BBC launches iPlayer 2.0

By Tim Conneally | Published June 26, 2008, 5:13 PM

Last year, the BBC's iPlayer launched in beta, presenting UK license holders with over 400 hours of free BBC programming on demand. Today, the 2.0 beta version was rolled out.

The BBC's on-demand TV service called iPlayer has received an overhaul since its release in beta last year, offering several design and feature upgrades.

In addition to an enlarged playback screen, iPlayer 2.0 now offers a BBC schedule of both broadcast and webcast programs. Also added is a "last played" section that allows content interrupted from previous sessions to be resumed, and a "More Like This" section that links to related programs and relevant Web sites.

BBC Radio in iPlayer has also been upgraded to include "Listen Again," which allows rewind and fast-forward of live radio programming.

At first, the iPlayer was only available to Windows XP users (note, not Vista), but has since expanded onto Virgin Media cable boxes, Wi-Fi connected iPhone/iPod Touch, and the Opera-based Internet Channel on the Nintendo Wii. Promises of Mac and Linux versions are still unfulfilled.

BBC iPlayer

Many programs on iPlayer are only available to users hailing from the UK, for licensing reasons: The BBC prefers to show its programs to paid license holders. So the device is something of a downer if you live in the States, and were hoping to catch up on "Doctor Who" or "Eastenders."

Comments

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It works perfectly on Vista now (and has done since it was released properly and not in beta on 25th Dec 07.

There has also been a flash based streaming player for months now for those who do not have a dedicated download version - so it does work on most Macs and Linux based systems

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Thanks for clearing that up.

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This is a useless story for anyone other than people living in the UK, as you can read at the bottom of the article. You can't watch anything on it if you live in the USA.

*edit* and by definition this is probably a useless comment.

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Yes it is pointless for people outside the UK imafurby, but why even post a comment stating that when a massive amount of all the other news stories are pointless to people outside the USA.

You get one story that isn't centred around you and you start crying. Wow.

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Since you seem determined to be insulting, let me add this. I'd say that anything coming from the BBC is probably useless, even if you live in England and can watch it. Everyone knows the BBC is the UK's version of Pravda, disemminating, socialist, and anti-American propaganda, and slavishly pandering to the left with an almost religious fervour.

What I'd prefer, is access to is Channel 4, which at least offers alternatives to the sludge coming from the BBC. For example the broadcast of the Great Global Warming Swindle, which despite the protestations of the mad, power hungry lunatics who want us all to subscribe to this garbage, opened up many people's eyes to the reality of this global fraud.
Have a Nice Day.

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That's not what anyone remotely in touch with reality sees when they watch the BBC. Are you sure it's the BBC you're talking about?

You're a climate change denier calling other people lunatics - that's kinda cute.

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Oh, I love that. Straight out of the pages of your little green manifesto. If I don't believe in your non existent global warming I'm a "denier" am I? That's the cuteness that's coming from you folks at the new Spanish Inquisition, aka the Global Warming brigade. I guess you'll want to put me on trial or send me for "re-education", so that I finally confess that global warming is real, even though there's no evidence to support it. Denier, ha. That's funny.

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Denier or not, you've obviously never watched Top Gear if you think the BBC has a green agenda.

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Just like that facist PBS channel my kids watch every morning with the Nazi Barney show and the extremely antisemitic Dragon Tales... good lord... half a day of that and then brainwashing through science shows and non-sensationalistic news programs... and what's even worse is that sometimes, they air a bunch of BBC programs! [the horror!]

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Imafurby - why are you so angry? Why are you bringing up the Spanish Inquisition? If you were arguing religion, would you bring up the Crusades? If you are truly try to spread a message, do it without silly insults and self righteous anger.

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Listen if you don't understand what I'm talking about maybe you need to go back to school. I'm sorry I'm not about to start spelling things out for people who have limited reasoning powers.

Sorry if I offened you with my "anger". What is it with you people, you get offended at the slightest display of human emotion? What calming meds are you on? Maybe you could point me in the right direction, and I won't be so excitable.

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yeah, no leftist conspiracy would really want to reprogramme him, he's far more use to them going on as he is undermining what he's supposed to be espousing with his manner.

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I believe it pre-dates the current politically corrected minions who run the place now, and due to its popularity has managed to remain on the air despite them.

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So I gather you're a believer too then.

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Well, you got it right on target with PBS. Nazi Barney? That cracks me up.

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news.bbc.co.UK
bbc.co.UK

There. Got it yet?

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