The BBC have done good (BBC iPlayer)

Member Name: wendz86

Product:	BBC iPlayer
Date:	12/08/09 (121 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use, great programmes

Disadvantages: None

Our TV in our bedroom unfortunately can only be used to watch DVD's as i managed to snap the aerial one day. Instead I have taken to watching Tv programmes on my laptop instead. It means that I don't have to worry about what time the programme is on, I can watch it whenever I like. I used to really only use the channel 4 on demand service to watch tv online. Last year though I came across the i-player from the BBC. I didn't initially think I would use it much as I don't tend to watch many BBC programmes. The i player has changed my mind though and I now watch a lot more BBC programming that I used to.

The BBC i player can be found on their home page. If you have visited the BBC homepage before you will have noticed that you can adapt the homepage to how you want it so you can put the items that you click on the most on the top. The BBC i player has certainly been positioned at the top of my page. as it is where I go most often on the site. On the home page it comes up with a few TV highlights from the different channels. You can also edit this applicationso it brings up the genre of programming that you like. For example you can set it to show kids programmes if you have children who like to watch programmes online.

You can click through on the word iplayer to the main iplayer page. The page is verty attractive with a black background and lots of pictures to make it exciting. I think it could seem a little cluttered the first time you see it but it is very easy to use. Along the top are tabs of Tv channels, radio stations, categories and A to Z. You can choose any of these tabs to try and refine your search for a programme. I quite often use the TV Channels tab as this allows you to look at the different programmes offered on the different channels.

Along the top of the homepage again are some TV and also radio highlights. These are quite good as there is often a programme on there that looks interesting to me that I end up watching. The pictures that they use to illustrate the different shows are very striking and interesting. They draw your attention as soon as you open the page. There are also arrows so you can scroll across and see the different programmes that have been highlighted.

Below are some different boxes. One of these is a schedule so you can see what is on and what has been on yesterday. I don't really use this but I could see it could be useful to people to try and see what has been on recently that they missed so they can catch up on it. Oher boxes include news, sport and radio so if you are interested in one of these categories you can click through. There is a box with a list of the most popular programmes. This is also quite a good way to choose something to watch as if a lot of people have watched something you asume it is going to be quite good. Finally the last box and got recently watched so you can see what the last programmes you have watched were. This is very useful if you only got half way through watching a programme as you can click back on it and watch the rest. It will inform you if you have only seen part of a programme.

Once you have selected a programme that you are interested in watching the iplayer will have a bit of information about it. This includes what the programme is about and how long it is. I like this as I like to know how long a programme will be before I watch it so I know if I have enough time. You can download the programme although I have never done this. I always watch it straight off the iplayer. You can watch it in a small screen on stretch it to full screen. When I am using it instead of TV I stretch it to full screen. The quality is not as good as TV but I do find it quite good. I do occasionally watch it on a smaller screen if I am doing something else.

The iplayer is the best video on demand service that I have used in terms of how reliable it is. For some reason some others like channel 4 sometimes freeze on programmes and then refuse to work. I hardly ever have problems like this with the iplayer. I find any problems I have are usually down to my own internet connection. I can play a programme and not worry about whether it is going to freeze which is good.

In terms of programming there is a lot of choice. As I said before I didn;t previously watch a lot of BBC programmes and now watch a lot more. I have found a few series of programmes that I have become interested in and have kept logging on in order to watch the next episode. The iplayer also recommends programmes that you might be interested in based on what you are watching. This means that I often find more programmes to watch.

It is a really easy site to use once you are used to it. I tend to only watch TV programmes on it but there is plenty else you can do. I tend to mainly look at BBC3 programmes but have recently found myself wandering around the site more looking for new programmes.

Overall the BBC Iplayer is a great video on demand service that has some really interesting programmes.

Summary: A great video on demand service

Reliability:
Ease of use:
Installation:
Noise:
Speed:
Variety of features: