Hands-on: BBC iPlayer for Nokia N96

Steve O'Hear — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:52:11 +0000

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the BBC’s TV catch-up service iPlayer (UK-only), which I regularly access on my laptop, cable television set-top box, and of course my trusty iPod touch. The problem with the latter version, however, is that it offers streaming only not downloads, which doesn’t sit well for a mobile device as it prohibits off-line access such as when traveling on a plane or train or anywhere without WiFi access. It isn’t the BBC’s fault but the fact that Apple doesn’t license the iPod and iPhone’s proprietary DRM solution – so-called FairPlay – to third-parties. DRM is a necessary evil, says the public broadcaster, in order to meet its obligations to copyright holders who require that programs only be made available for up to seven days after broadcast.

In contrast, the newly released version of iPlayer for Nokia’s latest flagship handset, the N96, doesn’t suffer the same problem, offering both streaming and downloads. Earlier this afternoon I got some hands-on time with iPlayer on the Nokia N96.

User Interface

The first thing you’ll notice about the N96’s version of iPlayer is how closely it resembles the desktop web version, which, in this case, is both a good and bad thing. The consistent interface is welcome – the familiar ‘channels’ and ‘categories’ layout – however, to browse iPlayer content you’re required to move a cursor around the screen, the same system employed by Nokia’s mobile web browser, rather than being able to cycle directly through what’s on offer. While this doesn’t actually get in the way of accessing content, it doesn’t seem like the most efficient way of going about it.

Picture quality

Picture quality is on par if not better than most video streaming services for cellphones that I’ve tested but didn’t seem to be quite up to the standard that I’m used to on the iPod touch. Having said that, iPlayer on the N96 is very watchable thanks to the phone’s large screen and stereo speakers. The built-in kick stand is also really useful and something I wish the iPod touch offered.

Streaming and downloads

Streaming iPlayer on the N96 over Wi-Fi worked pretty much as expected, although I did experience a few buffering issues, which could have been caused by either the BBC’s streaming servers (not uncommon, lately) or my own Wi-Fi network. It’s also possible to stream over 3G, although you’ll want to make sure you don’t fall foul on any additional data charges from your carrier. However, it was the download option that I was most curious to try.

Programs downloaded surprisingly quickly over Wi-Fi, taking just a few minutes to complete, from which they’re then accessible off-line via the N96’s gallery application — although content does expire after seven days. (This is in line with the streaming version but is a little odd considering that the Windows-only desktop download version of iPlayer gives users a 30 day after broadcast viewing window.)

Picture quality was identical to streaming, which probably explains the quick download times. In the future the BBC might want to consider offering a higher quality download version as an additional option for those with faster connections.

Verdict

iPlayer is a great addition to the N96’s already strong media playback features, and as I noted previously, being the first mobile device to offer iPlayer downloads is quite a coup for Nokia. It also nicely highlights the limitations of Apple’s closed DRM solution, although, unfortunately, I’m not that sure most consumers will know whose to blame.

Note: some users have worked out a way of getting iPlayer for N96 to work on other S60 devices.

Image credit: photos taken by me on a Nokia e71 :-)

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BBC iPlayer shows a little too much love to Nokia’s N96?

Steve O'Hear — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:30:11 +0000

Erik Huggers is the BBC’s Director of Future Media and Technology. Although a more apt title for himself, along with predecessor, Ashley Highfield, would be Director of Future License Fee Justification. That’s because the BBC, which is funded by British tax payers, is doing more than most broadcasters to stay relevant as we move towards a future where viewers want to watch ‘television’ on their own terms: from anywhere, on-demand and on the device of their choice.

Enter the BBC’s catch-up service, iPlayer, which streams the public broadcaster’s content to Windows PCs and Macs, Nintendo’s Wii, Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch, along with Virgin Media’s cable TV service. A download version is also available for Windows-only.

And just today, the BBC and Nokia announced that a streaming and download version of iPlayer will soon be available for the mobile phone maker’s yet-to-be-released N96 handset.

From BBC News itself:

From 1 October a purpose-built application will be available to download via the BBC website and will also be pre-loaded on some handsets…

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Simon Ainslie, managing director at Nokia UK, said: “The Nokia N96 is going to provide a gateway to quality viewing on the move.

“The enormous success of iPlayer has demonstrated the desire audiences have for accessing programmes at a time and a place that suits them,” he added.

A BBC spokeswoman said the iPlayer is already available on the iPhone and iTouch, but only for streaming programmes. The Nokia N96 will be the first phone that enables users to download programmes as well, she said.

This is quite a coup for Nokia in more ways than one.

First up, as the above quote highlights, the version of iPlayer for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch offers streaming only, and requires the persistent use of WiFi for access. In contrast, the upcoming version for Nokia’s N96 can be streamed over 3G and WiFi (though the former could incur the user with hefty data charges depending on their mobile phone tariff), or downloaded and stored on the handset itself for off-line playback. The latter presents a much better option for many users, since content can be downloaded over WiFi when available, to be watched at a later date outside of a WiFi hotspot and avoiding 3G data charges altogether. It’s also not clear if carriers will prohibit access to iPlayer over 3G or offer it for an additional fee.

Secondly, by announcing the partnership with Nokia today, the BBC is inadvertently promoting a handset that isn’t yet widely available. The N96 is due to go on general release in the UK on the 1st of October, the same day that a compatible version of iPlayer will be offered. This leaves the BBC open to criticism that it’s favoring one commercial player over others, and begs the question as to why it hasn’t chosen to support equivalent handsets that viewers already own rather than one that is yet to hit the market.

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Hands-on: BBC iPlayer for Nokia N96

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