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BBC iPlayer streaming service for Macs launches
- Thread starter The Phazer
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drlunanerd
macrumors 68000
"Sorry, downloading BBC iPlayer programmes is currently only available for Windows"...hopefully it won't be long 🙂
robbieduncan
Moderator emeritus
xUKHCx
Administrator emeritus
It will be at least six months. According to the BBC Backstage podcast since Fairplay doesn't support timed expiry the only alternative possible provider of a DRM they've found is Adobe AIR, and for obvious reasons that means no Mac download service could launch until AIR itself is ready...
Phazer
Fuzzy14
macrumors 65816
No problems here.
Then....
I tried one episode of In The Night Garden and it worked fine, but then another episode threw up that message.😕😕😕
Must be temperamental.
Attachments
xUKHCx
Administrator emeritus
Happened about 12 minutes into it and it would happen everytime at the same point for me. Annoying.
page3
macrumors 6502a
Absolutely terrible quality. Doesn't even have a full screen mode (without silly icons on the screen - that's what full screen means BBC). The whole iPlayer project has been a misguided waste of time and money.
I'll continue to get my time-shifted material from 'that other source' 🙂
I'll continue to get my time-shifted material from 'that other source' 🙂
arkitect
macrumors 604
Seems to work OK…
Pity about not being able to download and watch later as per Windows.
But I suspect the BBC are just going throught the motions and that 100% Mac suport will never be a priority.
Edit: Spoke too soon… 21 minutes into last night's Watchdog and then got the "Error" message. Oh well.
Pity about not being able to download and watch later as per Windows.
But I suspect the BBC are just going throught the motions and that 100% Mac suport will never be a priority.
Edit: Spoke too soon… 21 minutes into last night's Watchdog and then got the "Error" message. Oh well.
Oh, I think a Mac version will come when there's a suitable DRM (of course, unless Apple fix Fairplay that doesn't mean it'll ever work with iPods/phones). Linux I'm less convinced about, but I think a Mac version will happen.
Phazer
TumbleDryer
macrumors 603
xUKHCx
Administrator emeritus
I suspect that when the release the option to download the programs rather than stream them the quality will be a lot higher. I think the quality they chose is a trade of due to bandwidth requirements.
It's better than YouTube, which is obviously enough for people given how many users it has.
*wants iPhone Flash player now*
Phazer
OwlsAndApples
macrumors 6502a
Just had a look at this and it seems OK. Not something I'll use a lot I don't think until you can download stuff, but I might use it every now and again when there's something I happen to miss.
If there's a way I've not found it yet. The URL's are certainly much better hidden.
Phazer
Fuzzy14
macrumors 65816
Ha! Was that not the case with Spinal Tap's amplifiers? ("Because, like, 11 is one more than 10")
In fact, do you think that's a bit of an in-joke or an easter egg?
