I wrote a few weeks ago about an “article” I saw on the BBC that I thought was biased with regard to free software. It was a tirade by Richard Stallman of the Free Software Foundation essentially attacking proprietary software as the source of all evil.

Well it seems the FSF are at it again and this time I really think they’ve lost the plot.

Apple has popped up on their radar and it seems they are using underhand tactics to attack Apple through their “Genius bars”.

Now although I’m actually pleased in a way that I’m not the only one that doesn’t think Apple is soft and cuddly. I’ve expressed my views in the past that I believe the software and hardware shouldn’t be so locked in. But free software is a choice not a need! Where the hell is my free choice if they are actually going to use what are essentially denial of service attacks?

Hardly the type of action that is going to convince people their cause is one to follow. It’s only going to alienate the very people they want to get on board - the consumers. Be passionate about your cause but try and think through your actions.

What are these people thinking? Numpties.

Free software can be great (this blog uses WordPress) but it’s got to be better than the proprietary competitors if you want it to be used. It’s an open market. Why waste all this money on FSF when it could all be ploughed into developing the next generation of open source products?

The BBC Trust has reported that the BBC has spent more than it should on its web portal. Not by a little either, apparently they’ve overspent by 48% of the baseline budget. As TV license payer I’m happy for them to do so!

The BBC (because of the unique way it is funded) has for many decades provided fantastic programming. It’s one of the World’s most trusted brands and I for one use the BBC News website many times daily.

I’ve never quite understood some people’s negative opinion of the BBC expanding online - some seem to think they should be concentrating just on TV. This is a little short sighted as currently all media seems to be migrating to the web and I myself can’t see why this is much different that the BBC expanding from radio to TV. The BBC are as usual pushing into this area with excellent results - just look at iPlayer.

People also seem to forget that the BBC can actually make money from other sources than the license fee and the Internet opens up a lot of revenue streams for them.

So personally I want the BBC to keep spending my TV license fee as they are doing - I’m looking forward to all the innovation they create!

It would seem that the BBC’s iPlayer is putting quite a bit of strain on networks around the country. Now ISPs seem to be trying to pass the cost of needed upgrades onto content providers such as the BBC.

I can’t see the ISP’s case here at all essentially they have fallen behind the new technology appearing - some of which has been around sometime. Certainly the move to video isn’t much of surprise so why haven’t they tried to keep up?

By trying to trying to pass the buck onto content providers means these companies aren’t going to be so willing to innovate new technologies because of the costs that might be passed on which could effectively clip the UK’s ability to keep on the cutting edge.

I understand they are seeing the BBC as a different case because “of the unique way it is funded” but because other content providers are doing similar things such as 4OD I don’t see why the license payer should supplement ISPs and specifically BT’s underinvestment in broadband capability.

It’s all very well that BT is trying to roll out 21st century network but we all know this is going to overrun and have teething problems. Can the UK’s backbone even support this new network? We shall have to see.