New BBC iPlayer for TV

Jut downloaded this onto my Playstation. I much prefer the new user interface. Except for one humungous bug:

YOU CAN'T EXIT IPLAYER WITHOUT SWITCHING OFF THE WHOLE CONSOLE!

There's no exit option, the PS menu button is disabled and no other controller keys do anything. Jeez Louise!

@Coverleeds Hold the PS button then the option to quit will appear.

Can someone please confirm if this is still a browser-based player or it's a newly app actually written on the Playstation platform?

Its a new app. It takes the place of the old iPlayer on the TV section of the X-Menu bar, but when you select it as usual it will prompt you to download. You can no longer access the playstation browser controls from with the application, so I ould assume it isn't now browser based.

Thanks for the replies! I'd never used a long hold of the menu button to exit games, only a single press. Guess I'm going to be the only one confused about this then :) I apologise for being the first comment under your article and having big capitals letters all over it ;)

You mention it will be available on connected tvs soon. Is there a timeline for that? This would be great to use on Sony Tvs that already have the iPlayer app as part of their internet video section.

I'd love to be able to access this on a PC for use with a television as a display and with a keyboard acting like the remote control. If it's a browser based application it shouldn't be too difficult.

This is all very nice. I use my PS3 and iPlayer all the time, and it's a fantastic platform. BBC need to sort out the embarrassment that is iPlayer on Android Honeycomb.

I have a very nice Asus Transformer, the best selling Android Tablet, but iPlayer and BBC News app are an embarrassing mess.

Does the new app have HD playback on the PS3?

It looks good, but I notice it still says it can be used for "Radio catch-up". Is there any chance we can also have a "Listen Live" button, please, for those of us in Scotland who lost BBC Radio off of Freeview in the evenings? (My Humax set-top box will give me iPlayer but not Radio Player)

Looks great. Any plans to have a Media Center add in to get the same effect?

This is outstanding.

Is it possible to use this interface on a PC? (Like Stuart above, I'd love a media center plug in but in the mean time...) Is there a URL we can use to get this interface rather than the standard PC browsing experience?

Thanks for this, much needed update.
Although, as with the "native app" comment, PS3 software natively accepts the hold PS button to QUIT, but since in in game XMB was added a few years ago, single press of PS button also allowed you to quit the game/application, in fact it is used so much that the hold to quit button is not as widely known as it used to be.

Does the PS3 get BBC HD channels with the update ?

I would certainly like the see a plug-in for media center based PC's -- any chance of iPlayer also being made available on the XBox?

I like the new Windows Media Centre style navigation and the whole app looks like a marked improvement over the old. Great job! One question: is the iPlayer team shying away from using BBC iD? The ability to add favourites would be a lot more convenient if there was a persistent bookmarking and viewing history tied to an account and carried over from device to device. I saw the friends panel had dropped out from the web iPlayer. Is the Beeb not interested in social recommendations?

Another question - does this new app play nice with the standard PlayStation Blu-Ray remote? Do the Play/Pause/FFW/RWD buttons work properly?

This improvement looks great. Is there a URL to access it on a PC?

Also, one of the big failings (for me at least) with the last version that there was not the ability to control the interface fully with keyboard keys, has this been addressed?

Many thanks, keep up the good work,

Conor

Does the new iPlayer allow to resume watching a programme at the point where you left it? The current version that I use through a Sony Blu-ray player does not, but the desktop PC version does.

Excellent, will try when I get home today. Wife and kids love the Iplayer through the Playstation3. What about HD content for this superconsole? it's more than capable, any reason why HD has not been available on this platform.

Looks great. I don't have a Playstation 3 though, but I do have a Sony Bravia Internet TV. You mention this new BBC iPlayer will come to many Smart TV's in the coming months. Is there anyway to know which TV's? Bravia Internet TV's already have a version of BBC iPlayer but its always been a beta version that had a terrible interface. Would love to see your new slick version on my TV.

I second the 'Looks Great', very slick. I had a quick dig around but sad to see still no live feeds. Are they there? The iPad app has live feeds but it seems not the PS3 app. Regulatory hurdles to cross?

Thanks for the update Chris, it's good to have these excellent options. I hope the dreaded time display/elapsed time on bottom left corner has now dissapeared.

I'm still seeing the old version on my PS3. Does it need a system update? Thanks

Thank you Chris!

Even more reasons to finish work early :)

Lets hope that the Flash hardware acceleration bug is fixed in this new version...

I at quite at amiss with this new version, my two main criticisms are

1: No subcategories. On the PC if I want to see what nature programs are available I can navigate to Categories -> Factual -> Science & Nature and see what is available. On this new app I have no option of viewing the Science & Nature sub-category only the much broader Factual, So now I have to manually search through at present the 93 available programs in the Factual category. To make matter worse the app does not have persistent scroll when focused on programs, so to watch the 93rd program in line I would have to press the left arrow 93 times. In its the previous version I had a maximum of about 15~20 actions to reach any specific program. With the new version I now have the potential to need to preform over 100 actions to reach any specific program. This is rather distressing because it is now far quicker for me to turn on my PC and check what is available on iPlayer before watching it on my TV, instead of faffing around for 10 minutes find out what is available.

2: The lack of the ability to bring up the x-media bar on the PS3 when the app is running. This meaning that the only way to exit the app is to force close the app by holding down the PS3 button on the controller leading to a 5~10second reboot of the system, additionally this wipes any semi-persistent states on the system eg. resume points on streaming media. I can bring up the x-media bar when I'm playing games on my PS3 why wont you let me bring it up on the iPlayer app.

The quality selector and the ability to find signed programs are a plus!

@James Parkin BBC "The BBC iPlayer for TV is now a native application on the PS3 and so we use the same exit method that Playstation games use, which is to hold down the PS button and choose Quit."

This is understandable, however many PS3 owners make use of the Bravia Sync function to control the PS3 using their TV remote, especially when making use of vod services. The TV remote doesn't have a PS button therefore, unlike gaming applications which require a controller, some other way of exiting the application should be provided.

I'll add my voice to the need for a Windows Media Center add in for iPlayer. Media Centre PCs are becoming more and more popular so would be great to join the party.

Also, will the Wii channel be updated too?

The iPlayer app currently available on my 2010 Sony Bravia kdl32403u currently has no radio option, nor no HD option. I'm not sure if this the case on all the Sony Bravias, so can you please confirm if the new iPlayer update will have both of these options available across the board.

Why would you want to use this on a PC?? A remote control (and obviously an interface designed for one) is always going to be inferior to the original mouse-driven interface. The best thing I ever did on my mediacentre was to ditch the remote and mediacentre software and go back to a mouse/web interfaces.

As mentioned by smala01 above, for all of this year Flash and Air have refused to play in HD as the content was tagged as Interlaced. This was pointed out on many occasions on the forum that they closed down.

As a PS3-using Brit living in the US I'd love to get access to this. Is there a way to pay a licence fee and get access?

Great new interface, couple of tech things with the video though:

Any reason why the app doesn't start at 50Hz instead of 60Hz, which means framerate conversion on all video with is 50Hz. When I launch play TV on the PS3 it switches to 50, so I'm guessing apps can request this.

Are these the same HD encodes that the Samsung bigscreen gets? I ask because the quality on the TV is much better. On the PS3, they are being cropped to the point the BBC dog on HD isn't fully on screen, and generally the picture looks noisier and with some motion artefacts.

Excellent! What a wonderful surprise! I can finally watch programmes in HD, and they look fantastic! Now all that remains is for the BBC to start providing full 1080 line streaming of their programmes!

Honestly, I'm so impressed by the new interface, and I can't wait to see it roll out to other platforms. My one criticism is that I see no option to sign in with my BBC iD, meaning I have to go and find all my favourites again... This is also absent from the Android application - is there any reason why? An amazing start though!

Oh, also... BBC iPlayer is now at the bottom of the PS3's TV list, which is very sad - we now have to scroll down to it past ITV and 4oD. Any chance of boosting the BBC back up to their rightful place? :)

The PS3 remote dosn't work, I have to turn on a joypad.
Please do not say I have change the settings each time on my PS3 remote by reassing controler settings to 1.

It would be nice if it remembered where you was viewing so when come back it just started playing back from there.

Is there anyway of deleting information of programes that have watched?

@thecapsaicinkid: Because some of us use a pc as a 'media pc' in the living room and control it with a remote control. I hate having to dig out my mouse and keyboard to use iPlayer when I am in the living room - I don't want to go all PC-ish when I'm in front of the TV.

Media Center has the option to add embedded 'apps' just like the PS3. In fact, SKY beat the beeb to it by adding their sky player to media center ages ago.

Loving the ps3 interface, pictures seem to be cropped, not expanded to full screen 16:9 format, is this going to be fixed soon?

So I just got home from work and turned on my PS3 to chill out to a bit of iplayer in bed.

So an update - brilliant.

All looks good.... until you go to watch anything.

HD version? At last! I have a 15mb connection so should handle it easy. Selected that, and every 10 seconds it stops to buffer.

Couldn't even get past the music to Eastenders before I gave up and turned HD off... even in standard definition it buffers every 30 seconds or so.

I can't seriously watch this with all the pauses every 30 seconds, and when it kicks back in the audio fades in so you miss what everyones saying.

Oh and you got rid of the volume control? My monitor doesn't have a remote so I used that all the time to save me getting out of bed to change the volume.

Epic fail.

Bring back the old iplayer.

In the mean time - back to my lovefilm subscription.

Thanks for breaking something that worked.

Thank you and good night

I want the option to be able to sign in to my BBC account to import my favourite shows. I understand that this is intended as a communal feature where as the computer version is personal. But I hate that I have all my favourites on my pc but on my iPad and now ps3 i have to manually add my favourites. I can't even do them all as some shows may not be on at the moment.

If there's a reason why you can't do this. Please tell us.

Thanks

very annoying it doesnt work no updated app and been trying all day! Tried the suggestion about leaving it on bbc iplayer logo for couple mins... left it for 10 mins twice and clicked on it and nothing! Still getting the old version of the iplayer... shambles!

Will it be available for AppleTV at some point ?
Please?

Is it possible now to download HD content onto the PS3 for watching later? I cannot use bbc iplayer to watch streaming programmes (even SD), living in the sticks I'm lucky to get 0.5Mb/s sec some evenings, but can happily download at 6-7Mb/s overnight.

@mr s, launch the internet browser from the ps3 and then go to bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer. when it launches from there, you can close the browser & iand then click on the iplayer icon from menu bar. It will then start to download a quick update.

Relating to my comment (42) well my PS3 remote works now. I just switch off my PS3 over night then uninstalled BBC iPlayer and installed on again. Now it working with the remote.

I am on Virgin Media 50mb service and HD works without a problem for me. Playback starts within 1-2 seconds and also I can jump back and forth without any problems. All in all the playback in HD is without fault for me.

Radio
Could make do screen saver or something, think of those screen burns on plasmer.

Are you having playback issues?
It would be intresting to find out if people are using WiFi or wire network connections to there PS3.

Are your having problems with BBC iPlayer not download new app?
You have to be in UK and signed in to PSN with UK account. If that dosn't work phone Sony Playstation Support.

A very nice upgrade to the app, looks gloriously big-screen and easy to use.

I have a downside unfortunately: I use the PSP remote player to access the content through the PS3 when in another room. The PSP isn't allowed to use the app :-( and it's native rendering of the iPlayer is hopeless.

Looks nice in the video, but I get an error whenever I try to open the application and so can no longer actually use the thing. The error message tells me to quit and try again, which I've done with no success (as well as re-installing & turning the console on/off).

If anyone is interested you still can access the old iplayer for ps3 at: bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/bigscreen/

Tried it last night. It's terrible. The old one had some faults but at least it worked.

The interface is slow to respond. It blocks the PS button so quitting the player is impossible, had to turn the power off. navigation is frustrating and inconsistent, would not allow me to move "up" to select a program and when I got on a program it would not play no matter how many times (or hard lol) I pressed X. Eventually, somehow I got dragons den on and HD just didn't work even SD buffered after 5 mins and then just stopped.

I have a N router and 20mb broadband so streaming should not be an issue, well it wasn't with the old player....

May be its just me and I don't have all of the updates from sony?....But there are no updates available...??

It doesn't work! The XMB application isn't updating. I've followed post 32's advice, left the icon selected for 5 minutes, and it hasn't updated. I've followed the advice of post 50 only to find the webpage is tiny and doesn't function and the XMB app still doesn't update. I cannot access the new service at all.

Thanks for the update force94 (you on another site too?). I will be using the old player for the time being.

May be if it didn't display a no entry sign when you press it, it would be less instinctive to let go of the button, may be a count down would be better.

Still, navigation is jumpy and sometimes doesn't respond at all, seems to be delayed and catches up on it's self.

I will reinstall it in a month or so........

finally got it to work, logged in now and got an app update request. Just watching BBC HD 'torchwood' and working fine. Only thing BBC logo in left hand corner is cut off so screen maybe cropped as people have mentioned. Got 20mg bb so no problems with buffering.

@fishfingers412

Give this a try:
1. Go to bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer (on the ps3 browser), this will show you the new site but it won't work properly on the ps3 so...
2. Quit the browser then click on the iplayer icon on the ps3 main menu (Ideally after clicking this you will be offered an update, if not continue to number 3)
3. If there still isn't an update offered restart your ps3.
4. If that doesn't work just have some patience and wait for it to be pushed to your ps3.

Excellent stuff - much, much better than the old PS3 version.

Two questions - if this is supposed to be aimed at TV viewing, why is interlaced material (such as Eastenders, Shooting Stars etc) still deinterlaced to give it that film-like look? Surely, it should remain interlaced to retain the smooth video motion? It remains interlaced on the Freesat version of Iplayer.

Secondly, I notice my TV switches to 720p/60Hz when I run the app - surely 720p/50Hz would be better for 25 fps material to retain smooth playback?

Well after a day of trying to download it by leaving it for 5 minutes and so on i finally got it by going to bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer in the PS3 browser. It then downloaded via prompt the next time i signed in.

...and it Works flawlessly! Fantastic interface and well designed. It's very modern and clean and the HD is stunning. I love it and think it works great with the Blu-Ray remote too.

Well done BBC. I'm very impressed (also because i don't see the iplayer interface as a small box at 1080p any more!).

Tried the new iPlayer on a friend's PS3 last night and it too wouldn't update no matter what we tried. But I've just tried it on my PS3 now and it immediately required an update. Very curious - I wonder if it was a DNS issue or something awaiting updating? Just tried a quick look and it's streaming fine in HD, which is very welcome. Will feed back on use later.

Thanks for putting in the effort though of developing a native app and trying to improve internet connectivity. iPlayer is an excellent service, and I know more people who watch BBC programmes through iPlayer than over TV! Also I'm curious to know the underlying tech. Is this using a Sony Webkit?

How about allowing the STB for my TV to access this HTML5 interface? It wouldn't make any difference to your control, as you don't actually have any. Without access to the HTML5 interface I have to continue to use get_iplayer, which in some ways actually works better as it lets me download a higher-resolution version in advance of viewing...

It seems you've removed my comment. May I then refer to my blog, where I have a number of articles about the BBC, HTML iPlayer and the BBCs' control-freakery around access to it:

https://pjakma.wordpress.com/tag/bbc/

A good place to start is this article:

https://pjakma.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/imagine-if-the-bbc-had-stopped-vhs/

Cheers Nick. ;)

On a more constructive note: some kind of process to allow "winnow" STB manufacturers and hobbyists to have access HTML interface would be really nice. E.g. the BBC could use its own CA key to issue an SSL key, for the winnow-vendor/hobbyist to install, etc. Some kind of semi-automated CA management interface would help.

All I want is to be able to use the free software STB I have attached to my TV to use the standard HTML iPlayer UI which BBC has built.

Sadly disappointed, that's my opinion after giving the new layout a run. Unresponsive and locked up about a quarter way through watching HIGNFY, could not exit, even disabled the PS3 button. Not surprised, in my experience the BBC always launch their products before having heavily beta tested for bugs.

Outstanding Love it

Hi I am a long time ps3 iplayer user and love iplayer. the new version picture quality seems better (non HD) but it kept freezing over and over again last night. I'm on a talk talk connection (not the fastest in the world) but if the old player froze really very occasionally this one froze once every 5-10 minutes watching The Hour last night (no exaggeration). I'm holding out judgement on the new design until I use it a bit more. Keep up the good work (but please look at the buffering/freezing 1st!)

Over the last year I've come to absolutely love and depend on PS3 iPlayer, which is why I'm a) mystified as to why this is being regarded as a new development and b) frankly appalled at what you've done to an incredibly successful and user-friendly tool.

You mention it being easier to navigate. It absolutely is not - quite the reverse. In particular, trying to select a specific point in the programme you're watching is now not only imprecise and difficult, but it's very easy to knock it accidentally and then have a nightmare trying to get back to the point you were at.

The navigation of the site full stop is clunky and as you have pointed out, designed with a remote in mind. There is one fundamental flaw here: the PS3 does not come with a remote - that is something that you have to want enough to go and buy, an extra piece of kit. Therefore you have now given us a new version of iPlayer designed for something at least a good percentage of owners will not have. And really, navigation using the PS3 controller was so smooth and very easy, what was there not to like?

The previous iPlayer layout was instantly interesting - as soon as it opened you had a really well-designed overview of programmes and frequently I would find myself watching something I'd otherwise not have bothered with. Now, the layout is scant and blocky, and doesn't draw me in at all.

Controversially, I really liked the time elapsed/time left display - one of the key features of iPlayer is that you can tailor your viewing to the time you have available, so it was useful to be able to see how long was left. I can see why others might not like it though - could this not be something one could set in preferences?

The constant buffering made viewing impossible last night and I switched off (which I would have preferred to do the old way rather than quitting via the PS3 button) but I can see this is probably a teething problem. Hope so, otherwise there's no point.

Bottom line - I love the iPlayer and have never in my life felt this enthusiastic about handing over my licence fee, and no doubt some very talented people were involved in this "upgrade". But in my opinion it is a misstep and has made what was a really pleasant feature to enjoy at the end of the day into an absolute nightmare. Please consider some of this and make it great once more.

Hi, just a quick question about programme availability on TVs / PS3s.

The programmes availability on a PC / PS3 / TV / Mobile Device clearly differ. Whilst I understand that mobile devices (by which I don't mean laptops but iPhones etc) may have different licensing characteristics to PCs, I can't understand why a PS3 can see a different programme list to a 'Connected TV'.

Can someone please clarify how devices are categorised and why certain device categories are treated differently for programme availability?

I frequently use iPlayer on my PS3, but this new version is simply terrible.

It's nice to look at interface wise, but when I try to watch something, even on the current minimum video settings, it simply pauses every few seconds to buffer for several minutes.
I tried watching Have I Got News For You and gave up before the panelists were introduced and that took about 15 minutes which is ridiculous. I'm using an standard Virgin Media connection and the wireless router is not known for it's efficency, but it's still terrible.

Hi Chris, re: cropping of picture. I have a full 1080p plasma panel. I had to enable picture overscan on on hdmi for the widescreen iplayer streams to fit correctly. Usually left of for 1:1 mapping from other hdmi sources.

The iPlayer icon has disappeared from the XMB bar and it seems a few people are habving the same issue if you look at Twitter. I have deleted my cache and cookies and tried iPlayer through my browser. I have switched of the copnsole completely and updated PS Home but stil no joy.
Have you any ideas?

The new Iplayer version on PS3 doesn't seem to have a volume control, it is LOUD even on the mimum level, can the volume be adjusted??

Very pleased with the new update on the PS3 - it's definitely easier to use with the PS3 remote control and the new UI is much nicer to navigate around. I also found the playing HD content seems to work much better (in terms of less stuttering etc), even over a wireless only link between my PS3 and router. My only remaining wish for a future release would be the inclusion of a download option, rather than streaming only. I know that implies DRM but the PS3 does have a DRM capability it uses for its own Movie rental service etc so presumably it would be technically possible to implement. Overall though - good job!

Will the update be coming to wii/freesat anytime soon?

Hi, as another person in the sticks with "broadband" speeds of

* Any chance of these changes appearing on Freesat?

* Why is the Freeview HD version of iPlayer only available to one model of TV at the moment? Since all Freeview HD TVs support MHEG5-IC like Freesat, why not just let everyone have it and slap on a beta tag? I mean, especially with the TVs that have already proven that they work with the MHEG5 Freesat version (eg the Panasonic 2010 series), it's quite ridiculous that iPlayer isn't available via Freeview HD.

i watch it on a HD monitor as we haven't got a large screen Tv, works well all the time..

I am attempting to use a Samsung D7000 television to view iPlayer. Once I reach the iPlayer main page and select a programme to view there is no means of starting the viewing, i.e. I do not see a means to start the operation. What is the solution, please?

@Chris Warren I am still getting the error, it has not worked once since the update and the error message appears instantly. I've never had any problems playing online games/using the browser on my PS3 before. Disabling the firewall on my router made no difference, and I don't really know what else I could try.

Same problems as above post.
Any luck.

I think some of the negative response comes from design choices that don't already match user's expectations of workflow for the PS3. I struggled with the new interface when I first tried it. Having tried again just now, I realise that it's very different from the PS3's default movie playback. There aren't various control buttons; only direction and a select. So when the info comes up with the movie timeline, my instinct to press a button to hide the interface and revert to full screen is misplaced. The correct use is just to wait until it goes. This very passive interface is very contrary to the typical console user!

If possible, I'd say the best interface would be tailored to the platform. For ecample, on PS3 have the circle button 'cancel' back a level, and have the shoulder buttons work as fast-forward and rewind. Although TBH the streaming is struggling. If I click somewhere in the timeline the feed can freeze, to be restarted if I toggle HD on or off.

Once used to it, I dare say it'll be a nice improvement, although it is slow and clunky. I dare say that's Sony's fault - their browser has remained one of the worst ever for the life of PS3!

@Ben : This may be a fault of Sony's, and the BBC should be talking with them. People are having trouble getting the icon to appear. On my PS3 I'm not getting the new TV service icon to appear, which means I've lost access to the ITV and 4OD players. That's clearly a fault of Sony's, and thus it may be something they are doing to mess up the iPlayer connection.

Not helpful, I know, but you may want to raise this with Sony. Or just wait for the Beeb to talk with Sony and get it working.

After all the PS3 PSN issues, Sony need to be the Customers friend and really listen to what we want.

I have successfully updated my PS3 and the iPlayer app is working OK. I had to look on this blog to find out how to exit the new iPlayer- just how bad can you make the usability???? All other features just require a single press of the PS button.

The key problem I have is with scaling. The picture is over scanned with both the 'B' on the logo top left and most of the time indication graphic on the bottom off of the screen. All other apps on the PS3 including ITV player and 4OD are fine with picture size.

BBC - is this going to be fixed?

I updated my player last night and found it to be dreadful. Totally unintuitive, the help and settings options when I could get the cursor onto them refused to do anything. once playback had started (whats wrong with a play button?) by selecting the "Iplayer" icon the playback itself was awful with buffering every 12 seconds or so that made the programme unwatchable. Now I do use a wireless connection with the PS3 but as I have never had a problem with the buffering before this "update" I don't see how this can be the fault unless the requirements of the player have changed dramatically. I am using Sky broadband with a 8mb connection. I gave up in the end and connected my laptop (wireless) to the tv via HDMI and watched Dragons Den via that instead. Guess what no buffering and played back in HD perfectly. This is a truly awful update which until it has been revised I will not be using in future.

I'm sorry but it's terrible.
Layout is user-hostile, buffering is hopeless, but what really really has tipped me over the edge is displaying programmes with a big fat "Not available" written over them.

The point of this is what BBC ? Why ?? Why would you do that ???
I want to see a list of programmes I CAN watch - not a list of ones I can't watch.

I've tried to like it but there is no denying the essential truth - it's a massive retrograde step.

I have only ever been angry every time I turn it off - and you've even made that difficult !

Can we roll back to the far superior original version ?

As requested @Twitter, here's my connection results. This was conducted about 10 mins ago and can I just say that when I was testing this app during the closed beta period, I never experienced any buffering/stuttering or stream failures. Anyway:
Test 1: 4150 kbps
Test 2: 5746 kbps
Test 3: 4729 kbps
Test 4: 6016 kbps

Would have liked to run the same test though the PS3 but the link defaults straight to the iPlayer app.

I use a PS3 and I am getting the message: "There has been a problem showing this programme" every time I try to play *any* programme. This has only happened since I updated to 3.70 and the latest iPlayer. Can someone please tell me what's going on here?