iPlay with iPlayer (BBC iPlayer)

Member Name: TheWriter

Product:	BBC iPlayer
Date:	28/06/09 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Catch up on missed shows

Disadvantages: Slow

BBC iPlayer is a website that allows you to watch BBC programs from the last 30 days.

It works in two ways: you can either watch online (streaming) or download to your PC or laptop and watch later. With the second option the programme can only remain on the PC for 28 hours before its taken off and you can only watch it a certain number of times before its automatically deleted.

The site itself is easy to use and navigate. To find a programme you either type in the name into the search box or select from the programme list.

I personally find iPlayer to be really useful. Ive often missed shows and simply logged onto iPlayer and caught up, which is brilliant. I have had to do this a few times for The Apprentice.

One of the cons with this service is that if you're looking to watch a show fairly soon after its actually been on tv (as I was with The Apprentice- one time an episode had already started and I had missed half of it before I realised!) So I logged on to iPlayer but it wasnt on there yet...half an hour after the programme had finished it STILL wasnt there...an hour later, still no joy, despite there being a note on the website saying "will be iploaded shortly".)

So if you're looking to watch a show soon after its aired, bear in mind you may have to wait a while.

The other downside to iPlayer, especially in comparison to Channel 4's 4OD (on demand) is that iPlayer is SO SLOW! I feel like I'm waiting forever for an episode to stream and often Im faced with that annoying jittery picture and the rotating circle which indicates its still buffering. Its not the best way to watch tv.

One option to combat this is to press play and mute it while you do other work on the PC or go and do something away from the PC. After a short while, half of it should have buffered so you can start watching it. It continues to buffer while you watch and the rest should have caught p by the time you get around to actually watching it.

All in all a useful way to catch up on tv programmes you may have missed or even if you're bored and terrestrial has nothing good on (as usual!) try iPlayer. Just be warned it can be slow and temperamental!

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