Maybe a better response to this so-called "open standard" would be for ZDNet and others to totally IGNORE this "event"?
Oh, here's a challenge for you ( you have the Apple gear anyhow )...save the "stream" to a true "open" format, like say Ogg Theora and play it back from right here at ZDNet!
Apple announced that — for the first time in recent memory — it will provide a live video stream of tomorrow’s music event, but there’s a catch. You’ll only be able to watch it on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
In the first sentence of its press release, Apple says (emphasis mine):
Apple® will broadcast its September 1 event online using Apple’s industry-leading HTTP Live Streaming, which is based on open standards.
…then in the next sentence it says:
Viewing requires either a Mac® running Safari® on Mac OS® X version 10.6 Snow Leopard®, an iPhone® or iPod touch® running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad™.
CNet notes the peculiarity:
To our knowledge, this is the first time that viewing of a company’s Web event has been restricted to hardware sold by that company. Some observers say the move effectively excludes the majority of Web users, since Safari commands only 5 percent of the browser market, compared with Internet Explorer’s 60 percent, Firefox’s 22 percent, and Chrome’s 7 percent.
If you don’t have an Apple device, don’t fret ZDNet will be live-blogging the event.
