The BBC has made your Christmas telly-watching dreams come true, assuming you own an iPhone or iPod touch. It’s just released an app, very similar to its iPad version, which lets you watch telly shows and listen to radio programmes via 3G on all mobile networks. No more huffing and puffing around the family gogglebox for you this December!
Previously, the iPlayer was accessible via a mobile website, but the new app offers enhanced features that “improve the live TV and radio experience.”
The Beeb says these include ‘Live Channel Hopping’ which will let you easily switch between live channels just like you would on the big screen boobtube. Background listening has also been added, so you can fire up a radio show and then switch to another app without interrupting your listening. There’s also “improved playback with greater resilience to network congestion” so you should see less stuttering too.
The BBC iPlayer app’s most important feature is 3G streaming, letting you use the iPhone and iPad apps to tune in without needing a Wi-Fi network. Watch your data allowance though: Those episodes of QI XL really add up.
For those without an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, the BBC will enable 3G streaming via its mobile website later this week. Although, we should note, there’s already an Android iPlayer app that’s less restrictive.
Oh, and while we’re discussing the BBC iPlayer it’s worth reminding that the auntie-on-demand service has been delayed for the Xbox, so if you’re planning on watching the Queen’s speech away from the family this year, the new iPhone app is probably your best bet.
