Live Timing: Lack of provision for desktops

I think this is interesting: "it will be hacked".  Yet we still have Twitter, webmail and online banking applications.

OK. So I boycot Apple, refuse to buy Android devices, the Android emulator doesn't seem to work very good, and I read the Android app is no good.

So now what do we do? VPN to the BBC website?

The whole system needs to change. I hope that happens when Ecclestone goes. If someone new comes, I hope common sense would prevail. The present short-sighted idiots don't even realize how it affects them negatively. In any sensible hands, they would not let this happen for one full race.  It would be news in US sports and apologies would be flowing. They are not morons to do it the way they are doing, are they? These guys are spoiling it for the fans, affecting the sport, its reach and revenue. Since I can't think of anything else that would change such an authoritarian dynasty, goes may be the only way.  Such utter disregard for fans..

Edited by SpaMaster, 15 March 2014 - 19:40.

Hopefully Dieter Rencken will write one of his great roasts over this.

The worst thing is NOT that there is now a premium version for $, but no premium DESKTOP version for $. 

De-evolution 3000. Thanks FOM nutcases! sexy apps but no brains.

Edited by SealTheDiffuser, 15 March 2014 - 19:52.

Maybe it would help if someone or enough people would write to Microsoft, who is a sponsor of Lotus F1 with their Dynamics software, that their users of Windows products are getting screwed by the F1 commercial rights holders?

As it is now, only IOS users get a proper product. The android app is supposedly crap, and there is no product for Windows.

FFS, I still can't believe people think paying for even a desktop version would be 'value'.  Sector splits were free!  Sector splits are free in every other form of motorsport!  You shouldn't need to install an application on your desktop to get them, let alone pay for such a POS! 

Seriously, all you who think paying for such parasitic nonsense on whatever platform is 'value' <spit>, just send me your money, and I'll make up some times for you!

As for the moronic statement that they can't release a desktop act because it would get hacked; well fvck me I wonder how I manage to do my online banking, or any other sensitive information exchange in this day and age.  Seriously, how out of touch with reality are some of you?

Frankly, I give up, but will close with the old adage attributed to PT Barnum (although most likely Joseph ("Paper Collar Joe") Bessimer or David Hannum coined it), "There's a sucker born every minute."

Neil

Of course it would be preferable if sector times were free, but when they have decided to put it behind a pay wall, at least also give the opportunity on the most used platform.

The live scores in almost any sport I follow are free. Any other sports where you need to pay for live timing/scores?

A fairly cynical act by F1 management, albeit an unsurprisingly cack handed strategy to make money from the internet.  A totally brain dead idea to choose timing data as a means to make cash, something which other major motorsport series provide for free.  At the same time they release it in limited form so nobody using a PC can get it, even if they were daft enough to want to pay for it. 

Maybe it would help if someone or enough people would write to Microsoft, who is a sponsor of Lotus F1 with their Dynamics software, that their users of Windows products are getting screwed by the F1 commercial rights holders?

 

As it is now, only IOS users get a proper product. The android app is supposedly crap, and there is no product for Windows.

That might be a good point, and don't forget Mercedes are sponsored by Blackberry.

The worst thing is NOT that there is now a premium version for $, but no premium DESKTOP version for $. 

 

De-evolution 3000. Thanks FOM nutcases! sexy apps but no brains.

Nah the worst thing is that the $ symbol is anywhere near this. At a stroke the commercial rights holder has taken another element that can help a casual fan turn into a committed fan and decide that the first thing they should do is exploit this new source for a quick buck with a tool that looks frankly dated. I've run out of words to describe my contempt for the wee dwarf but it's ironically similar to the contempt he holds all of us in.

 

The live scores in almost any sport I follow are free. Any other sports where you need to pay for live timing/scores?

More than that i can't think of another sport where the commercial arm has such a stranglehold over every element of the sport, from the schedule to the rulebook to telling certain teams they should sign certain drivers (ffs)

I wouldn't speak too much about other series providing live timing for free. They'll start charging too if they know they can get away with it...

I'm willing enough to wait and see if FOM do launch a new desktop live timing site within the next few weeks, free or otherwise. It is rather odd to start hobbling the service just to drive up app sales now, when they've never done it in the past few years. Let's face it, live timing has needed an improvement for about a decade now...

I paid for the app last year, and I used it to look at tyre usage, race map, gaps between drivers etc, and it was a fallback for when I was away from home. But because my eyesight doesn't adjust easily between the small print of the phone app and the TV screen, I used the desktop live timing for sector times. My PC screen would be divided into three: desktop live timing, twitter, and autosport live. The combination of phone app, desktop and TV worked really well. 

I assumed that after I bought the app this year I would be able to do the same. But instead, this morning, I had to keep taking my glasses on and off as I switched between the phone and TV, and I found it very difficult to follow quali properly. I've since tried to find a way to run the app on my desktop but have had technical problems with BlueStacks. 

I suppose I'll find a way to adapt after a few races but, as I'm someone who gets as much (or more) out of the race from the live timing sectors as the on-screen action, I didn't enjoy quali very much today.

eta: given that NOW TV was crap today too (delays and denial of service), I'm not feeling the F1 love this weekend.

Edited by F1EC, 15 March 2014 - 22:32.

A fairly cynical act by F1 management, albeit an unsurprisingly cack handed strategy to make money from the internet.  A totally brain dead idea to choose timing data as a means to make cash, something which other major motorsport series provide for free.  At the same time they release it in limited form so nobody using a PC can get it, even if they were daft enough to want to pay for it. 

FOM PR Exec:  This is the home of Mr. Ecclestone, the CEO of FOM. Look. There's Mr. Ecclestone now, sitting by his pool. 

P123: What's the matter with him?

FOM PR Exec:  This month he was hoping to have a gold-plated shark tank bar installed right next to the pool, but thanks to receiving free sector times for free, he must now wait a few months before he can afford it.  Come. There's more.

Here's Tamara Ecclestone's private jet. Notice anything?  Tamara used to have a Gulfstream IV.  Now she's had to sell it and get a GulfstreammIII because people like you chose to receive Formula 1 sector times for free. The Gulfstream III doesn't even have a remote control for its surround-sound DVD system. Still

think receiving sector times for free is no big deal?

P123: We... didn't realize what we were doing. . .

FOM PR Exec: That is the folly of man. Now look in this window. Here you see the loving family of Charlie Whiting. Next week is his son's birthday and, all he's ever wanted was an island in French Polynesia. 

P123: So, he's gonna get it, right?

FOM PR Exec: I see an island without an owner. If things keep going the way they are, the child will not get his tropical paradise.

TheUltimateWorrier: We're sorry! We'll, we'll never receive sector times for free again!

FOM PR Exec:  Man must learn to think of these horrible outcomes before he acts selfishly or else... I fear... FOM Members will be forever doomed to a life of only semi-luxury.

Let's face it, live timing has needed an improvement for about a decade now...

Yep, we've been waiting year after year to see if the FOM would finally embrace the online platforms and give the fans services which do justice to the innovation and technological aspects of the sport. Never imagined it would go like this.

FFS, I still can't believe people think paying for even a desktop version would be 'value'.  Sector splits were free!  Sector splits are free in every other form of motorsport!  You shouldn't need to install an application on your desktop to get them, let alone pay for such a POS! 

 

Seriously, all you who think paying for such parasitic nonsense on whatever platform is 'value' <spit>, just send me your money, and I'll make up some times for you!

 

As for the moronic statement that they can't release a desktop act because it would get hacked; well fvck me I wonder how I manage to do my online banking, or any other sensitive information exchange in this day and age.  Seriously, how out of touch with reality are some of you?

 

Frankly, I give up, but will close with the old adage attributed to PT Barnum (although most likely Joseph ("Paper Collar Joe") Bessimer or David Hannum coined it), "There's a sucker born every minute."

 

Neil

omg ... alert the media ... business seeks to make money off its product. Shocking development, watch news at 10.

What is free today can easily cease being free tomorrow. That's the essence of capitalism. You are also free to not buy it if you think 10 bucks is not worth the entertainment you will get from it.

Innovation and a "free market" are also inherent to capitalism. When industries refuse to move with the times, they're more than happy to provide an inferior product to retain profit. Some have to lobby governments, but Bernie is the government and the monopoly supplier.

It's a crock to give CVC and Bernie a pass for squeezing fans/teams/broadcasters whilst asset-stripping the sport (nearly) everyone here is united in taking a serious interest. How many years must content delivery fall behind the times, fans/sponsors to leave, teams to go bankrupt or white elephant circuits to be discarded, before it's no longer a case of tough capitalistic titties?

I think it's ridiculous. Another greedy move by CVC and Bernie. 

But you have different groups of people.  I bought the app even when we could get sector times online - so for me it is no big deal.  But if you do not have a smartphone or tablet, and you can't get Bluestacks and the similar software to run the app on Mac or build your own, then it is a big deal.  Because you can't purchase sector times even if you want to.  So the FIA site needs to make sector times and other features available for purchase in an online format.

Edited by bourbon, 16 March 2014 - 01:36.

Windows?

Winphone yes, desktop hell no! Total agreement there!

Winphone mustn't be worth developing for, small irrelevant marketshare and a smaller F1 winphone fanbase. The decision may be based on previous sales of the app and if it's worth servicing the app?

Why is anyone surprised? Like a few have eluded to already, nipping the free live timing in the bud is going to make the more $$$ for FOM.

Until there is a correlation between the stoppage of free live timing and revenue loss, I can't see that changing.

Free apps were using free livetiming, and as good as that was for us, FOM would have thought otherwise, which should be obvious to all.

There are android emulators for desktop, but as far as I understand, it'll still cost to use the android app unless you use a pirated version (quick look on piratebay shows nothing).

It's  lose lose situation for windows users, FOM are missing an opportunity to make more lovely filthy money from PC users all the while alienating those hardcore fans who relied on their live timing data for total immersion, all the while forcing the to Android/IOS.

Seems like FOM to me....

Edited by klyster, 16 March 2014 - 01:43.

Innovation and a "free market" are also inherent to capitalism. When industries refuse to move with the times, they're more than happy to provide an inferior product to retain profit. Some have to lobby governments, but Bernie is the government and the monopoly supplier.

 

It's a crock to give CVC and Bernie a pass for squeezing fans/teams/broadcasters whilst asset-stripping the sport (nearly) everyone here is united in taking a serious interest. How many years must content delivery fall behind the times, fans/sponsors to leave, teams to go bankrupt or white elephant circuits to be discarded, before it's no longer a case of tough capitalistic titties?

Innovation and a "free market" are also inherent to capitalism. When industries refuse to move with the times, they're more than happy to provide an inferior product to retain profit. Some have to lobby governments, but Bernie is the government and the monopoly supplier.

 

It's a crock to give CVC and Bernie a pass for squeezing fans/teams/broadcasters whilst asset-stripping the sport (nearly) everyone here is united in taking a serious interest. How many years must content delivery fall behind the times, fans/sponsors to leave, teams to go bankrupt or white elephant circuits to be discarded, before it's no longer a case of tough capitalistic titties?

 What "times"? The fact people in general have subconsciously equated internet content with free content is not the "times"

I am not giving them a pass on anything, in this instance I am a consumer that is being offered a service for a fee. I m not gonna go "occupy Monaco" to protest the evil corporation that wants to charge me 10 bucks for sector times, I will either pay the 10 bucks if I feel it's worth the 10 bucks or I will not.

Overall F1's model is changing if you haven't noticed. From free wall-to-wall coverage to gradually moving behind a paywall, their choice, so long as I am interested and able to I will pay, if I cease being interested (or able to) I won't pay anymore. But the "but but but ... it was free last year" isn't a worthwhile argument, so was tv coverage, it's not anymore. Look at autosport. You used to be able to read 100 aricles a day, can you do that now?

Still?

 What "times"? The fact people in general have subconsciously equated internet content with free content is not the "times"

I am equating internet content with accessibility. Bernie wants you to pay several times for access to watching F1, via TV and now an app. It's no different to the music labels wishing you to buy their physical album several times to gain access to every song of an album over the internet's ability to provide access to all songs via direct sales to fans. What's F1's excuse for not being able to provide this following service, beyond greed?

I am not giving them a pass on anything, in this instance I am a consumer that is being offered a service for a fee. I m not gonna go "occupy Monaco" to protest the evil corporation that wants to charge me 10 bucks for sector times, I will either pay the 10 bucks if I feel it's worth the 10 bucks or I will not.

You justified their actions with the nature of capitalism, I merely responded with some of it's other characteristics. If their desire for short-term profit is taking precedence over long-term market needs or the health of the business/sport itself that our consumption depends upon, I can't see how it's not a pass. As another poster said, only F1 would respond to dwindling viewership figures by reducing content accessibility. I understand, though, if you simply do not care about how the means of production are organised.

Overall F1's model is changing if you haven't noticed. From free wall-to-wall coverage to gradually moving behind a paywall, their choice, so long as I am interested and able to I will pay, if I cease being interested (or able to) I won't pay anymore. But the "but but but ... it was free last year" isn't a worthwhile argument, so was tv coverage, it's not anymore. Look at autosport. You used to be able to read 100 aricles a day, can you do that now?

Funnily enough, this comparison struck me too, for you cannot bypass the article limit on a desktop even if you've purchased the limitless mobile app. That said, they're not the only content providers so there is more than just an illusion of choice.

Edited by Disgrace, 16 March 2014 - 02:31.

Only in F1, do you see such consistent stupidity, greed and devolution. I would gladly pay for premium timing ON PC, not watch it on a tiny android device, and unbelievably they do not allow it. Just unbelievable.

Sheep will be sheep!

Had a bit of a chuckle at first when I saw the new dumbed down live timing functions and thought it wouldn't really matter that much as it's only 20 odd cars on track. But having just followed the Sebring 12 hours via a free live stream and a very detailed free live timing, it's pretty clear that they've blown a few toes off with this one.

Though the cars at Sebring did also look and sound fantastic, so maybe it's not a fair comparison after all.

I sent them a rude e mail. **** em.

asked them if bernie had also bribed fia. of course i know that he did with max but not going to let them get away with continuing to strangle the sport.

cant watch video, cant get free live timing - for a sport thats supposedly the peak of marketing seems corruption and greed more important than growig the pie

So uhm,I asked this in the smartphone live timing thread already but will do here again. Does anybody have a clue to get the timing in a second way? I can run the emulator, but Google play somehow doesnt let me pay, which is a bit ironic.

Still?

Edited by chrcol, 16 March 2014 - 04:25.

PIP might get annoying, might block the action, but worth a go eh?

Let us know how it works.

no I paid for my app so I expect to get a much better product than people who didn't or I feel rather ripped off tbh!

So uhm,I asked this in the smartphone live timing thread already but will do here again. Does anybody have a clue to get the timing in a second way? I can run the emulator, but Google play somehow doesnt let me pay, which is a bit ironic.

Probably not that helpful, wait until the race starts, do a google search for " f1 live timing feed" or such, set google search for last hours results and maybe you'll find something?

It's amazing what is out there if you look, just got t eliminate all the useless crap.

Or wait for a dodge copy of the ios/android app to pop up, they probably will eventually...

Good luck.

I've got enough balance damn it, even Jenson approves!

Probably not that helpful, wait until the race starts, do a google search for " f1 live timing feed" or such, set google search for last hours results and maybe you'll find something?

 

It's amazing what is out there if you look, just got t eliminate all the useless crap.

 

Or wait for a dodge copy of the ios/android app to pop up, they probably will eventually...

 

Good luck.

Gotcha, hopefully someone has it up already. Thanks!

Bernie double dipping the chip.

15 minutes to go and the app on my ipad is counting up from qualifying? is that the same for everyone? will it kick in 5 mins to go fo rthe race?

FOTA fought for the fans, now when they´re gone, FOM/Bernie can do anything! Pathetic!

I hope we are at least going to see the gaps between the drivers on desktop LT

Edited by chrcol, 16 March 2014 - 07:14.

Anyone else noticed the regular scrolling time updates of the past few years have vanished from our TV screens? Could it be related?

Maybe next year we won't even have the classification on TV, we'll need to have the application in order to know the positions.

Race over and I did not miss the sectors one bit, I will be fine just having the watered down desktop version for free.