BBC iPlayer

21 Dec 2008 10:57:50

Roy Rainford

The iPlayer now appears to be available for Intel Macs. Is my reading correct? Has any member tried it?
On checking the System Requirements I clicked on the Adobe Flash link which took me to an Adobe site charging 699 Dollars! Surely this isn't needed? I would like to install the iPlayer on my Intel MacBook providing it doesn't need expensive software.

Re: BBC iPlayer

21 Dec 2008 11:23:25

Stuart Affleck

Yup, got it, installed it and it works fine, once you find something to download. Start here, click the button to access labs features, then you should be able to Adobe's free AIR software (needed) and the iPlayer itself.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/labs

Re: BBC iPlayer

21 Dec 2008 12:19:03

Roy Rainford

Thanks Stuart. It does work - amazing!

Re: BBC iPlayer

21 Dec 2008 16:43:10

Douglas Cheney

You can always try iPlayer Grabber which is very good, and you can write the program to DVD with Toast and watch later

Re: BBC iPlayer

21 Dec 2008 21:35:34

Thomas Maude

Hi - tried to follow your instructions to download the iplayer as I use it a lot but got nowhere - I may be a bit thick - but would someone give some idiot proof instructions as to how to download this to my desktop and then how to use it simply
Many Thanks
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

22 Dec 2008 16:11:37

Roy Rainford

Tom, from the BBC TV Channels page I went to:
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/download_programmes/desktop_mac
then followed the download instructions from there. A bit too detailed to log here. Roy

Re: BBC iPlayer

22 Dec 2008 19:32:42

Lionel Ogden

I went to the iPlayer site and when I tried to downoad a programme a window popped up asking me to click a button to download iPlayer desktop. The iPlayer desktop then installed and started to downoad the chosen programme. It now works every time. It seemed to be as simple as that.

Re: BBC iPlayer

30 Dec 2008 18:21:49

Thomas Maude

Hi - have downloaded this a few times now and have the download button option active on the main iplayer window but nothing happens when I press it - just trying again now and have downloaded it and when the option for to save or open the adobe flash air app came up ( during the install process of the iplayer) I clicked save - then the timing bar ( just a very narrow bar for the rest of the install has been active for about 10 mins so far but with no actuale info of where it is in the process or what it is doing or how long it will take - I'm going to be patient and wait - just wondered if anyone else has had a similar thing
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

5 Jan 2009 22:34:16

Thomas Maude

could someone please add some simple instructions of how to download this player successfully ?
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

5 Jan 2009 22:46:10

Thomas Maude

Stuart - when you go to the labs features page - DO YOU NEED TO SIGN UP FOR THE LABS ? ie filling out the form in order for the player to download properly ? or not ? is that what you did ?
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

5 Jan 2009 23:22:18

Thomas Maude

how long did your install take ? mine says it is installing but as i said earlier there is no timeline for the install
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

5 Jan 2009 23:23:36

Thomas Maude

I left it installing for over an hour and a half last time I tried ? how long did yours take ?
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

6 Jan 2009 10:49:33

Stuart Affleck

Yes, you need to be a Labs tester, at least for the moment. No form, just click on the 'use labs features' link. Found this help link from the application:
http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/download_programmes/desktop_mac
You can't find a download link to the software (I looked!) what you need to do is to download a programme & it'll start the install process.

Re: BBC iPlayer

6 Jan 2009 12:01:09

Lionel Ogden

I didn't notice at the time but does the new iPlayer only work on intel Macs?

Re: BBC iPlayer

6 Jan 2009 12:32:41

Thomas Maude

thanks for your advice and help Stuart - but i've officialy given up now !! and am using the grabber which works a treat
Tom

Re: BBC iPlayer

6 Jan 2009 19:10:59

Roy Rainford

Lionel said: "does the new iPlayer only work on intel Macs?" I believe it works well only on Intel Macs.
I found this on a BBC forum: "PPC users can install the iPlayer desktop and download and view programmes. However the playback is extremely bad, being very jerky with a very low frame-rate, and a low resolution image. It is a much more enjoyable experience to stream programmes - even low quality streaming mode is far superior to the desktop performance on a PPC.

So PPC users: don't bother installing the iPlayer desktop - just stream the programmes."