Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft is getting brickbats from developers unenthused by its forthcoming operating system(s), and the BBC is the latest to join the chorus. When asked about bringing iPlayer to Windows Phone, the corporation’s on-demand honcho, Daniel Danker, responded by saying it’s not cost-or-time effective for the system — thanks to a lack of support for HTTP Live Streaming. Mr. Danker confirmed to us that HLS is not the proprietary format it’s believed to be, used on a wide variety of devices including Smart TVs and consoles — but is not included in Redmond’s mobile OS.

Live streaming is also impossible thanks to a “bug” in the software that can’t secure the session, breaking the corporation’s copy protection system which only affects mobile devices. Redmond’s known of the problem for some time, and is working on a solution, but has yet to make any official announcement otherwise. He told us that he’s optimistic that a solution might arrive, perhaps on October 26th, but until then, the corporation won’t even look at developing an app for any Windows-powered handset. After the break we’ve included the full text of the original email if you’d like to hear it from the source.

Continue reading BBC not bringing iPlayer or live streaming to Windows Phone, blames Microsoft

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment

BBC not bringing iPlayer or live streaming to Windows Phone, blames Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The BBC’s iPlayer has become too successful. It either needs to calm down or be put on a more level playing field with on demand services from the other big UK broadcasters — and it’s going to be the latter. Youview — which has nothing whatsoever in common with YouTube except its name and the fact that it also does video — is a PVR set-top box that uses both an aerial and a web connection to allow catch-up viewing, and we’ve just heard it’ll arrive in UK stores towards the end of this month. It’ll bring together programs from the BBC (which also contributed £10 million of license fee cash), ITV, Channel 4, Five, and Sky, using infrastructure from BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva, and it’ll target millions of British viewers who want a “seamless” mix of live and archived telly without being tied to a subscription — and who don’t yet depend on a Smart TV, games console or other converged device.

Update: Youview front man Lord Alan Sugar told us that the box is Humax-built and will cost £299. He also added that there’ll be adverts within commercial programs, but not plastered over the EPG or interface itself.

Youview TV platform and set-top box coming to UK stores this month (update: priced at £299) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 04:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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