Software interfaces on TV

[Another Designer]

I notice I never see any Windows, Mac or Adobe software interfaces being used on TV when they are accessing the computer monitors. My guess is that they would have to pay a licensing fee to show that software interface on TV. As a result, they make up their own (usually ugly), interface so they can use it for free. Possibly, they need to make everything look more obviouos and exciting for the camera, which many software interfeaces won't do.

I'm just curious if I am right about having to pay a fee to use let's say, Windows XP on a TV show. Do you think I am right or wrong?

[Jake Arkinstall]

Alot of companies, especially those in media, require systems which perform certain specialised tasks and don't require Solitaire or Office.

So my guess is that they use a custom Linux distro, and the basic interface might be because they want to reduce unnecessary processing.

Of course, it's a possibility that they're just using a fullscreen application suite.

I doubt that you'd have to PAY to essentially advertise an operating system or application.

[php_daemon]

What Another Designer means, I think, are the TV shows and movies that depict usage of computers. You won't see Windows, Mac OS or any real life software. What you will see are skits of some.

I don't know if that's a matter of licensing or free advertising that MS, Apple or others would get, and which the movie producers do not want to provide. Probably both.

As far as software the studios use, I very much think they do use Macs or PCs with Windows. I do remember seeing fragments of windows on TV somewhere when something went wrong on their end.

[RetroNetro]

I see Mac computers advertised on almost every show I watch. On the TV show Criminal Minds the quirky computer girl says she uses Linux, though my Linux does not look quite like hers does. Maybe she has a different distro.

[AlexDawson]

Actually its less about having to pay a license fee, more probably todo with the TV studios not wanting to show bias towards a particular brand (unless their being sponsored), kind of like how they always use generic brands of everything in those shows.