BBC iPlayer Now Available for Mac

MacRumors · 02:40 AM

BBC announced that a version of the iPlayer that works on the Mac and Linux computers is now available.

Quote:

The iPlayer is the BBC's online media player that lets viewers stream programmes for up to seven days after broadcast or download and watch them for up to 30 days.

While streaming had been available to Mac users, downloading had not. When the iPlayer first launched it was criticized for only being compatible with Windows XP. The new version of the iPlayer was written with Adobe's AIR platform.

The product is currently in public beta with a final release expected in February 2009.

Article Link: BBC iPlayer Now Available for Mac

See also MacBytes BBC iPlayer Desktop thread by neiltc13.

bobbleheadbob · Dec 19, 2008, 07:30 AM

Is this only in the UK or does it work in for US users as well?

drlunanerd · Dec 19, 2008, 07:30 AM

Great. But the download video quality is worse than the streaming quality

James Craner · Dec 19, 2008, 07:31 AM

Iplayer can only be used if your computer is in the UK.

The Grood · Dec 19, 2008, 07:31 AM

Any one know if this means the download service will work on the iPhone too?

If so, sweeet.

drlunanerd · Dec 19, 2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grood

Any one know if this means the download service will work on the iPhone too?

If so, sweeet.

No it won't. It uses Adobe AIR.

James Craner · Dec 19, 2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drlunanerd

Great. But the download video quality is worse than the streaming quality

yeah I agree I was disappointed when I tried it last night. As it is in Beta then perhaps the quality will improve. Its OK in the standard window, but significant artefacts if you view in full screen.

jnc · Dec 19, 2008, 07:34 AM

Good, because the streamer never worked.

Luke Redpath · Dec 19, 2008, 07:36 AM

I downloaded this last night and had a play and I'm afraid it gets a big thumbs down from me. I appreciate that they've put effort into getting this on Mac/Linux but to be honest I prefer the web version of iPlayer, which IMO is very good.

The new app sits in the background and you still use the web interface to browse programmes, which will have a "download" link. Clicking this downloads starts the download in the AIR application.

The problem? The download itself appears to be the "normal" quality that you get on the web interface. The "high" quality on the web interface is better, as is the h.264 encoded version for the iPhone.

This means that the *only* advantage of the new AIR app is the ability to download, but since the iPhone version was released, this has been possible using a script by a former colleague of mine, Paul Battley:

http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/

The above script is a command-line utility that lets you download the iPhone version of the programme without any restrictions. Not only that, but the code is open-source and people have started turning this into a GUI for various platforms.

drlunanerd · Dec 19, 2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Redpath

http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/

The above script is a command-line utility that lets you download the iPhone version of the programme without any restrictions. Not only that, but the code is open-source and people have started turning this into a GUI for various platforms.

Thanks for the heads-up

voodoofish · 07:50 AM

this is good news, particularly as some broadcasters eg. channel 4 refuse to support Macs at all, however does anyone know where you actually download the adobe air based iplayer (not the hacked iphone one) from?? i'm signed up for iplayer labs anyway, but still no luck.

talkingfuture · Dec 19, 2008, 07:51 AM

Will have to try this out. Shame the quality isn't very good. Is the low quality offset by small file sizes?

xUKHCx · Dec 19, 2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoofish

this is good news, particularly as some broadcasters eg. channel 4 refuse to support Macs at all, however does anyone know where you actually download the adobe air based iplayer (not the hacked iphone one) from?? i'm signed up for iplayer labs anyway, but still no luck.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/install...player_desktop

Quote:

Originally Posted by talkingfuture

Will have to try this out. Shame the quality isn't very good. Is the low quality offset by small file sizes?

136 MB for 30 min program I downloaded.

The Phazer · Dec 19, 2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Redpath

This means that the *only* advantage of the new AIR app is the ability to download, but since the iPhone version was released, this has been possible using a script by a former colleague of mine, Paul Battley:

http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/

The above script is a command-line utility that lets you download the iPhone version of the programme without any restrictions. Not only that, but the code is open-source and people have started turning this into a GUI for various platforms.

Of course, there is the minor matter that this is illegal, and indeed arguably a criminal offense under the Computer Misuse Act...

Phazer

hob · Dec 19, 2008, 08:06 AM

I have it downloaded, (mind you I had to google for the player...) but for the life of me I can't work out how you use it! It opens the website but there's no "download" links...

jonv · Dec 19, 2008, 08:09 AM

Not that easy to work out how to use this.
Good blog post here: http://james.cridland.net/blog/2008/...e-mac-working/

Shame Adobe Air has issues on Mac with multiple monitors.

xUKHCx · Dec 19, 2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hob

I have it downloaded, (mind you I had to google for the player...) but for the life of me I can't work out how you use it! It opens the website but there's no "download" links...

Only comes up on very few programs at this point in time. There will be a download button to the bottom left of the normal streaming video player.

joseph2166 · Dec 19, 2008, 08:11 AM

This from the BBC internet blog: "Right now BBC iPlayer Desktop makes use of the same 800Kbps H.264 content that's used for our High Quality streaming option." - so apparently it SHOULD be the same quality as the HQ on the streaming site.

"We're working on improving that, to provide 1500Kbps H.264 content that should be close to television quality. So, starting around February, we expect to deliver substantially better quality for downloads (these 1500Kbps streams will also be offered for streaming, providing near TV quality in iPlayer)."

Kilamite · Dec 19, 2008, 08:16 AM

How many topics is this going to be covered in?

farleysmaster · 08:29 AM

Which programs does it work for? I can't see the program download link anywhere. It was also hard enough to find the actual desktop app download link. I'm guessing the mac-website is going to get updated soon?

drlunanerd · Dec 19, 2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseph2166

This from the BBC internet blog: "Right now BBC iPlayer Desktop makes use of the same 800Kbps H.264 content that's used for our High Quality streaming option." - so apparently it SHOULD be the same quality as the HQ on the streaming site.

Well, it ain't

Quote:

"We're working on improving that, to provide 1500Kbps H.264 content that should be close to television quality. So, starting around February, we expect to deliver substantially better quality for downloads (these 1500Kbps streams will also be offered for streaming, providing near TV quality in iPlayer)."

Good news. Will get the ISPs sweating (or buying the BBC's caching boxes, kerching £££).

farleysmaster · Dec 19, 2008, 08:31 AM

Shouldn't they be using multicasting? It's the ISPs problem, really, not the BBCs.

esXXI · Dec 19, 2008, 08:55 AM

Terribly ugly and confusing interface that doesn't even try to follows HIG guidelines. Doesn't actually tell you how to download shows, just links to the index. Poorly done icon (the 16px state doesn't even have transparency so it ends up with a white background). It's even a hassle trying to FIND the download.

caribousteaks · Dec 19, 2008, 09:03 AM

I find it sad and frustrating that Big Brother Corp has, in the past 30 years, not sorted out its copy-write agreements to allow the viewing of its programs outside the UK. No, we foreigners don't pay television tax, but online who does? No one! US and other foreign shows can be viewed anywhere when accessed online, and often in HD. Shows on iPlayer are only viewable in the UK and outsiders are left only with stuffy BBC Radio. In this day and age, that is ridiculous. It has taken way too long for BBC to fumble out an advanced iPlayer, yet this is all for not for anyone outside the island. The new iPlayer is no news for the rest of the planet.

steviem · Dec 19, 2008, 09:08 AM

We don't get hulu, so does that mean hulu means nothing to the rest of the world aswell?

Dec 19, 2008, 07:30 AM	#2
bobbleheadbob macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Massachusetts	Is this only in the UK or does it work in for US users as well? __________________ It's a dog's life!

Dec 19, 2008, 07:30 AM	#3
drlunanerd macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pottering	Great. But the download video quality is worse than the streaming quality __________________ Apple UK 2009 price policy = bag of hurt

Dec 19, 2008, 07:34 AM	#8
jnc macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nunya, Business TX	Good, because the streamer never worked. __________________ The views expressed above do not, and are not intended to represent or reflect the opinions, policies and/or statements of my employer(s).

Dec 19, 2008, 07:50 AM	#11
voodoofish macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2004	this is good news, particularly as some broadcasters eg. channel 4 refuse to support Macs at all, however does anyone know where you actually download the adobe air based iplayer (not the hacked iphone one) from?? i'm signed up for iplayer labs anyway, but still no luck. Last edited by voodoofish : Dec 19, 2008 at 07:50 AM. Reason: typo

Dec 19, 2008, 07:51 AM	#12
talkingfuture macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The back of beyond.	Will have to try this out. Shame the quality isn't very good. Is the low quality offset by small file sizes? __________________ Futuristical bloggery with a twist.

Dec 19, 2008, 07:31 AM	#4
James Craner macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Bristol, UK	Iplayer can only be used if your computer is in the UK.

Dec 19, 2008, 07:31 AM	#5
The Grood macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2006	Any one know if this means the download service will work on the iPhone too? If so, sweeet.

Dec 19, 2008, 07:36 AM	#9
Luke Redpath macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007	I downloaded this last night and had a play and I'm afraid it gets a big thumbs down from me. I appreciate that they've put effort into getting this on Mac/Linux but to be honest I prefer the web version of iPlayer, which IMO is very good. The new app sits in the background and you still use the web interface to browse programmes, which will have a "download" link. Clicking this downloads starts the download in the AIR application. The problem? The download itself appears to be the "normal" quality that you get on the web interface. The "high" quality on the web interface is better, as is the h.264 encoded version for the iPhone. This means that the only advantage of the new AIR app is the ability to download, but since the iPhone version was released, this has been possible using a script by a former colleague of mine, Paul Battley: http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/ The above script is a command-line utility that lets you download the iPhone version of the programme without any restrictions. Not only that, but the code is open-source and people have started turning this into a GUI for various platforms.

Dec 19, 2008, 08:06 AM	#15
hob macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London, UK	I have it downloaded, (mind you I had to google for the player...) but for the life of me I can't work out how you use it! It opens the website but there's no "download" links... __________________ see robmac.net for my work

Dec 19, 2008, 08:09 AM	#16
jonv macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: uk	Not that easy to work out how to use this. Good blog post here: http://james.cridland.net/blog/2008/...e-mac-working/ Shame Adobe Air has issues on Mac with multiple monitors.

Dec 19, 2008, 08:11 AM	#18
joseph2166 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2006	This from the BBC internet blog: "Right now BBC iPlayer Desktop makes use of the same 800Kbps H.264 content that's used for our High Quality streaming option." - so apparently it SHOULD be the same quality as the HQ on the streaming site. "We're working on improving that, to provide 1500Kbps H.264 content that should be close to television quality. So, starting around February, we expect to deliver substantially better quality for downloads (these 1500Kbps streams will also be offered for streaming, providing near TV quality in iPlayer)."

Dec 19, 2008, 08:16 AM	#19
Kilamite macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland	How many topics is this going to be covered in? __________________ - MacBook Pro Unibody 15" 2.8GHz 'anti-glare' - Apple TV 1TB (work in progress) - iPhone 3G 8GB - MobileMe // OS X 10.6.2

Dec 19, 2008, 08:17 AM	#20
farleysmaster macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2008	Which programs does it work for? I can't see the program download link anywhere. It was also hard enough to find the actual desktop app download link. I'm guessing the mac-website is going to get updated soon? Last edited by farleysmaster : Dec 19, 2008 at 08:29 AM.

Dec 19, 2008, 08:31 AM	#22
farleysmaster macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2008	Shouldn't they be using multicasting? It's the ISPs problem, really, not the BBCs.

Dec 19, 2008, 08:55 AM	#23
esXXI macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Preston, England	Terribly ugly and confusing interface that doesn't even try to follows HIG guidelines. Doesn't actually tell you how to download shows, just links to the index. Poorly done icon (the 16px state doesn't even have transparency so it ends up with a white background). It's even a hassle trying to FIND the download.

Dec 19, 2008, 09:03 AM	#24
caribousteaks macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: washington dc	UK only I find it sad and frustrating that Big Brother Corp has, in the past 30 years, not sorted out its copy-write agreements to allow the viewing of its programs outside the UK. No, we foreigners don't pay television tax, but online who does? No one! US and other foreign shows can be viewed anywhere when accessed online, and often in HD. Shows on iPlayer are only viewable in the UK and outsiders are left only with stuffy BBC Radio. In this day and age, that is ridiculous. It has taken way too long for BBC to fumble out an advanced iPlayer, yet this is all for not for anyone outside the island. The new iPlayer is no news for the rest of the planet.

Dec 19, 2008, 09:08 AM	#25
steviem macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2006	We don't get hulu, so does that mean hulu means nothing to the rest of the world aswell?

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