BBC iPlayer On PlayStation 3? Not Yet
Post categories: iplayer
| 12:33 PM, Monday, 14 April 2008
I was interested to read that someone has managed to make BBC iPlayer work on the PS3 by pretending that it's a Wii.
As you know, our aim is to make BBC iPlayer available on a broad range of devices. We'd love to be on every popular device tomorrow, including the PS3, and it was on our roadmap. However, the reality is that we only have finite developer resources, and we need to divide our development time between expanding the platforms iPlayer is available on versus all the other cool things that we're working on (better video quality, personalisation, new site features, etc).
For each new device that we plan to support, we look at both a short and long term strategy, starting with encoding our content in a suitable format for browser-enabled devices that can view the iPlayer site, and moving in the longer term to possible customised versions of the site or even full custom applications for that device.
So, while I'm impressed that someone has done this, this doesn't mean that it's the best possible iPlayer proposition for that console. We're investigating the optimal video profile and browser proposition to enable us to officially make iPlayer available on PS3 in due course.
By the way, if the person who created the ps3iplayer port is looking for a job at the BBC, (s)he's welcome to contact me ;-)
Anthony Rose is Head of Digital Media Technology, Future Media & Technology. Image by Martin Belam.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~33~RS~)
Comments
I would be nice to think the BBC could incorporate the simple tweaks into the current Flash7 site, to enable PS3 for the short term, and then work with Sony on a better long term strategy.
Where does kangeroo fit into all of this???
As someone who is in a similar situation to the PS3 owners, I find it quite annoying the way you lock out these sites based on User Agents.
I own an Archos 605Wifi (www.archos.com) for anyone not in the know, Archos are basically the de-facto standard for personal media players and created the equivalent iPod Touch about 2 years before it launched.
My Archos device has a built in opera browser and supports Flash 7, yet because it's built by a well known company I do not get the chance to use the iPlayer site, yet the Wii version of the site would work 100% the same due to both devices basically behaving the same when it comes to the internet.
Can you not also include static URLs to the difference iPlayer versions such as bbc.co.uk/iplayer/wii or some such instead of changing the content based on the User Agent
Michael - how about instead of the BBC having to put all this work into creating new versions of iPlayer for every browser - users like you go to Archos and Opera and Adobe and demand they support Flash 9 in their systems.
I'd like to see it on Xbox Live.
Three things:
- Ryan: The BBC is already creating multiple versions of the iPlayer for different hardware. The objection is that they're making that situation even worse by locking out other devices that could use the same site; e.g. there's no need for a PS3 site, or an Archos site, when they should just be able to use the existing Flash 7 site (aka the Wii site).
- I'm sure it's possible to do better than the existing Flash 7 web based system for the PS3, but surely that's no reason to try to prevent PS3 owners using the Flash 7 site; something's got to be better than nothing.
- The BBC really should have cottoned on by now that this sort of game doesn't work. You can't stop people with PCs downloading the files intended for the iPhone, you can't stop PS3 owners accessing the Flash 7 site, and trying to do so just hassles legitimate viewers and makes you look silly.
Having tried the unofficial iPlayer on my PS3 + 40" Sony Bravia TV last night, I hope that when you come to do the Official PS3 iPlayer you use h264, and preferably at a higher bitrate than currently used for the iPhone streams.
Having used the useragent "exploit" to download an iphone encoded programme and watched it using the PS3 the quality wasn't really suitable for watching on a large HDTV screen, although it's perfect for my iPod Touch.
Ok, so why can't you download it on a mac?
If you allow me to watch iPlayer from within Front Row I'll be more than happy, even if its just streaming! Please implement watching iPlayer from within Front Row.
@Ryan (3)
Archos have promised an update to Flash 9 including the latest Opera Mini 3, but they are still yet to deliver. Trust me though, there are enough of us constantly contacting them asking for the update.
Anyway Ewan countered you perfectly, the BBC have already created a version of the iPlayer that would work perfectly but they lock me out of it for no real need.
If I was to pay around £10 I'd also be able to get a plugin to play mp4 videos which would then mean both the Wii version and the iPhone version both would be suitable yet both are currently inaccessible.
Yes I want a PS3 optimised streaming service. After all the Wii can't do HD but my PS3 can.
However as people have pointed out a lot of stuff just works if you fake your User Agent string. Why don't the BBC do a simple flash 7 page for anyone to try? It could even have a massive disclaimer on it saying that it might not work and people with supported devices should go to their device specific pages. Simple and everyone wins!
@ Harry Jones, You CAN download iPlayer programs on a Mac or Linux box. It is mildly technical but easily achievable. Google is your friend.
two things - one, I'm loving the iPlayer; two, I'd really like to see it on xbox live...
The BBC are clearly doing their bit so come on Microsoft, join the party.
You can view iPlayer streams on the original Xbox using the XBMC plugin.
It really does show that if the BBC released the reins just a little, the community would do most of the hard work for them.
I totally hated watching the "Tiger - Spy In The Jungle" on my laptop. Just the tedious task of having to switch it on before watchng anything made me annoyed let alone having to then sit there at a titchy screen.
This iplayer allows me to leave the latop switched off whilst choosing the BBC's excellent choice of content.
Well done Anthony Rose at the BBC for asking the dude who made this possible to come & join them and assist in doing this and other (Yes, I definitely want to know what else is possible?) PS3 developments professionally as he/she has certainly showed more than just talent as you can't help but thoroughly enjoy the missed programme on a 52" 1080p LCD with home cinema sound.
Congrats to "The Dude" aka. Ixy
Prize for the first person to create a DRM-free streaming system using the iphone stuff for platform independant browsers.
Ie. let me watch streaming iplayer using the iphone streasm in firefox.
I am simply looking forward to the day that all different media types are used as one. I suppose though, this means all the big players getting together and trying to sort themselves out. And guess what, this is very unlikely, so the us consumers will just have to keep on being frustrated at whatever systems we buy.
The xbox version will no doubt be integrated into the current video marketplace purchasing interface, however a year ago or more there was a WPF (windows presentation foundation) demo of a BBC on demand video application that was showcased at a technology or software convention.
I believe this would be an ideal way of getting it on the xbox platform and simultaneously for the windows vista platform (as a standalone application or maybe within vista media center (for those who have it)).
I expected the PS3 or the XBOX 360 to be the first consoles to have the bbc iplayer. These consoles are both bought with video entertainment in mind aswell as games.
Nevertheless your team must be working at a pace that is comfortable and are probably dealing with the easiest platforms first rather than the best platforms first from a consumer point of view.
Harry Jones (comment 7). Mark Thompson has said in this blog post that the BBC is aiming for a downloads version of the iPlayer on the Mac this year.
And now he has a job at the BBC ;)
Good news its coming to the PS3. It would be great if the BBC can optimize it, even have a proper application which can be access directly from the PS3s XMB (Home Menu), or the PS Store. But a standard browser version would be good enough for most people.
Cant wait to see what they come up with!
All you really need to do is develop and release some sort of development kit that would allow manufactures, developers, "legions" of very smart programmers to easily develop BBC plug-ins, interfaces and the like.
You'd very rapidly see devices ranging from wifi enabled phones, games consoles and practically all OS platforms having software developed for them. On-line forces and competition for developers would provide better and better versions. You'd be able to focus your IT developers on a couple of the main outlets saving time and resources.
Seeing as every PS3 has a hard drive, and is also easily upgradeable to a much larger hard drive, will the eventual PS3 version also allow time limited downloads as well as streaming? I think this would be a definite plus.
How about Linux support for downloaded programs? And why did you go for a Windows-only format rather than sticking with the OSS Dirac codec you were working on? I'm a UK license payer and I cannot watch ANYTHING on iPlayer unless I'm connected to the internet.
I just want to say - well done Anthony Rose for recognising someones work and even rewarding it by offer of a job. Some people in the same position would have put this down to "evil hackers" but you did the right thing.
And yet still nothing on the most developed and sophisticate, most rights holder-friendly home console media delivery platform; Xbox Live Video Marketplace...
This sounds like an elaborate justification for browser-sniffing.
And now he has a job at the BBC ;)
Good news its coming to the PS3. It would be great if the BBC can optimize it, even have a proper application which can be access directly from the PS3s XMB (Home Menu), or the PS Store. But a standard browser version would be good enough for most people.
Cant wait to see what they come up with!