[ubuntu-uk] Firefox and BBC video (sigh)

[Michael]

alan c wrote:
> I am happy to say that a neighbour of mine is using Kubuntu. I helped 
> choose the new machine (dell basic desktop) and set it all up, dual 
> boot. The neighbour trusts my judgement and the fact that I use it 
> (and not windows) and I can help with the PC anyway.
>
> However this is a certain type of situation. They are an ordinary very 
> non-technical PC user, with broadband for the first time, happy to use 
> Kubuntu (7.04) because I recommend it but are surrounded by most 
> friends and family who all use windows as you might expect.
>
> My real concern is that I am unable to configure the machine to 'just 
> work' for the obvious internet tit-bits of video such as bbc video, 
> ITV and Cannel 4 stuff - in fact most mainstream web page video stuff.
>
> Firefox is the important browser here - it is used in windows and 
> Kubuntu, and their friends and family can (and should) be using 
> firefox in windows. So I want to focus on firefox. Normal web 
> browsing. Click on a link and video window should open and play.
>
> My own internet use does not usually include such things apart from an 
> occasional BBC Click program, and anyway *I* am content to see 1) non 
> functioning firefox player window, then 2) click on 'use standalone 
> player' and then 3) see a download window then 4) to have a realplayer 
> window open, and then 5) manually resize it....... but I know this 
> will seem complicated and even a bit scary for this neighbour, even if 
> they can remember it all. They are likely of course to just use 
> windows and decry kubuntu. :-(
>
> I see in the ubuntu forums that there is a lot about firefox and bbc 
> realplayer streams, but I did not see an actual solution I could use.
>
> To summarise - I am looking for specifically firefox and (as example) 
> specifically BBC.
>
> My task is to get firefox working elegantly for such things.  I will 
> need to get my own machine going ok for this first, then the dell.
> I would be most grateful for help in this.
> tia
>   
Whilst not brilliantly elegant, one solution is to use the 
MediaPlayerConnectivity extension 
(https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/446). In the set-up 
wizard's drop-down menu entry for RealMedia, change the setting to 
"realplay (/usr/bin)".

Having selected the required link, the familiar BBC embedded player 
window appears. Click on the icon and the link will open in RealPlayer.