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.

~≈↑≈~

The Daily Teaser — 9-2-2015

Now, that is STILL annoying … 

Were you following the TV series, Gotham, when Channel Five showed the first ten episodes?

Fantastically good stuff, I should stress at this point.   It’s entertaining, has added to the Batman mythos, and has one of the the screen villain: in the shape of Robin Lord Taylor, as the Penguin.

But … ?

Once again, we get to a Monday: the day of the week that Channel Five’s showing it.

And, again, the show isn’t on.

Now, I know it’s not Five’s fault.   I know it’s down to whatever channel show the series in the US.   Gotham, like other US series, is on mid-season hiatus: used by US TV channels to boost a series’ ratings, and any associated advertising revenue.

Personally … ?   Personally, I don’t care.   I’ve always found such breaks to be extremely annoying.

Frankly … ?   Frankly, it’s a similar break was the only reason I stopped watching Agents of SHIELD.

As fine as THAT was … ?   That break was a major turn off, and stopped me watching†.

That isn’t something I want to do with Gotham.

But I’m getting to the point where I’m thinking that — if the second half of the series doesn’t kick start in another week or two — I’ll not bother watching.

Nor watch other, new, US sf serials.

That gap?

Is unacceptable.

~≈Ÿ≈~