R2OK!

ColinB · Guest

The BBC has announced that it is about to launch iPlayer Radio as a standalone application to provide access to all of the BBC's audio programming with internet-connected devices. It's all part of the corporation's plan to "revamp its online audio content", but is it a bit late in coming (especially since the first implementation of the software will be be compatible only with Apple's iPhone and iPad).

The service will see audio content being stripped out of BBC iPlayer and instead offered as part of a separate service on desktop and mobile. An iPhone app is to be launched soon - however apps for other devices, such as Google's Android, are not yet ready. The iPhone app also features a built-in alarm clock.

According to a release by the BBC, the BBC's Daniel Danker, general manager for programmes and on-demand, is quoted as blaming complications with Flash for the delay in the Android app, but added that discussions are ongoing to resolve the problems. (Perhaps it shouldn't be reliant on Flash at all, given that the technology is now dying on its feet with Adobe having now closed its Flash development team).

The statement goes on to report that, according to Mr Danker, other mobile platforms, such as Windows Phone and Blackberry, were not having apps developed yet - but users on these operating systems can still access iPlayer Radio within the web browser.

The bit I'm not sure about is this: "The new app will mean users will need to download separate iPlayer apps in order to access either television or radio content." That's a bit daft. I actually think the iPlayer iPhone App is very good as it is!

Mr Danker said this was necessary in order to create apps tailored specifically to type of content being consumed.

We're told that neither the desktop nor mobile service offer the ability to watch content without an internet connection.

Well, obviously. Given that other providers (Capital and Absolute come to mind here) have been doing this stuff for a couple of years now, isn't the Beeb just trying to play catch-up?

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19869320

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Colin, why do you write so much to say so little?

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Determined not to make it a mark-o copy-and-paste job, I reckon.

A translation would have been useful, though.
As far as I can make out...
- They've messed around with the inlayer/Listen Again facility yet again
- Some users will have to download fresh applications, and some may not even be able to receive it at all.
- They've messed around with the Radio 2 webpages again - they've gone all David Dickinson (orange)
_________________
Ron

ColinB · Guest

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Suffice to say the iplayer is a moving target- users might experience some disruption.

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

The home page is displaying as "On Now... Johnnie Walker's Long Player"
Don't build your hopes up - click and it's cuddly Ken as usual.
_________________
Ron