Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-3-2017

Hmmm … 

You’re possibly aware that I follow the technology news.

Aren’t you?

I do: so you know.

You’re possibly aware that I’ve been following the various court cases prosecuting people who sell what’s called ‘fully loaded’ Kodi boxes.

A Kodi box is an Android based media streaming box: that uses the open source Kodi software as its media player and manager.

Like other open source projects?   Kodi has a range of add-ons that boost its functionality.

Including ones that let you access pay to view and subscription content for free.

Most Kodi boxes won’t have those built in.   You have to add them, yourself.

Some sellers, however, are happy to sell you a ‘fully loaded’ box.

With the relevant iffy add-ons already installed.

A couple of days ago?   A couple of days ago, one such seller — Malcolm Mayes — was fined £250, 000 for selling ‘fully loaded’ boxes to pubs and clubs.

Personally?

I’m not too surprised about that.

My concern has been what’s it’s always been.   Not so much with the spread, or stopping of online piracy.

But what sort of implication this could have for the open source model: and — possibly — the computer science research.

After all, enabling researchers and others to develop software means — to me, at least — developing software that, occasionally, breaks the law.

Some sort of immunity from that — to enable researchers and developers to do their jobs — would seem to be in order.

~≈Ê≈~

On other fronts?

I mentioned, yesterday, that I’d done (subtitled) rips of series two of Mr Robot: that would play in vlc, MPEGStreamclip and on my AppleTV.

But not in Quicktime.

Despite being in Quicktime’s default format.

I’ve actually worked out that it was the subtitles that were causing the problems.   I’d hit the wrong buttons, when ripping: so that they’d stay hidden, until switched on.

Phew

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9-2-2017

Hmmm … 

You know I try and keep my eyes on the technology news, don’t you?

And I’m someone with an Apple TV, and no DVD player.   So I follow the news about streaming boxes with interest.

Especially about Kodi boxes.

Just so you know, a Kodi* box is a media streaming box: one that usually runs a version of Android: and usually runs Kodi as the default media player/manager software.

Kodi, like a lot os open source software?   Can be modified: with add-ons.   Mostly ones that let you play some of the odder file types, or play games: what have you.

SOME of which can let you access paid for contact — Netflix or Amazon Prime, say, or subscriber sports channels — for free.

Most of us could add these to a Kodi box: but would probably find it just a little too fiddley.

However, someone sellers?   Sell what are known as fully-loaded Kodi boxes: ones with the dodgier add ons already installed.

Some of those sellers?   Were raided by various northern police forces, yesterday: working with the trade-body the tries to prevent copy-right violations.

Personally?   I’m a little concerned.

Not so much by the raid: nor by the fact people are buying stuff that let’s them break the law.

I think copyright piracy is going to happen in many different ways.   And where we were talking about peer to peer sharing, a few months ago, and Kodi boxes, now, we’re going to be talking about something else, in a year or so’s time.

What worries me, between the raid, and the court case?

Is how this affects add-ons.

Frankly?   I know many bits of software — open or closed source, free or otherwise — relies on add-ons.   You’re probably using an ad-blocker and a Flash player in your web-browser, am very aware some media players use add-ons to play some of the odder file types, and know there’s a lot of add-ons for Microsoft Office.

My concern is this.

I’m not worried about copy-right theft: the raids and court case won’t stop that, nor stop companies working to prevent it.

I’m concerned how this will after the legal use and development of add-ons.

I like Ad-block Plus.   I’d rather not lose it and others, in a botched attempt to ban the ones that let you watch football for free.

~≈↑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-1-2017

You know, when I went to bed, last night?

I had half an idea of how to start this post.

I was going to tell you about shopkeeper, Brian Thompson, has plead not guilty to selling what’s called a fully loaded Kodi box.

Kodi, so you know, is an open-source media player.   It can be used as the software part of a Kodi box: a media streaming box.

That can be heavily modified: to allow access for free to normally paid for content.

Brian — like others — sells the fully loaded versions: which have been so modified*.

The court case?   Is to try and prosecute him for doing so.

~≈Â≈~

But then I woke up.

To hear the sad news that actor, John Hurt, had died: after battling pancreatic cancer for a long time.

I’m saddened to hear it.

The man was an acting giant: bringing depth and gravitas to whatever roles he played, and leaving behind a body of work that’s going to make him very hard to forget.

The world’s a worse place, without him.

~≈Â≈~