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BBC Radio on iPhone?

jonnyb said:
Nah - The World Service is too dry and worthy. Radio 4 has a great mix of stuff: News, Comment, Comedy. And 'Count Arthur Strong's Radio show', of course. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, or the Now Show!

If the BBC have any sense, they'll be in the process of making a standalone BBC Radio iPhone app. Fingers crossed eh?
 
Official line from the BBC...

Hello all,

Thanks for the useful suggestions. BBC iPhone podcasts and streaming World Service is better than nothing, but we all clearly need live Radio 1 & Radio 4!

I thought I'd do my bit by all writing directly to the BBC. I was mainly asking about live BBC radio, but also gave them a 'wishlist' for iPhone-related development (3G iPlayer TV/radio access, not just accessible via WiFi etc.)

Let's keep this board up-to-date with news on how to receive interesting UK radio content...

Here is their response (and my message):

Dear Thomas

Thank you for contacting BBC iPlayer support team.

Please be advised that iPhone site is still in a beta and the iPhone and iPod touch technology currently does not allow you to listen to radio in BBC iPlayer.

We are working to make radio available for the iPhone when we make improvements to the site.

Nevertheless, I can assure that I have fully registered your comments and requests on this issue. They have been made available to those responsible for maintaining the BBC iPlayer service.

Once again thank you for contacting BBC iPlayer. If you have any further enquires please do not hesitate to contact our team.

Regards


Usha
BBC iPlayer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also visit the BBC iPlayer messageboard to chat with other users at www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbiplayer

-----Original Message-----

Please - I am desperately awaiting the facility to listen to BBC Radio via my Apple iPhone 3G! As I'm sure you're aware, this device doesn't support FM radio.
>I have however used the device very successfully to pick up streaming radio, including the BBC World Service via flytunes.fm, and my favourite French radio station, Radio FG (dance music) via the 'Tuner' application. This costs £3.49 on the iTunes AppStore, and enables one to enter a streaming URL (in this case http://fg.impek.tv:80/)
>I very much miss BBC Radios 1 & 4 live, and am finding that I am instead tuning into the competition, which is already compatible with the iPhone, e.g. Virgin Radio, Capital, Classic etc.
>I would also appreciate being able to use the 'Listen Again' feature for BBC radio programmes. I find it somewhat ironic that I am able to walk down the street listening to CD quality streaming from abroad, but not my ‘national’ stations!
>While I think it's great that I can access iPlayer TV on my iPhone, I think radio is more of a 'core' application when on the go, and would urge you to add it as a priority. I would also encourage you to make iPlayer TV available via the 3G and not just WiFi networks, as again this is a massive issue when on the move.
>Even better would be a BBC iPlayer application using the Apple SDK/AppStore. Ideally, I would like to be able to 'download' TV/radio programmes, and so watch them back free of streaming worries. I know that you only currently use Microsoft DRM for this via Windows, although would encourage you to work with Apple on this issue.
>Is the lack of 3G iPlayer support to do with the reliability of the streaming, or worries that it will somehow overwhelm the O2-UK 3G network? My O2/iPhone contract includes 'unlimited' 3G downloads, and I would like to able to take full advantage of this.
>In short, my wishlist:
>*1) Live streaming BBC Radio via iPhone, at 3G & EDGE data speeds, not just via WiFi networks
>2) 'Listen again' BBC Radio via iPhone
>3) iPlayer TV to work on iPhone via 3G, not just WiFi.
>4) Live BBC TV Channels (BBC News, BBC ONE, BBC THREE etc.) to stream on iPhone.
>5) iPlayer TV/Radio 'downloads' rather than streaming. Full programmes not just existing 'iPhone Beta podcasts'.
>6) Access iPlayer TV from outside the UK (servicing licence payers when they are on holiday/business abroad etc.). Either supported by advertising or some sort of 'login' for UK licence payers.
>Thanks for your work and great innovations. All great advances, but please can you sort out live BBC Radio on iPhone ASAP!
>NB I have previously taken part in BBC beta trials, e.g. for the then BBC Interactive Media Player (iMP), and would be very happy to volunteer my time to do so again, particularly anything involving the iPhone.
 
djthomas said:
Hello all,

Thanks for the useful suggestions. BBC iPhone podcasts and streaming World Service is better than nothing, but we all clearly need live Radio 1 & Radio 4!
Click to expand...
I really need Radio Five Live. All those footy matches and F1 races I'll miss when at work or out with friends... :D
 
It's already been announced that iPhone compatible streams are coming later this year (both live and Listen Again). There's a major iPlayer revision happening on September 13th, it might be then. I suspect a load of people asking will slow the process down rather than speed it up.

I would also encourage you to make iPlayer TV available via the 3G and not just WiFi networks, as again this is a massive issue when on the move.
Click to expand...

This isn't really inside of the BBC's control - talk to O2 given it's their terms and conditions that say you can't do this.

Even better would be a BBC iPlayer application using the Apple SDK/AppStore. Ideally, I would like to be able to 'download' TV/radio programmes, and so watch them back free of streaming worries. I know that you only currently use Microsoft DRM for this via Windows, although would encourage you to work with Apple on this issue.
Click to expand...

Again, not in the BBC's control. They've already asked Apple several times. Talk to Apple.

6) Access iPlayer TV from outside the UK (servicing licence payers when they are on holiday/business abroad etc.). Either supported by advertising or some sort of 'login' for UK licence payers.
Click to expand...

Not going to happen. Kangaroo maybe, but Kangaroo will be a very different kettle of fish to iPlayer.

Phazer
 
Yes via TVersity

applemax said:
Hi

Is there any possible way to listen to live radio on my iPhone, mainly BBC Radio 1? Thanks.
Click to expand...

if you install TVersity free (currently pc only) you can enter any BBC real or wma streams and it will encode these to a mp3 stream to your iPhone along with a compatible GUI web based interface just by typing in your ip address.

Simple and easy to do

Alternatively radio 1 and five live is available via ootunes just put "demo" in both fields to try and search from there

Enjoy silky
 
Has anyone else downloaded FStream? I managed to get Radio 1 & 2 easily, but I can't figure out 5 Live....can anyone help me out?
 
Not really...

gazzrenn said:
Solution Found!

http://blog.garryrenshall.co.uk/bbc-radio-1-live-on-iphone-solution-found
Click to expand...
Well the method linked to *does* work and by changing the url from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/wm_asx/aod/radio1.asx
to
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/wm_asx/aod/radio4.asx
you can hear something entertaining like Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive or Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better, rather than Fearne Cotton's annoying voice in between such musical delights as, erm, Basshunter or H "two" O. Each to their own though I suppose.

However, the FStream app shuts down as soon as the iPhone's screen goes to sleep, so this solution isn't all that useful for, you know, listening to the radio...
 
FYI, the international version of 5 live is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/live/live_int.asx


tallyho said:
However, the FStream app shuts down as soon as the iPhone's screen goes to sleep, so this solution isn't all that useful for, you know, listening to the radio...
Click to expand...

This is one of the advantages of ooTunes (it runs in Safari so you can not only put the phone to sleep, but you can put safari in the background and check your email, play games, etc.).

FStream's a fine piece of work though!
 
Awww crap. the keyboard to enter the stream doesnt have a space bar! and the stream i need has a space, and thanks iphone, you cant even copy n paste! :mad:
 
wooo said:
FYI, the international version of 5 live is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/live/live_int.asx




This is one of the advantages of ooTunes (it runs in Safari so you can not only put the phone to sleep, but you can put safari in the background and check your email, play games, etc.).

FStream's a fine piece of work though!
Click to expand...

are you working on an app for the app store then?

i would primarily just use it for the radio streaming but your app looks ace for streaming any and everything.

i tried your demo site/server and it worked pretty well.. is the 10 minute chunk i can listen to a limitation of the demo?

thanks
Michael
 
gazzrenn said:
Solution Found!

http://blog.garryrenshall.co.uk/bbc-radio-1-live-on-iphone-solution-found
Click to expand...
Humm, I am completely and utterly shocked that Apple let FStream on the App Store. It's not a bad program, but it's not legal for distribution in the USA or other countries which respect USA style patent law. Developers have to pay to include the various audio codecs (other than OGG), which other programs like AllRadio and Tuner get around by using the OS's audio services for decoding. FStream is not using the OS, rather it's using its own decoders, plus it has the ability to decode WMA which requires an even more restrictive license.

Get it while it's hot, literally. Once someone complains Apple is going to have to pull it down.

I also did some quick benchmarking on FStream and it isn't looking good. One reason everyone else is using the OS's audio services is that Apple wrote an extremely optimized library for all of this stuff. Audio decoding through the OS takes less than 10% of the CPU, meanwhile I'm seeing FStream fluctuate between 100% CPU usage and 40%. When it's pegging the CPU it can't even keep up with the stream, and when it's not pegging the CPU it's going to eat up the battery like candy.:(
 
The Phazer said:
This isn't really inside of the BBC's control - talk to O2 given it's their terms and conditions that say you can't do this.
Click to expand...

On the same subject, I found that if you get the iPlayer to load up on Wifi, up to the stage where you see the little play icon in the big programme image, and THEN switch to 3G, it works fine :) Then you can go wandering off away from your house or office and watch/listen to Mock the Week or Question Time to your hearts content. Until you need to switch programme again, obviously...
 
BBC Iplayer on iphone launches radio section

Hi guys put your iphone safari over on iplayer and a new radio section has appeared !! no working links yet but lists the play again service and lets hope a live link will be added yipeee!!! may be at last!!!!
 
Hopefully we'll be able to listen to the live radio over 3G as well as Wifi though.
 
tallyho said:
Well the method linked to *does* work and by changing the url from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/wm_asx/aod/radio1.asx
to
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/wm_asx/aod/radio4.asx
you can hear something entertaining like Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive or Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better, rather than Fearne Cotton's annoying voice in between such musical delights as, erm, Basshunter or H "two" O. Each to their own though I suppose.

However, the FStream app shuts down as soon as the iPhone's screen goes to sleep, so this solution isn't all that useful for, you know, listening to the radio...
Click to expand...

Thats a fair point, i never let my phone go to sleep though, so i'd never spot that.



ViRGE said:
Get it while it's hot, literally. Once someone complains Apple is going to have to pull it down.

I also did some quick benchmarking on FStream and it isn't looking good. One reason everyone else is using the OS's audio services is that Apple wrote an extremely optimized library for all of this stuff. Audio decoding through the OS takes less than 10% of the CPU, meanwhile I'm seeing FStream fluctuate between 100% CPU usage and 40%. When it's pegging the CPU it can't even keep up with the stream, and when it's not pegging the CPU it's going to eat up the battery like candy.:(
Click to expand...

I agree its not the best solution - but right now its the only solution.

If its something that will spark off other developers to make something better than great!!


redrog said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/09/listen_again_to_bbc_radio_show.html
Click to expand...

Hmph, thats all well and good... but i dont have WiFi when i'm not at home or in the office.... both of those places i have a) a radio and b) a PC
 
gazzrenn said:
Thats a fair point, i never let my phone go to sleep though, so i'd never spot that.
Click to expand...
Eh?:confused: I mean if you don't touch the touchscreen for more than 10 seconds. It goes dark and then to black and the sound from FStream stutters to a halt. Do you mean that when trying to listen to the radio you would be constantly stroking your iPhone? :confused:
 
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