| Product: |
BBC iPlayer |
| Date: |
13.03.08 (1084 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: It will make sure you get to see the things you missed
Disadvantages: Eventually
I was quite excited to be offered the chance to start using iplayer about 5 months ago. I have no idea why -I don't watch telly. I think it's because I've given up on it, sick of the repeats and watching kids programmes (I have kids - I'm not weird). My telly viewing system is to watch stuff on the internet when everyone's gone to bed. I know what you're thinking. And this seemed to fit that bill.
You see nobody wants to watch what I watch. And I am bottom of the pecking order round here despite being the general dogsbody and taxi service. I have to watch programs about fat women who want to be thin or thin women who need to be fat, programmes about houses that could be better and, worse of all, period dramas. I have weird teenagers.
I am 37 and heading towards middle age. I like gardening programmes, history programmes, science programmes and gratuitous nudity. And I never get to because, when everyone clears the lounge at 10pm, I am left with Sky documentaries, which appeal but repeat themselves 32 times every week.
BBC iplayer looked like a way of seeing what I want when I want.
What is it?
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In a nutshell, it is a way of watching any programme which has been on BBC television in the last 7 days with the exception of the news and certain 'contractual' issues such as live footy. And that's right across the BBC spectrum of BBC 1, 2, 3 and 4. Oh, almost forgot - it's free!!
How does it work?
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Well, first you register your interest on the BBC website. This may have changed as I started as soon as it began and you did need to pre-register back then. You might be able to go straight to it now.
Once registered (usual email and details etc etc), you download the iplayer software to your computer and run the installation program.
This will then direct you to the iplayer website which will present you with the list of programmes that have been on BBC in the last week. Click the ones you want to watch and the iplayer software will start to download them to your computer.
The website bit
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Obviously, the BBC puts on a few shows in a week so organisation of the available programs is key. They are organised by day, by category (drama, comedy or channel) or by Channel. You can also do a search for the one you want. I like just going through the lists day-by-day to see what was on that I might not have even heard about but floats my boat (such as perhaps, 'Naked Gardening for Scientists'). Once you click on something you like the sound of, you are taken to its download page where you can read a brief synopsis. Click the download link and you are taken back to the iplaer software where all the action continues from here on in.
The iplayer bit
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This acts as a console. Here you track the downloads and how long you have left to watch the programme (more of that in a minute). When everything has finished downloading, it is from here that you click the link to start watching.
The programmes will open up in a media player but you can use Windows Media Player if you prefer and can watch in a window or full screen.
Quality
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Playback quality is really good. It aint HD but it is a lot better than youtube. Ditto for the sound. At full screen there is some pixilation but it really is minor and not far off TV quality. Seriously, you wont be disappointed with it.
Sounds perfect, right?
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Well no. Not perfect.
Firstly, an hour long episode of Horizon is going to be a 500Mb download at least. That's going to take a bit of time and eat into you broadband allowance if you have one.
Secondly, download speeds seem extremely slow. I can't say for sure that this isn't an issue with my computer but I don't think it is (I have it installed on 2 computers and it makes no difference). Don't expect to think to watch something at 9 O'clock and have it ready for 10. I have had to wait several days for an hour long program to download. That is very frustrating when you really want to see the naked gardening scientist dudes.
Thirdly, you have to watch the programme within 30 days or it deletes itself. That's quite a long time I know but it could be an issue as I tend to start something downloading and, because its taking so bloody long, I forget about it and by the time I come to look for it it's expired. I know - weird viewing habits.
These three things conspire to make the whole thing a bit pointless. ITV have trumped them to be honest because they will stream their 'Catch Up' there and then to your computer and you don't have any wait time or registration bollo*ks to go through before you can watch, though the picture quality isn't as good.
Overall
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It is a good idea in principle. The BBC obviously deem the picture quality to be very important and have devised a system of 'view-on-demand' that protects it and makes their programmes look good. However, if they don't sort their download speeds up then it won't catch on. This is the way we are heading in telly world though and you know the BBC, always got to be the first and the best. I sort of like that.
If you fancy a go, pop along to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
Thanks for reading.
May also be on other review sites.
Summary: A good idea when technology catches up.
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