Friday 13 July 2012, 09:30
BBC Olympics app on Android
Last month I wrote on this blog about the new mobile video services we've developed to help you enjoy the summer of sport - including live and catch-up video on your mobile and tablet.
My team, the mobile sport and 2012 team, has been using your feedback on our Euro 2012, F1 and Wimbledon coverage to continue improving the service, working on the video quality and reliability of playback.
And as we build up to the Olympic Games, I'm excited to be able to announce the release of our next new BBC Sport mobile product - the BBC Olympics smartphone app.
It's available on Android and iPhone, and we are introducing a shortcut for Blackberry devices too.
BBC Future Media's Mobile Platforms team, based alongside us at Mediacity UK in Salford, built the app.
Great Olympic content
The BBC Olympics app is built on the same content as the Olympic mobile website, including:
Native app features
We've taken advantage of the extra functionality available in native apps to include some additional features.
In both the iOS and Android versions you can download the latest stories to read offline - perfect for when you're on the go and in an area where there's poor mobile reception.
If you want to manage your data allowance, this can be switched off (say, on 3G), or set to take headlines without images.
The iOS app is designed for iPhones and iPod touch devices on iOS 5.0 and above. Users can personalise the iOS app, by adding their favourite Olympics sports to the customisable tab bar.
The Android app is for handsets with OS 2.2 and above. Android users need to have Flash installed to be able to watch the video.
You can see a demonstration of the app's main features in the video. Some of its content (such as medals, live video and results) won't be available until the Games start but there's plenty of news and information available now.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash Installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Please do download the new BBC Olympics app and let me know what you think.
We're working on the BBC Sport app already, and we would love to hear your Olympic feedback as we prepare the BBC Sport product.
Lucie McLean is Senior Product Manager, Mobile Sport & 2012, BBC Future Media
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Comment number 1.
Paul13th July 2012 - 10:14
A great app.
Will there be a Windows Phone version?
Link to this (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
clotheyes13th July 2012 - 10:16
Disgraceful BBC. "The Android app is for handsets with OS 2.2 and above. Android users need to have Flash installed to be able to watch the video." Not available via the Google Play store for Galaxy Nexus with Jelly Bean installed.
Why the reliance on flash ? The iPhone doesn't have flash, why should Android users require it. Just like iPlayer on Android. Is this what I pay my licence fee for ?
Link to this (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
Kirwan Lyster13th July 2012 - 10:17
Apparently it's not compatible with a Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). That's a shame as I was very interested in taking a look.
Link to this (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
etyek13th July 2012 - 10:26
Are there any plans to make the iOS app universal so iPad users can view at native resolution?
Link to this (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
Josh Tumath13th July 2012 - 10:37
Oh. No Window Phone version. :(
Link to this (Comment number 5)
Comments 5 of 85