02/20/2008, 9:10am, EST
Wednesday, February 20th
BBC iPlayer tech headed to iPhone, iPod 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.
Filed under: iPod, iPhone
Other story tags: iPod touch, BBC, iPlayer
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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?
Oh, also the iTunes TV are £1.89 per hour-long programme, apparently.
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).
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.
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.
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.
"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.