Comments | vodgut: Venkman, get a sample of this.

vodgut

Venkman, get a sample of this.

Jan 21, 2009 22:16

You may want to reconsider whether you want to watch CNN's streaming videos.

Thanks dasgeek

Comments 10

soulfire January 22 2009, 05:57:35 UTC

Check it now regardless if you did or didn't approve the install. I have visited CNN and never got the "you must upgrade to watch" blah blah blah but sure enough that POS plug-in was in my applications.

Needless to say it's been removed and I won't use CNN.com anymore.

vodgut January 22 2009, 06:16:06 UTC

Personally, I never got asked about the install. Most of my browsing is done on Linux machines, and perhaps that particular enhancement isn't available. I also use Flash-blocking software and have a hard time watching a lot of CNN's videos in the first place. Even on my Windows laptop.

Sorry, CNN, if you want me to watch your videos you're going to have to 1) deal with the fact that I'm selective in which flash stuff I view and 2) don't want you to free ride on my bandwidth to become your content delivery boy, unless, perchance, you want to pay for my Internet service.

Most of the time I just want to read my news online anyway, rather than watch it.

Jerks.

ex_theglaiv January 22 2009, 11:44:58 UTC

That's very interesting. Thanks for posting.

vodgut January 22 2009, 13:14:25 UTC

I thought so, too. No one likes leeches, except maybe leeches.

dasgeek January 22 2009, 13:28:05 UTC

Seemed slimy to me...
I'm kind of surprised it has not made Slashdot yet.

vodgut January 22 2009, 15:10:29 UTC

Agreed. Seems like CNN really wants to externalize their costs.

mdatmariana January 22 2009, 13:48:10 UTC

Well, piss on CNN and Adobe. I haven't seen that upgrade for Mac yet, but I won't install it if I do. I'm not sure I've ever watched a CNN video on their site, only on YouTube.

vodgut January 22 2009, 15:11:30 UTC

I've done it a few times, but again, it seems to choke on flash-blocking software, and I don't want to have to restart my browser every time I want to watch one of their videos.

lokifrp January 23 2009, 01:34:38 UTC

Just let me know if The Onion starts doing that with its videos. Then I'll care coz those are the only videos I watch.

(The comment has been removed)

vodgut January 22 2009, 15:15:58 UTC

I remember 9/11, too, and CNN only had one picture and a few words of text up. I understand the advantages (for CNN).

For me, it's kind of like they're attaching a trailer to the 4Runner, mostly without my knowledge, but not compensating me for the loss of mileage or acceleration. They're taking a cost that should be borne by them and making it my cost. I understand times are tough, but Ted Turner can afford it.