BBC's iPlayer comes to the PlayStation 3

**cliffbo** · 10-28-2008, 08:31 PM

BBC working on iPlayer for PS3
By James Orry - 28/10/2008 - 10:16am GMT

Has a few compatibility issues to work out.
bbc logo - BBC working on iPlayer for PS3

Anthony Rose, head of Online Media Group, BBC Future Media & Technology, has revealed that a PS3 specific version of the popular iPlayer is in the works.

"We're... working on bringing BBC iPlayer to Sony PS3, but we're not quite there yet as the PS3 uses a slightly older version of Flash which doesn't support some of the features used in our media player, and the very promising Flash 9 update now available on PS3 has some compatibility issues," explained Rose in a BBC blog post.

He added: "Our Flash developers are working on it - stay tuned for updates."

The BBC iPlayer is a streaming TV and Radio service providing users with the ability to catch up with BBC programmes from the past seven days. A version of the player is already available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Wii and iPhone.

http://www.videogamer.com/news/28-10-2008-9776.html

**Kiwi** · 10-28-2008, 08:35 PM

That's cool. Don't use it personally, but it's nice to see that the BBC care about those who do.

Now all they need to do is use our licensing money to make some decent programs :P

**cliffbo** · 10-28-2008, 09:09 PM

might as well put this here

Sony Talks Firmware
What's in store for the PSP and PS3? A few hints inside.
by John Tanaka

US, October 27, 2008 - Version 5.0 and Version 2.5 of their respective firmwares gave the PSP and the PS3 some much asked-for features. So what's in store for Sony's evolving wonder devices?

For answers, we turn to Munechika Nishida, who posted his latest Random Tracking column to Impress Watch over the weekend. This time around, the well-connected technology writer managed to get commentary from Naoya Matsui, Koujiro Umemura, Masaki Takase, and Shinji Noda, all high ranking Sony Computer Entertainment employees directly responsible for firmware and network issues regarding the PS3 and PSP.

The column first recapped some of the major points of the recent firwmare updates, with particular attention given to the inclusion of Flash 9 support in the PS3. This was a heavily requested feature, said Matsui, with Japanese fans hoping to view videos from Nico Nico Video, a Japanese version of YouTube.

Sony has actually been working on Flash 9 support for quite some time -- as far back as late last year. To get it running on the PS3, Sony ended up customizing a separate Flash implementation that was provided to it by Adobe.

For a sense of how computationally intensive some areas of Flash 9 can be, you need only consider this little bit. According to Takase, the PS3 implementation of Flash-based playback for H.264 videos makes use of an SPU. This allows for loading up of web pages to be separate from video playback, improving framerate.

The entire web experience on the PS3 has been improved with the new firmware update. Noda cited a 2.8 times increase in Javascript speed according to Sony's own benchmarks. Takase believes PS3's Javascript performance, while not up to the level of Google Chrome, beats Internet Explorer 7.

It doesn't seem that PSP will be getting Flash 9 support for the time being. Noda explained that the PSP is extremely resource limited. Getting the full screen keyboard running was tough. This feature, incidentally, was apparently requested heavily in markets outside of Japan. Noda also mentioned fullscreen output of PSP games to televisions as being impossible to implement without hardware support.

Sony's engineers do still have things in the works for the PSP. While PSP already has screen capture support built into its development tools and accessible to game developers who chose to use it, plans call for a future firmware update to add video capture support as well.

Strangely, the PS3 took the opposite route with these Web 2.0-style features. On the PS3, video playback and upload to YouTube came first. Screen capture support was added only in the latest update. Takase detailed the screen capture support just a bit, revealing that the PS3 captures in PNG format at the full resolution of the current game and stores the images in the Photo section of the XMB.

Now let's hope we'll start seeing some games that actually use the feature!

We're going to have to leave you on a sad note here, especially if you picked up one of the early 20 gigabyte PS3 systems. Sony's new Ad-Hoc Party initiative, which allows the PSP to use the PS3 as a proxy and matching server for playing internet-based games, will, as previously announced, not be supported with the 20 gigabyte PS3 due to the lack of built-in wireless networking. Umemura added in his latest comments that it would be difficult at present to allow 20 gigabyte owners to simply attach a wireless LAN adapter via USB and use the service.

Looks 20 giggers are not invited to this party! But remember, you can always boast about your backwards compatibility!

http://uk.psp.ign.com/articles/923/9...0&RSSid=923933

***masteratt*** · 10-28-2008, 09:10 PM

I love BBC iPlayer, don't have TV at Uni and I can watch Jonathan Ross on it

I also caught Dragon's den: Behind the Dragon special yesterday...Actually that's all I've ever watched on BBc iPlayer...But it's still nice

Don't care to have it on the PS3 though *kisses PC hope it never breaks for a long period ever again*

Z · 10-28-2008, 10:53 PM

PS3-Sense writes "The BBC confirmed that they are currently working on a iPlayer for the PlayStation 3. For those who don't know what iPlayer is; iPlayer is a free service which allows you to watch all BBC TV/Radio shows that have been broadcasted over the past seven days." http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-222980.aspx

since it's a translated source, I am not sure how accurate it is, but at least we know there is something coming.

***GTAce*** · 10-28-2008, 10:54 PM

http://forums.e-mpire.com/showthread.php?t=89502

**cliffbo** · 10-28-2008, 10:57 PM

it's so hectic with news today i understand you overlooking it lol

**cliffbo** · 10-28-2008, 10:57 PM

Z.... Hi! i just put a slightly different spin on it because they said they are still working things out. that could mean Sony supporting other Flash formats (are there any?)

**Kiwi** · 10-28-2008, 11:00 PM

We can let him off, seeing as you do it every now and then

***Luis*** · 10-28-2008, 11:00 PM

The previous thread title wasn't proper anyway.

**cliffbo** · 10-28-2008, 11:01 PM

Z, you ate my thread LOLOL!!!!

**Kiwi** · 10-28-2008, 11:01 PM

LOL I closed it the second you merged them together VG.

Anywho, continue!

***Luis*** · 10-28-2008, 11:04 PM

**Red_Eyes** · 10-28-2008, 11:09 PM

But is the BBC iPlayer limited to European IPs only?

**cliffbo** · 10-28-2008, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Red_Eyes

But is the BBC iPlayer limited to European IPs only?

yep

Z · 10-28-2008, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by Red_Eyes

But is the BBC iPlayer limited to European IPs only?

it is weird that acceesing the US PSN from Australia I don't get any access to all the tv and movie stuff they offer, BUT I still find a movie title or two on offer. I wonder why that is? slip up or they don't care for some titles to have more exposure and sales?

**gibmonster** · 10-28-2008, 11:54 PM

I'd like to see something similar for the ABC program in Australia. Even if it's just for the show "Review with Myles Barlow". Favourite show at the moment. The guy reviews everything about life like murder, bush ranging and stealing. Fucking hilarious.

**Sephiroth_VII** · 10-29-2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Z

it is weird that acceesing the US PSN from Australia I don't get any access to all the tv and movie stuff they offer, BUT I still find a movie title or two on offer. I wonder why that is? slip up or they don't care for some titles to have more exposure and sales?

Don't buy any, you won't be able to download them -.-