The BBC has announced that Android 2.2 users can now access the BBC iPlayer service, all because the OS upgrade comes with Flash 10.1 compatibility.
To make sure the iPlayer works on Android screens, the Beeb has optimised the UI by tweaking the playback controls for touchscreen devices.
The broadcaster does warn that you can only use the iPlayer over WiFi and that your phone will need a powerful processor to cope with the data – but, as it is only high-end phones like the Nexus One which are due for the 2.2 upgrade this shouldn't be a problem in the short term.
However, when the OS trickles down to budget Android devices, there may be some issues.
Playback of iPlayer over Android will be done through a 400kbps Flash stream, which the broadcaster notes "provides a really good playback experience."
Unlike the iPlayer, this isn't an actual app the BBC is releasing, but is a browser-based optimised site.
This is because the BBC Trust is investigating whether or not the BBC should be releasing its own phone applications.
Not adding value
In other iPlayer news, Xbox senior regional director Neil Thompson has admitted that there are no plans to bring the iPlayer to the Xbox 360.
TechRadar has been campaigning to bring the iPlayer to the Xbox 360 for some time, so this will be a blow to the thousands of people who wants the app on the console.
Thompson, speaking at E3, said about the catch-up service: "The iPlayer is available on a lot of platforms, people connect to that content in a lot of ways today and it's like 'where would we add value to that particular property at this point?' and we think we can probably add value in other areas at the moment."
We are convinced that adding the iPlayer to Xbox Live adds value to the console regardless, so we're not really sure what Thompson is getting at here.
Despite Thompson's dismissal of the iPlayer, sign up to our petition and we'll see if we can change Microsoft's mind.
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
ralphgoodson
October 19th 2010
7. Although I have had my HTC desire for about six months, T-Mobile upgraded my OS to Android 2.2 a couple of weeks ago. iPlayer seems to work very well and it is really useful to be able to watch live TV anywhere. Only problem is that BBC seem to be limiting server access time to five minutes as at exactly that point each time, the player stops and a messages caomes up saying `cannot access server'. How daft!
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geezagame
June 26th 2010
6. I've just tried this after seeing this article, surprisingly iplayer worked for me over wifi AND 3g. For info I have a Nexus One running Android 2.2 FRF83, mobile phone carrier is 3UK
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bradavon
June 25th 2010
5. @ badgerboy1977: I'm afraid that isn't the case. The BBC offer two streams: 3G and Wifi. There's no reason they couldn't offer this on their website too. BeebPlayer purely uses the streams already there.
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bradavon
June 25th 2010
4. So this is what the BBC intended when they forced the programmer of the unofficial (but excellent) BeebPlayer to stop updating it? Grrr!
Beeb Player is a proper Android App that works with any Android device and works just as well over 3G as Wifi (two streams are offered).
Search Google for the BeebPlayer (last version is 0.6.5) for the Android APK file and use Astro File Manager to install it. It's a fantastic App and works flawlessly. Frankly, the BBC should buy it off the programmer!
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badgerboy1977
June 25th 2010
3. @ dansus
It doesn't mean they won't allow you to use it over your network connection just that it wouldn't work because of bandwidth issues.
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dansus
June 25th 2010
2. Why only Wifi? Why are the BBC dictating what i can do with my data?
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mgillespie
June 25th 2010
1. Microsoft won't do it, simply because BBC won't let Microsoft charge for it, and Microsoft won't give away anything for free.
Simple as that.
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