Replay the Weeks TV on Demand (BBC iPlayer)

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	BBC iPlayer
Date:	15/12/08 (598 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast & Efficient

Disadvantages: Can Eat-Up Monthly Download Limit

With its 'official' version launched on Christmas Day 2007, the 'BBC iPlayer' is an online platform which allows its users to watch (and download) all of the BBC's TV and Radio programmes up to a week after they have been shown.

Found at bbc.co.uk/iplayer, the iPlayer was actually available as a prototype (beta) version since late 2005 - although many of the features which can be used today were missing.

Upon navigating to the iPlayer website, the user is presented with a selection of TV and radio highlights from the day. Clicking on a programme opens up the viewing window with a large "click to play" button in the centre - it's as simple as that. Underneath the window is an option to view the programme in high quality - essential if you want to make use of the full screen view.

A fairly recent feature of the iPlayer is its ability to work on both the Nintendo Wii and the iPhone - this may not sound that impressive, but most sites which feature streaming media don't often work on either of those two platforms.

A new look iPlayer service was recently released. Although it retains the same predominantly black background with white text, some of the new features include:

-Radio programmes in high-quality stereo.
-Bigger playback window.
-Programmes automatically pick up from where you left off.

In my personal experience, the iPlayer handles video very nicely - although it can eat up your internet usage if you're signed up to a service where you only get limited downloads per month. When the service was first launched, it did make my wireless router crash on a couple of occasions, but recently it has been working trouble free.

The BBC iPlayer is an excellent service which will perhaps one day make direct TV recording obsolete. The only real disadvantages are that a) some programmes aren't shown - for example films and certain sporting events, and b) the download option is only available to Windows users - so a Mac person like myself is left out in the cold. However, even with those minor annoyances, I would highly recommended the iPlayer.

Summary: Decent Service

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