MS/Adobe bullshite required--at: CBC:

[www.cbc.ca]

*click*

"Sorry, this video is not available in your area."

I looked for a proxy server to use, but couldn't find one that worked.