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BBC expands iPlayer support on TiVo, Popcorn Hour and Freeview HD devices
The BBC has a few updates to share about its iPlayer service -- no, nothing yet about the international rollout that's due later this year -- as it has recently become available on even more devices. That includes living room connected entertainment options that support HTML and Flash like the Virgin Media TiVo, Popcorn Hour players from Syabas, and new HDTVs from Panasonic and Sony. Other areas of increased availability include users with BT Vision set-top boxes and Freeview HD users; the latter thanks to a recent spec update that supports the MHEG-5 standard the app is built upon. Now it operates just like other Red Button interactive TV services, and the first device shipping with support is a Freeview+ HD DVR from Sony (as seen above.) It doesn't look like the Where to Get BBC iPlayer page has been updated with all the new devices yet, but it should be sooner rather than later, although we're still wondering when the Xbox 360 will join the crowd.
Echostar Europe launches HDS-600RS SlingLoaded FreeSat+ DVR
It's been a surprisingly long wait for a SlingLoaded box outside of the Dish ViP922, but now European customers can do the all-in-one DVR/Slingbox dance with the new HDS-600RS. As a set-top box it can tune into 150 or more digital channels and VOD depending on provider with its own HD EPG and includes access to BBC iPlayer with plans for access to more services like ITV Net Player in the future, and of course it can Sling TV, live or DVRed on the unit's 500GB hard drive. One unfortunate limitation was revealed during a quick hands-on session by Pocket-Lint, if you're Slinging video somewhere else, despite the box having two tuners, it will only display the same thing the remote user is watching on the TV. Otherwise, they believe the box will cost around £300, although all EchoStar has officially confirmed is that it will launch April 1st, with preorders available on Amazon starting March 23rd. Check out the press release after the break and a few more pictures in the gallery below. %Gallery-119545%
BBC iPlayer will cost 'fewer than $10' a month for international subscribers
As you know, the BBC's iPlayer online video catchup portal is about to strap its boots on and go international via the iPad some time this year, a subscription service which has now been priced at "fewer than $10" per month. That's the word direct from Mark Thompson, director general of the grand old corporation, who also assures us that the global launch is definitely coming in 2011. iPad and Android apps for the iPlayer were recently launched in the BBC's homeland, so the technical requirements have already been fulfilled -- now it's probably just a matter of dotting some Is, crossing some Ts, and making sure Jeremy Clarkson doesn't score you a lawsuit with his outspoken bravado. [Thanks, Nathan]
Hands-on with the BBC's iPlayer for iPad
As we reported yesterday, the BBC's new iPlayer for iPad appeared in iTunes overnight for UK residents, and we've got a hands-on look at the app for you. For those who didn't know, iPlayer is a little like Hulu for BBC content; it aggregates almost everything the BBC showed in the last week across its various TV channels and radio stations into an attractive web interface for catch-up viewing. It's free to UK users because of the unique way the BBC is funded (and not currently available outside the UK), so it's a very popular service. It's also quite widely supported on various devices -- the BBC's developers have worked with manufacturers to bring it to Sony's PS3, Nintendo's Wii and the Boxee Box, amongst others. Up until now, the iPad has been a rather poor relation in the iPlayer universe, despite the naming similarities. Users have had to make do with a rather sub-par web interface to access iPlayer content. The UI was sluggish, small, fiddly and generally unpleasant. This new native app solves all those problems, and it adds some nifty new features to boot.
BBC iPlayer app for UK iPads set to arrive February 10, the US in June
The BBC Internet Blog is reporting that the long-awaited BBC iPlayer app will arrive on the UK iOS App Store for iPad by the end of this week. Daniel Danker, the new general manager of BBC programmes on demand, wrote on the blog, "We're just applying the finishing touches to the apps as we speak, and all things being well we plan to have Android and iPad apps in stores by the end of the week." Danker also wrote, "Over Christmas, growth in mobile use of BBC iPlayer outpaced PC growth by more than 2-to-1, and BBC iPlayer growth on tablets outpaced PCs by more than 20-to-1." This surely must coincide with the significant sales of the iPad over that period. Yesterday, Pocket-Lint reported, according to a tweet by Geoff Marshall -- a BBC Interactive operations manager -- the app will arrive on Thursday 10th February and require a Wi-Fi connection for content to be streamed. Marshall also revealed that a paid-for US version of the iPlayer will arrive in June, which had been previously reported. According to the BBC Internet Blog, the "...new native app is a significant improvement on the existing experience." The key features are cited as follows: Watch live TV and listen to radio (not previously widely available on mobile devices) Access the BBC's full catalogue of catch-up programmes; seven-days' TV and radio on demand as well as series stacking (as you get on the web) A simple and intuitive design with high picture quality and personalised favourites (making the most of the touch-screen UI, and a popular feature on the website) The iPlayer can currently be viewed on both the iPad and iPhone via a optimized website, though it is only available to UK residents.
BBC iPlayer app coming to Android as well as iPad by the end of this week (update: iPad version live)
The British Broadcasting Corporation has made its iPlayer app plans that extra bit more official by announcing that iPad- and Android-specific versions of its software will be arriving by the end of this week. The iPlayer is a free TV catchup service hosting the best and most popular (those two being almost mutually exclusive categories) from the BBC's catalog of recent programming, and the new native apps promise to bring that to your portable device in a touchscreen-optimized format with a "simple and intuitive design." The finishing touches are being applied right now and the apps should be with us before the week is through, but the real cause for excitement is that the BBC plans to take the iPlayer out for an international walk, which will likely rely on such platform-specific apps for distribution and the collection of subscription fees. Then we can all watch Question Time together, yay! P.S. - Take note, Android users, that you'll need to have Froyo and Flash Player 10.1 installed on your phone or tablet in order to partake in the new app. Sort of a one step forward, one step back maneuver. [Thanks, Jules] Update: The iPad app is now ready to download in the App Store. Thanks, Tom!
BBC iPlayer app landing on UK iPads this Thursday, US in June
A BBC Interactive Operations Engineer has British hearts all aflutter tonight with a tweet announcing that the iPlayer app for the iPad is ready to roll out this Thursday, February 10th. It's specific to the tablet for now, so no iPhone, and will only debut in the UK, so no BBC America for you just yet, though this is the first step toward making that cozy dream a reality. Taking the BBC TV catchup service into international waters will be done on the basis of a paid subscription model, which should dissuade all the TV License payers in the UK from revolting, but do bear in mind that this upcoming tablet app will only allow content streaming over WiFi. You'll be able to browse the iPlayer over 3G, we're told, but will need to hook up to some roomier wireless pipes to sip the sweet nectar of BBC Entertainment on your iPad (in app form, browser-based options are a whole other matter). Stay tuned for the fully detailed announcement in a couple of days.
BBC iPlayer app for iPhone and iPad to be released in February
Paid Content:UK is reporting that the long-awaited BBC iPlayer app for iPhone and iPad is due to be released at some point late in February, almost a year after the app was first announced. It's expected the app will arrive on the heels of the departure of the BBC's future media and technology director, Erik Huggers, to Intel. The extremely popular BBC iPlayer, an on-demand BBC program catch-up service for UK residents only, has been available on the iPhone and iPad as a web-app for some time now, but it's widely expected that a native-built iOS app would be unrivaled in performance and features compared to the current web version What's next on the Apple-loving UK residents' wish list for the iPlayer? A full-blown version for the Apple TV. Although this is very unlikely to happen anytime soon, news of a native iOS iPlayer app is certainly a step in the right direction on the BBC's part. [Via 3g.co.uk and tipster Cammy Campbell]
Advent Vega's Flash Player yanked due to missing Adobe certification
The Advent Vega was never the most polished Android tablet in the world -- after all, we had to rely on a custom ROM just to get native Android Market access -- but a reasonable price tag and NVIDIA's Tegra 2 has still made it hard to resist. For those who've managed to snag one already, you may have noticed that the Flash playback isn't exactly... awesome. That's probably because the version loaded onto already-shipped versions isn't certified by Adobe, and in order to fend off future complaints, the company's yanking Flash Player entirely from newly-shipping models for the time being. The certification process is apparently underway, and the outfit expects Vega tablets shipped "in the early part of 2011" to have a green-lit build pre-installed; as for everyone else, they'll be provided a gratis update as soon as it can be pushed out onto the interwebs. Head on past the break for the full statement.
BBC iPlayer to start international rollout with subscription service on iPad
BBC.com managing director Luke Bradley-Jones has dropped some knowledge on the TV-loving world by revealing that the iPlayer's global launch will be on a "pure paid subscription model," which will be followed by partnerships with advertisers on "free" sections of the British TV catchup service. The US is specifically named as one of the first new markets for the venture that is expected to go live in the middle of next year. In addition to knowing you'll have to shell out to get your fix of Top Gear, Doctor Who and, erm, The Foods that Make Billions, you'll also want to be aware that the first platform for the iPlayer outside the UK will be none other than Apple's iPad. What is it with Brits and the iPad?
BBC to launch subscription iPad player in the US
The BBC's iPlayer was made Mac compatible in 2008. Now, The Financial Times (FT) is reporting (subscription required) that the network intends to make the on-demand service available to iPads, using a subscription model. Don't hold your breath while you wait, however. BBC Worldwide said that this isn't going to happen until "the middle of next year," and even then only in "certain target markets." Additionally, no word on pricing was available, though there will be ad-supported free sections as well as paid content. The iPlayer, which lets users stream BBC programs for a limited time after their original air date, has been extremely popular in the UK. It was pushing out 100 million downloads per month at the beginning of 2010. One can only hope it won't be limited to BBC America content when launched in the States. Personally, I find myself watching more and more TV and movies with my iPad via Netflix and Hulu Plus. I'm not ready to cut the cable yet, but the idea is getting more attractive all the time.
Hands on: AirPlay for audio streaming in depth
My colleague Mike Rose has already taken a long look at video streaming via AirPlay and found it a rather mixed bag. Although it works well as far as it goes, it doesn't support non-Apple apps -- even video streaming ones such as Netflix -- and can't even manage to stream video footage shot on an iPhone from the iPhone to an Apple TV. Meanwhile, Victor Agreda wasn't at all impressed that AirPlay doesn't offer the ability to stream his iTunes library to an iOS device. However, as someone who owns two Airport Express units and zero Apple TVs, I was more interested from the original announcement in September in audio streaming. So as soon as iOS 4.2.1 hit this was the feature I first turned to and tested out. Here are my findings of what it does, what works well, and what doesn't.
BBC iPlayer going international next year, will be either fee- or ad-supported
The BBC's iPlayer video-on-demand service has been an unqualified success since its rollout back in 2007 and now it's taking the next logical step in expanding its reach: it's going global. Such is the word from John Smith, the generically named head of BBC Worldwide, who sees the international market for British shows as "under-exploited" and wants to see the iPlayer opened up beyond the Queen's home isles. Of course, since continental Europeans and North Americans aren't subject to the same backbreaking TV license fee, there'll be a new commercial element to the service, though the Beeb's bigwigs have yet to figure out if that means users will have to pay a levy or put up with some ads. Either way, we've got quite a few eager iPlayer viewers on our own staff, so we imagine whenever and however the switch does get flipped, it'll be welcomed by all.
Apple TV jailbreak news: USB restore mode discovered
The Apple Press and Engadget bring us word that the Apple TV, when connected to iTunes via its mini USB port, pops up this "restore this device" dialog that will look very familiar to iPhone, iPod, and iPad users. This is another step forward for would-be Apple TV jailbreakers because it will give end users an easy way to inject custom firmwares onto their own devices without having to do any hardware modification. So, to summarize: we know it has ample on-board storage for some apps, we know how to decrypt its firmware keys, we've seen the Lowtide interface loaded onto an iPod touch, and we could have a working jailbreak "within days." All this for a device that's been in people's hands for less than 24 hours. It now remains to be seen what a planet's worth of keen hackers and developers can put together for us to play with. Personally, I'm hoping for a port of Boxee and an iPlayer client. What would be your dream Apple TV app?
Loewe shows off new Connect LEDs, wallets cringe
Ultra high-end German television maker Loewe revealed at IFA that its 32-inch and 42-inch Connect LED line will be refreshed with 200Hz edge LED backlit panels and improved MediaNet connectivity. Specifically MediaNet has been revamped to feature a new LAN interface for streaming local video or audio content on the TV's integrated DVR as well as from DLNA compatible devices and online sources. A so-called "Follow Me" feature is another handy addition that allows users to easily transfer a program in progress from TV to another display for completion -- which should prove useful to shipping magnates who prefer passing out to Titanic in bed after starting in the jacuzzi. Trusted Reviews also reports that Loewe, along with Sharp and Philips, is promoting web-based services built on CE-HTML that are optimized for TV displays, and even demoed a version of the BBC's iPlayer using the technology behind closed doors. Style-wise, the luxury set will ship in three colors along with a choice of stand and a 2.1 speaker setup when it hits the UK this November. Official pricing however is still unknown, but don't expect to find it at Asda. %Gallery-101499%
3view launches first hybrid Digital/IPTV HD DVR with DVB-T2 tuners
Considering our frustrations with the closed nature of most DVRs stateside, now that 3view has started shipping pre-orders of its first £299 [$472] Hybrid Digital / IPTV HD DVR set- top box, we're certainly jealous. That's because for starters, it performs all of the basic functions of a 500GB HD DVR and provides viewers with access to 50+ TV channels, as well as all free OTA HD channels, thanks to partner MaxLinear's dual MxL5007T DVB-T2 broadcast tuners. There's also integrated support for YouTube and IPTV sources like BBC's iPlayer, with Sky Player slated to join the mix soon. If that wasn't enough to make you pity your recorder, UK owners can even view digital media content via the box's HDD, external USB storage, or DLNA networks, and easily rub in their gleeful media freedom via Twitter or Facebook. No, it may not be fair, but it seems remembering that we don't have to pay a license fee just to get basic national news is the only cheap shot worth clinging to for solace in this situation.
International HD news roundup
Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, Sahha! Read - Viewers demand 1080i from ARD and ZDF (Germany) Read - SCI FI HD to be beamed up to Virgin TV viewers Read - Discovery Rolls TLC Into Norway Read - RRsat to Distribute the First High Definition Indian `Bollywood' Movie Channel Read - Fox Sports brings you high-definition NRL coverage every day of the week Read - Discovery Networks launches high definition channel (India) Read - Microsoft Launches MSN Video Player In UK Read - Microsoft rolls out video-on-demand service across the UK Read - Sharp preps Freeview HD set-top kit (UK) Read - Sky Extends High Definition Leadership with HD Channel Milestone, adds ITV1 HD, Hallmark Channel HD, Sky sports HD (UK) Read - Movietime Launches in High Definition (Canada) Read - MAX to telecast IPL matches in HD (India) Read - BBC iPlayer lands on Humax Foxsat Freesat boxes Read - TV Globo Brings HDTV to Rural Brazil Read - PBS and Melita share 2010 FIFA World Cup TV rights (Malta) Read - Film4 HD to Launch on Virgin Media (UK)
TiVo returning to the UK thanks to partnership with Virgin Media
It looks like TiVo's freshly minted Premiere hardware will soon be setting sail eastwards as The Daily Telegraph is reporting Virgin Media's next generation set-top box will be built around it. Loyal readers of Engadget HD will already be aware that TiVo and Virgin hooked up last November and this latest news relates to the first hardware to be spawned from that relationship. According to TiVo CEO Tom Rogers, the Premiere will "heavily inspire the development work" going into Virgin's next TV appendage, which may or may not mean that the cable company will simply rebadge the well-received new boxes. What's assured though is much greater integration with online content, with search linking you out to Amazon, BBC's iPlayer, YouTube or good old standard broadcast channels. The whole thing's about unlimited choice, apparently, and should be showing up on the Queen's isles by the end of this year. We can wait, but we'd rather we didn't have to.
Samsung's U.K. show reveals Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Blu-ray due in March plus LoveFilm, iPlayer TV apps
When Avatar will make its Blu-ray 3D debut is still officially up in the air, but thanks to Samsung's European line show, TechRadar says we can expect Monsters vs. Aliens in March (at least in the U.K.) It will initially be available only to purchasers of new Samsung 3D HDTVs (called the U7000, U8000 or U9000 series of LCDs and PDP7000 plasmas over there) or Blu-ray players, an interesting choice that has us wondering when wider 3D releases will hit, or if we'll need to wait for the summer's PS3 firmware update before that happens. Still, that wasn't all Samsung had to say, also mentioning plans to add movie rentals from LoveFilm and access to BBC's iPlayer to its Apps service for U.K. buyers in April. [Thanks, @JoeCise]
Netgear intros EVA9100 media streamer, DGN2200M WiFi / WWAN modem and more at CES
Some crazy stuff is going down in Vegas -- fancy that, right? Netgear is doing its darnedest to make its own scene with the introduction of three new items here at CES, so we won't waste any time in breaking 'em down. Up first is the now-available $249 Digital Entertainer Express (EVA9100), which incorporates the media prowess found in the EVA9150 in order to give users instant access to "Blu-ray quality digital video up to 1080p, MP3s and high-resolution digital photos from PCs, Macs or NAS devices." Portals to YouTube, Flickr and RSS feeds will be readily available, and the free trial of PlayOn will provide access to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, BBC iPlayer and CBS. Next, we've got the $179.99 DGN2200M wireless router (available in April), which actually pulls double duty as an 802.11n-enabled DSL modem and a WWAN modem. Hailed as the only wireless-N product on the retail market with dual WAN capabilities, this one can get users online via a 3G or 4G USB dongle whenever they leave their home broadband connection. Finally, the $159 Powerline 200 AV+ Adapter (XAV2501) -- which will ship early next month -- enables homeowners to create a 10/100 Ethernet connection from any ordinary electrical outlet that already supports a powerline network. This one's also a HomePlug AV-certified device, so it should have no issues pushing through data at up to 200Mbps. We'll be scouring the show floor for a little hands-on action, so stay tuned! %Gallery-81231%
