toggle

AAPL Stock: 431.77 ( 0 )

http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/02/20/iplayer.for.iphone.touch/

BBC iPlayer tech headed to iPhone, iPod touch

updated 09:10 am EST, Wed February 20, 2008

 

iPlayer for iPhone/Touch


iPlayer software will eventually be available in a form for iPhones and iPod touches, the BBC has announced. Having just released TV shows to the UK iTunes Store, and confirmed the arrival of a Mac iPlayer client sometime this year, the network now says that it is developing a version for Apple's most advanced mobile devices. The software should in fact be available "within the next few weeks," according to the Guardian, meaning that it may beat the Mac-specific client to market.

How exactly the iPhone/Touch software would function has not been made known. Owners of the devices cannot officially install native applications on the current firmware, but Apple has planned the release of an SDK by the end of the month, which could make iPlayer the first video-streaming client on the platform outside of YouTube. The BBC could also however be working on a separate web client, or a utility which simply converts iPlayer videos into a portable format.


by MacNN Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :

 iPod, iPhone, iPod touch, BBC, iPlayer

Related Articles

Recent Articles

toggle

Comments

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    0
    02/20, 09:49am | report spam | Reply |

    erm...

    "...How exactly the iPhone/Touch software would function has not been made known..."

    over wifi?... via safari?... they just need to make sure there is a decent codec etc...

    im new to your site - but you guys dont really report so well. is this website a hobby or a full time job?

  1. chrisco

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2005

    0
    02/20, 09:52am | report spam | Reply |

    but...

    I'm told that the iPlayer does work on Macs under Safari. The Guardian article linked to even mentions Macs. Channel 4's and ITV's catch-up services don't work on the Mac.

    Oh, also the iTunes TV are £1.89 per hour-long programme, apparently.

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    02/20, 10:17am | report spam | Reply |

    Re: erm

    erm... "...How exactly the iPhone/Touch software would function has not been made known..."

    over wifi?... via safari?... they just need to make sure there is a decent codec etc...

    im new to your site - but you guys dont really report so well. is this website a hobby or a full time job?

    Why do you assume it would be via safari? Why not a separate app (which is what they'd be doing for the mac client). Or their own browser/app combo. The article states many different options.

    They aren't just going to slap it on top of Safari and Quicktime. That'd be too easy (and probably wouldn't have the DRM they would insist on).

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    0
    02/20, 10:38am | report spam | Reply |

    current iPlayer

    BBC's iPlayer works perfectly under Safari but it uses Flash. The DRM for downloads requires Windows Media, however the BBC are on record as having said that the introduction of iTunes rentals may allow them to extend downloading to OS X. Access through MobileSafari would probably require them to swtich away from Flash?

  1. mr.mouse

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2008

    0
    02/20, 11:06am | report spam | Reply |

    Not on WiFi

    If the BBC plan to roll this out using streaming to iPod or iPhone, then they may as well not bother. The whole point of an iPod is that it is used to view/listen to media "off-line". I.e. copied from a host computer.

    Here in the UK WiFi is not ubiquitous. Most people also use their iPods on the move, such as on the train. If you static then chances are you are at work, at school or at home. Given most work places and schools don't like employees/pupils watching BBC TV shows I guess all that's left is home. So you may as well use your PC/Mac based I player or even Virgin Media's on demand (if you have it).

    What is needed is iPlayer content as 7 day rentals on iTunes. Simple.

  1. ViktorCode

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2006

    0
    02/20, 11:13am | report spam | Reply |

    correction

    No, iPlayer software does not work on Mac. You can navigate to iPlayer page on BBC website and watch streaming videos from your browser window, but actual iPlayer software on Windows allows you downloading shows in form of DRMed files which can be played by MS MediaPlayer.

    Had BBC actually mentioned they are making software that will be running on iPhone? 'Cause if they hadn't they might come up with a syncing plugin for Mac.

  1. Geobunny

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Oct 2000

    0
    02/20, 12:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    No mention on beeb site

    What I find really strange is that the Grauniad is the only paper reporting this as if the information were received first hand. There's nothing on the BBC website about it, I can't find an official press release anywhere and any other story which talks about it merely links back to the Guardian's website.

    As Auntie and the Guardian aren't exactly best friends just now I doubt very much if they'd be given an exclusive like this. I reckon the Grauniad's got the wrong end of the stick. I think they've maybe heard the recent rumours and simply run with the story before verifying it.

  1. Guest

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 1999

    0
    02/20, 04:53pm | report spam | Reply |

    bbc

    @geobunny

    "As Auntie and the Guardian aren't exactly best friends"

    They are evil twins. Pick any 5 bbc journos and use google to see how many of the are connected to the Guardian.

  1. jerzeegrl

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2008

    +1
    02/22, 11:11am | report spam | Reply |

    listening to bbc

    I realize this isn't the 'same thing', but I listen to BBC (& other internet radio) on my ipod touch using this slick little app from flytunes. It lets you listen & cache internet radio to either an iphone or ipod touch.

Login Here

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

 
close
Photo
toggle

Network Headlines

toggle

Most Popular

MacNN Sponsor

Recent Reviews

Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad

Since the fourth-generation iPad didn't evolve much over its predecessor, the market for iPad accessories has remained somewhat static ...

Huawei Ascend Mate

The Huawei Ascend Mate is a phone that fits the screen-size gap between the 4 to 5-inch smartphone and the seven-inch or more tablet, ...

MaxUpgrades MaxConnect for 2006-2008 Mac Pro

Nobody outside of Cupertino's privileged bunch knows the future of the Mac Pro line for sure. Despite Apple's reluctance to tell us wh ...

toggle

Most Commented

 

Popular News