BBC Announce Platform Nutral iPlayer

[Bob The Skutter]

From BBC Internet Blog
Today, we are announcing that in partnership with Adobe we are building a platform-neutral download client.
Using Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR), we intend to make BBC iPlayer download functionality available on Mac, Linux and Windows for the first time later this year. Whatever platform you use, you'll now be able to download TV programmes from the BBC to watch later - on the train, in the garden, or wherever you like.


Given our obligations to rights-holders and the BBC Trust, these programmes are protected with DRM, but in a way that shouldn't affect your enjoyment of our programmes, whatever platform you've chosen.
We are also announcing that in partnership with Coremedia, Intertrust and CMLA, we have already enabled over-the-air iPlayer download functionality for the Nokia N96 mobile phone.

I know it's getting on for almost a year late. But at least they're making progress with it.

 

[Baldus885]

Firefox on my Mac plays iPlayer content anyway, I used it to catch up with a few Doctor Who episodes. I'm not sure what we're actually getting here...?

 

[Hermiod]

^The ability to download episodes. The quality is usually higher and the amount of time an episode is available to watch is longer.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Firefox on my Mac plays iPlayer content anyway, I used it to catch up with a few Doctor Who episodes. I'm not sure what we're actually getting here...?

As Hermiod said, it's the download client, which means you can download episodes any tine within the week, and watch within the month of transmission. The downloads are at a higher bitrate, so are better quality.

 

[Baldus885]

Oh, I see, I hadn't realised there was a separate client. In that case, 'tis a Good Thing.