4oD does not support linux - What do you think?
 

We were receiving very poor preformace from 4oD so we ask why was this?
This is the msg we send to 4oD:-

Problems are many, that poor lipsync, jerky pictures, and a long time to start programe on Firfox.
Fargo will NOT play at all on Chrome brower ?

We are using a Dell 2400 PC,1GB Ram, graphic card, running Ubuntu 12.04.
Broadband upload 0.38Mbps Download 2.78 Mbps

Are PC will work fine on BBC iPlayer (although we use Get_iPlayer for BBC) and ITV Player (streaming).

All the these tests were between 11:00 11:30 today 23 April

Please can you help ?

Here is the reply from 4oD:-

Dear Richard,

Thank you for your email regarding 4oD.

We endeavour to provide the optimal experience of our products across as wide a range of operating systems, browsers and screen resolutions as possible. By necessity, however, full development and testing support is concentrated on those that enjoy the highest levels of usage amongst our users. Linux usage levels are very low and so as an OS does not meet our criteria for full support.

We aim to provide a basic 4oD experience across as many operating systems, browsers and screen resolutions as possible, including Linux; however, we are aware that some users running Linux OS are unable to watch 4oD. We are actively investigating this issue and hope to provide 4oD for Linux users as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Dylan Redmond
4oD Support


Channel 4 take no responsibility for third party websites

Perhaps running 4oD in a windows VM under your Ubuntu linux?

Have you tried accessing 4oD using something other than Linux using your router, ISP, network connection?
A laptop running Windows? An iPad? This would confirm the problem is with Linux and not your network infrastructure and ISP.

Most ISPs, etc say that they don't support Linux as there are so many different distros, etc, it's impossible for them to check and test all the permutations available. 4oD must be in the same category. It doesn't necessarily mean that stuff doesn't work with Linux, after all, huge chunks of the Internet are run using it; Google, Amazon...

Play Bonny!

:hattip:

There is a 4oD pluggin for XBMC and another for BBC, I guess if you are a Plex user you can check there too. They don't work for me because I live in USA and I think it is restricted to people out of the UK. But if you are in the UK you could give it a try.

Often though these XBMC pluggins stop working when something in the OS is updated so you need to keep updating the pluggins too. Other than that the ones that work, work great.


There are lot of service that don't support Linux but there are also lots of way around them that you can use. However my view is that: If a service doesn't support Linux then they don't need my business and I simple wouldn't subscribe.

That is why I haven't bought a membership with Netflix

I do not have a Laptop or windows machine.
But thank you for this info - I will see if can borrow one.

Thank you TroN-0074 I am interested in this XBMC - I have download this from Ubuntu site.

But so far not seen how to use it - have installed some add on's - I would be interested in using it as pvr - if you can help in this area this woulb very helpful.

Richard14

XBMC is open source and you can modify it to make it more useful to you. The version in the Ubuntu repo is not the latest version. I think in the XBMC web site are instructions on how to install the latest supported version, check it out.

Also to enhance it even more XBMC allows you to add your own personal sources. check the web site call 'xbmc hub' for instructions on how to add more sources to it. You can also look in youtube on how to customize it more. look for the BBC pluggin included in the 'super repo'

Thank you TroN-0074.

I have the old ver. of xbmc 11.0 & have looked for newer ver. but can only see one that are via command line/terminal, I do not feel that I can do that yet.
Is there a staight forward download site that you know of?

Thanks again...I like xbmc and can get it to work ok with files of videos I have ...very good

Richard14

I have found that if I use popout on Channel4 (4oD) that is works much better although we still have a small window about 7" x 4" (18cm x 10cm) any bigger then the picture is jerky and the sound is out of sync.

Still trying to find a simple download of the latest ver. of xbmc 12.

Richard14

Once you upgrade to Ubuntu 14.04 then you can install xbmc 12.x.

Thank you Tron-0074

I am not sure that my Dell 2400 will up grade as when I tried to up grade to 12.10 it said that I could not for some reason. I do not remember what that was, but could graphic card.

Your system is weak, you isp speeds are slow.

Richard, a quick google suggests that you're trying to utilise a 10 year old
Pentium 4 to watch streaming content, possibly HD. I'm afraid that your box
simply isn't up to the task.


Cheers,
Tink

Thank you Tinkster, I know that I am pushing this very old PC and my isp (BT) is very poor for speed, but we are miles from exchange (live in the country) there is not much that can be done !

Would it make much difference to put grade my PC if we can't up grade my isp?

Would like your input as to what I should be looking for as a replacement PC that is good with Linux. NOT WINDOWS 8 ! and how do we get around the sercure boot ?

Thanks again

Richard14

See post above. but thanks anyway.

Richard14