Comments on: BBC iPlayer Beta Testing To Begin This Month

By: Ade

Ade — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:16:27 +0000

Well – having used the iPlayer now for a month, things have settled down. The quality of the service has improved as the quantity of available programmes.

The iPlayer has two options to download – standard and high quality. Even the standard download is quite acceptable. I’ve just watch ‘Paradox’ in HQ and to be honest, apart from a very few seconds of pixels cropping up, it was just like watching it live.

Early on there were a few clips with sound problems, but this appears to have been addressed.

You can, of course, pause and FF & RW the clip, and it only takes a few seconds to pick up from the new section and resume the play.

I watched ‘Life’ as I knew it was shot in HD and the quality of the iPlayer was, as expected, not able to do it justice – but, it’s early days yet and you never know!

It is certainly better watching iPlayer on my LCD panel in the lounge rather than on my laptop.

I can see the iPlayer on Freesat certainly being something I would be using on a regular basis.

Recording to the hard drive might now just be reserved for programmes not available on iPlayer, programmes deserving to be seen in HD and stuff to keep.

All in all, I think it is another useful option.

By: Howie

Howie — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:11:00 +0000

Is there a confirmed date when BBC will launch the IPlayer service via FreeSat
this aricle via BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8378394.stm states by Christmas
Which year!!!!

By: Ade

Ade — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:51:57 +0000

Hi James

It appears the iPlayer will only be available to HD boxes. Any brand of HD box should be able to access the iPlayer, but not SD equipment, as I understand it.

By: james

james — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:24:27 +0000

Only on Humax HD boxes only though!!?? Not on any others?

By: Paul S Watts

Paul S Watts — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:29:38 +0000

Hi all

I also dowbloaded the Wii iPlayer channel yesterday and frankly, I am really pleased with it.

OK, they have simplified it all to accomodate the very low memory of the platform, but – it works and very well too.
Picture quality very god, no dropouts or even pauses [which we seem to get occasionally on the Virgin Media version] and the sound is spot on.

I will be very interested to see the development and hopefully much better Freesat version [hopefully before Xmas, but not holding my beath!] but have the Wii to at least catch up on the radio section which is not available on the Virgin Media system.

Regards

By: jon cole

jon cole — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:15:03 +0000

i got my wii update with free iplayer channel today…bang on the stroke of midnight.
It’s v good…has a cinematic quality to the picture, and is comparible to me streaming it through my telly from my pc. wirelessly streamed via wii from my router

Who needs a humax/freesat version…although i’d be interested to see the difference in quality on my humax pvr and me wii.

By: Ade

Ade — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:29:58 +0000

Well – they did say there would be problems at first, so I am not surprised. I am expecting the quality and the content to improve over the next weeks.

By: Brian Damage

Brian Damage — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:46:53 +0000

@ Ade.

No HD and poor sound? Oh dear. I’d say it’s still some way off being ready

How much are you allowed to discuss?

By: Ade

Ade — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:04:18 +0000

At last – the software arrived today, and the iPlayer is now up and running.

Limited content and the moment but it is working. The picture is not HD, but still watchable, although the sound is not right yet.

By: Ade

Ade — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:32:12 +0000

it didn’t get delivered!!!

Grrrrrrrr!!!!