BBC iPlayer coming to UK Windows Phone 7.5 and 8 handsets in ‘next few months’

BBC iPlayer app coming to Windows Phone 75 and 8 handsets in 'next few months'

The BBC’s Cyrus Saihan has just hit us with the news that iPlayer will soon be available on Windows Phones in the UK, following a deal with Microsoft. Technically speaking, it’ll be a browser-based shortcut, but it sounds like it should function much like a regular app: it’ll be available from the Windows Phone Store and run on WP 7.5 and 8 handsets with its own live tile. According to the BBC’s press office, which seems to be a bit more specific with its time frames, the service should become available within the “next few months”. Sure, there have been false starts in the past, and various technical hiccups that have made it difficult for the Beeb to support Microsoft’s mobile OS, but this time — finally — it’s for real.

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Source: BBC

Camera-Equipped Elephants Filmed Wild Baby Tigers For the First Time Ever

It turns out there’s an uneasy jungle truce between tigers and elephants. Tigers don’t try to attack and eat full-grown pachyderms, and the elephants make sure not to trample the big cats. And it’s this unofficial agreement that the BBC used to its advantage to capture the first footage of newborn tiger cubs in the wild. More »

BBC Sport app launches on Android phones, includes support for 7-inch tablets

BBC Sport app launches on Android devices, includes support for 7inch tablets

If you’re familiar with the iOS version, BBC’s new sports app for Android might not pack that many surprises. But it does still house a substantial amount of sports news, with a focus on the UK’s national game, football. There’s a new section encompassing fixtures, results and updating live scores for each competition and league. There’s also live text commentaries on major sports events, plus both clips and video streaming. The app, available today, is compatible with Android devices running version 2.2 or above and while the Beeb has worked to ensure it works on the recent wave of 7-inch tablets, it doesn’t currently support larger sizes. Still, there’s plenty of time for that to happen before the next World Cup. We’ve added in a shot of its testing device pile (look, a HTC ChaCha!) after the break.

BBC Sport app launches on Android devices, includes support for 7inch tablets

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Source: BBC Sport app (Google Play), BBC

BBC Two HD replaces BBC HD channel on March 26th

BBC Two HD replaces BBC HD channel on March 26th

The BBC has decided it can do without a HD channel just to showcase its gorgeous nature documentaries. As such, it’s turning BBC HD into a high-definition simulcast of BBC Two, starting March 26th. As it’s already been doing that job for a while now, it’s hardly surprising — but does make us wonder where HD shows from BBC Three and Four will be housed in the future. The corporation did tell us that it’s evaluating adding more HD channels, but we don’t imagine that’ll be happening in the near future. BBC Two HD will remain on the same channel as BBC HD, Sky: 169, Virgin: 187, Freesat: 109, Freeview: 102 — so you don’t need to rescan your box to keep watching Eggheads.

BBC Two HD replaces BBC HD channel on March 26th

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BBC Two HD Channel to launch 26 March

The BBC today announces it will launch BBC Two HD at 6am on Tuesday 26 March. BBC Two HD will be available on Sky HD (169), Freeview HD/YouView (102), Virgin Media (187), Freesat HD (109) and BT Vision (852).

The announcement follows the successful launch of BBC One HD on 3 November 2010.

BBC Two HD will replace the existing BBC HD Channel and will be available subscription-free on all digital television platforms offering HD channels.

Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two, says: “BBC One HD has already proved to be highly valued by our audiences and I’m delighted that we’re able to follow this with the launch of BBC Two in HD. The launch of BBC Two HD will allow us to showcase more of our programmes at their very best – helping to highlight our commitment to high quality, engaging and ambitious programmes on BBC Two.”

The BBC Two HD channel will be a simulcast network version of the BBC Two schedule with a raft of new programmes available in HD for the first time including Paul Hollywood – Bread, The Fall, Science Britannica and Keeping Britain Alive. Old favourites such as Mock The Week, QI and Springwatch will also remain at the heart of the channel’s offer.

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Source: Lauren Gildersleve (Twitter)

Apple’s Jony Ive nabs legendary gold Blue Peter badge

The CBBC’s Blue Peter program is the world’s longest running television program made specifically for children, run after 54 years as a magazine / entertainment show for learning and engaging with kids. This show has this week prepared an award for none other than Apple‘s Sir Johnathan Ive, here sending the designer off with the show’s “highest accolade.” Though those of you outside the UK may never have heard of this show (thumbs down to you), this award has stricken Ive (born in Chingford, London) as “absolutely incredible.”

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The gold Blue Peter badge, as it’s called, is a rarity in the history of the show – so to speak – having only been given out to the most honorable of guests over the program’s many years on the air. Right around 1,000 badges have been given out, according to the BBC, others having been handed to the likes of JK Rowling, Damian Hirst, and The Queen (of England, of course).

Acting Editor of Blue Peter Ewan Vinnicombe spoke up on the event, saying that Ive “is an inspiration to children around the world.” The award was given on an episode of the show that will be broadcast on CBBC Saturday the 16th of February at 10AM GMT. In the episode, Ive conducts miniature reviews of product designs sent in to the show by Blue Peter audience members. He gives advice to the children who designed said products, and lets them know what they can do to make great products in the future as well.

Also during the show you’ll see Ive being interviewed by presenter Barney Harwood, who has Ive recalling the influence the program had on him when he was as child. Speaking about how “vividly” he remembers watching the show in his early years, Ive speaks about how he enjoyed the way the creators of the show “reused products that you though were no longer useful.” Fun stuff!

BONUS: Having been given a tip that he’d be getting a gold Blue Peter badge before going on the show, Ive came prepared. Having been handed an official badge, Ive gave Barney a giant aluminum (aka aluminium) badge in return – one that took 10 hours to craft!

Be sure to catch the program as you eat your cereal in your footie pajamas in the fabulous England morning and let us know how it goes! For those of you in the USA that’ll be asleep at that point, just bust out your typing fingers and have a search for it – the CBBC will certainly post it up sooner than later. Can’t wait!


Apple’s Jony Ive nabs legendary gold Blue Peter badge is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Apple’s Sir Ive honored with BBC kids TV’s greatest honor, the gold Blue Peter badge (video)

Jony Ive honored with BBC kids TV's greatest honor, smiles

Knighthood, schmighthood. Apple’s British design head has just picked up a golden Blue Peter badge. The show, which has been running on UK TV for over 50 years, even had their gift reciprocated, with Sir Jonathan Ive offering up a solid aluminum Blue Peter badge (above) that took over 10 hours to craft. Ive can count himself in good company, joining other luminaries like JK Rowling and David Beckham. The segment will air during a gadget special tomorrow, but you can watch the exchange between kids TV and Apple design right after the break.

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Via: TNW

Source: BBC

Amazon to spice up Lovefilm with BBC and original content, serve it to Bravias in HD

Amazon to spice Lovefilm with BBC, original content, land on Sony Bravias

Amazon just announced a trio of Lovefilm deals, including new programming from BBC Worldwide, TV pilots from its own Amazon Studios and Lovefilm Instant HD on Sony Bravia Smart TVs. While the streaming service is already entangled with the Beeb, the deal announced today will include new shows like The Office (UK version), potboiler Jonathan Creek, sci-fi drama Primeval and others. Eleven comedy and kids pilot shows recently announced by Amazon Studios will also come to Instant Video, with execs even saying that viewer response on the platform will determine which shows stay. Finally, Lovefilm announced that it’ll come to internet-connected Sony Bravia TVs in 720P (it’s been in standard def on the platform since 2010), joining the likes of Xbox 360 and other Smart TVs in HD. You should see the extra pixels on your Bravia imminently, but there’s no word on exact arrival dates for BBC or Amazon Studios programming. Check the PR below the fold for a full breakdown.

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W3C to explore a proposal bringing DRM hooks to HTML

W3C open to a proposal bringing DRM hooks to HTML

The web is defined by the free, open exchange of information, right? Not necessarily. The W3C has decided that it’s “in scope” for its HTML Working Group to explore a specification for the Encrypted Media Extensions framework, which would allow companies to plug in their own copy protection for web content. In other words, the effort would add support for DRM extensions to the web itself, rather than leave it to content plugins like Flash. The W3C’s Philippe Le Hegaret is careful to note that this isn’t an explicit endorsement of EME as it’s suggested, or even the call for consensus on the proposal — there are already concerns that the spec would lead to an abundance of DRM plugins that wouldn’t work in certain browsers or operating systems. However, there’s a chance it may become reality when EME’s backers include content hosts or producers like the BBC, Google, Microsoft and Netflix.

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Via: Wired, Slashdot

Source: W3C

Doctor Who gets an extra-British 3D special for its 50th birthday

Doctor Who gets a 3D, extraBritish special for its 50th birthday

For all the dimensions that Doctor Who has explored on TV, the third has been a rarity — there was an early 3D experiment in 1993 for the series’ 30th anniversary, a 2010 trailer, and that’s that. For the show’s 50th birthday, the company is willing to make a return trip through a two-part 3D special. Most of what’s in store for the unique event is being kept secret, although we imagine we’ll see plenty of Sonic Screwdriver action. We’ll have to see how closely the special’s broadcast date aligns with the official anniversary in November; hopefully, it’s far enough into the future that Whovians can prepare with a little TV shopping.

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Source: BBC (1), (2)

YouTube channel coming to on demand Freesat party in March

YouTube channel coming to Freesat party

Google’s signed a deal to bring YouTube to Freesat, liberating users of the subscription-less service from the tyranny of needing an additional device. The BBC / ITV joint venture already has 60-odd channels and has now sold over 3 million boxes to 1.7 million viewers, who will be able to access the official YouTube addition through the main programming guide by the end of March. While details are scant, it’ll presumably join ITV’s player and the BBC iPlayer in the on-demand channel list, which require a compatible Freesat box (see coverage link below) and an internet connection. We’re not sure how it’ll look in the final guide, but the fanciful image above shows our best guess.

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Via: TNW

Source: The Telegraph