Tablet World.pdf

REVIEWS BBC iPlayer 2.0
iOS
BBC iPlayer 2.0
This updated version of the Beeb’s iPlayer app brings to the iPad and
iPad mini the ability to download over Wi-Fi and cache programmes
● Price Free ● comPany BBc ● WeBSiTe bbc.co.uk/iplayer
VERDICT
This should be a
stock download
for all iOS device
owners in the UK.
The ability to cache
shows for 30 days
makes it an essential
travel companion
OVERALL SCORE
REQUIREMENTS
iOS 5.1 or later;
19.1MB storage
78 TABLETWORLD
The BBC iPlayer 2.0 app for iPhone and iPad introduces a great new feature:
Wi-Fi downloads. This enables you to download television programs via
Wi-Fi and store them locally on your iOS device.
Ever since the BBC iPlayer app launched in 2011 (and prior to that the BBC’s
compelling iOS-optimised website), it’s been a great source of content for iPad
owners. With its large catalogue of television programs and radio shows, all
streamed without commercials, the BBC iPlayer app enables you to watch on the
move any show broadcast in the past seven days.
The last update to BBC iPlayer finally enabled users to stream television
shows over a 3G connection, removing the requirement to be connected to a
Wi-Fi router. This made the app much more mobile, but the quality when using a
3G connection leaves something to be desired.
Enter the latest update with its newfound ability to download programs and
cache them locally on an iOS device for up to 30 days. Downloading is a simple
enough process: click the Download button below the main player window and
it’ll locally store the program. You can then click Play when you’re out and about
and it’ll load the cached version rather than attempt a 3G download.
The implementation is pretty good. You can request to download a program
while browsing in 3G, and it’ll wait until a Wi-Fi connection is present before
starting the download. You can start watching shows while they are downloading,
and you can always still watch shows in 3G when on the move and wait for a
Wi-Fi download when you return. Programs download only when the app is
open, however, and it doesn’t initiate downloads in the background.
An option in the BBC iPlayer app Settings enables you to choose between
Standard and Higher Quality Downloads. This typically doubles the amount of
space (and consequently time required to download each episode), but it does
deliver noticeably higher-quality video playback.
“BBC iPlayer
enables you
to watch on
the move
any show
broadcast
in the past
seven days”