iPlayer - the BBC at its best. (BBC iPlayer)

Member Name: jmarko

Product:	BBC iPlayer
Date:	14/03/09 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple to use, free, reliable.

Disadvantages: None

The BBC iPlayer is both an online tv and radio streaming site and a downloadable application. The application itself allows the same functionality as the site but also allows you to download programmes to watch offline when an internet connection may not be available.

The platform itself has been developed by the BBC to allow users access to a selection of the past 7 days tv and radio programmes on the entire BBC network. Whilst the original application was only available for Windows machines, a Mac version has recently been released with others purportedly in development. The BBC is committed to operating system neutrality although this may be expressed through the online streaming iPlayer rather than further application developments.

That said, the iPlayer has since been ported to the Virgin Media cable network and is available through the television as part of their Catch Up service.

The iPlayer is very simple to use, has a mass of programming available at any one time and, best of all, is free - both subscription free and advert free.

There are hardly any down sides to the iPlayer. The late development of a Mac version was disappointing but it arrived in the end (although it remains unavailable to users of PowerPC Macs). It is without doubt the definitive answer to the claim by some broadcasters that material cannot be made available without expensive and nasty DRM applications on board.

Just what you would expect from the BBC. Brilliant!

Summary: Another brilliant innovation from the BBC!

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