How to get BBC iPlayer in HD
Posted on 28th Apr 2009 at 09:58 by Alex Watson with 18 comments
The BBC recently released a big update to iPlayer, replacing the original, Windows only Download Manager with iPlayer Desktop. As it’s built on Adobe Air, it’s now compatible with Linux and Mac OS X as well as XP and Vista.
This new update also coincides with the introduction of 720p HD content. The easiest way to find HD content on iPlayer at the moment is to browse by channel, and go to the BBC HD channel.
If you want more details, PC Pro has a full review of the new software, but from a quick play around with it over the weekend, my three word verdict would be:
Cleaner, faster, prettygoodallroundifnotamazing.
I never had much of a complaint with the previous iPlayer application though - but I was keen to see some HD programmes. Quality is definitely improved over SD programmes, albeit not dramatically. You also get a widescreen picture, so there’s slightly more of the image compared to the SD version, too.
Only certain programmes are available in HD so far, and it seems a fairly random selection – does anyone really need to watch Last of the Summer Wine in eye-popping, wrinkle-picking 720p?
That said, it’s good to see the BBC is following YouTube and starting to embrace HD video on the web. Those who usually get TV through a set-top box (for example, Virgin cable or Sky) will also benefit as you can now watch HD content without needing to upgrade your set-top box.
Have you tried iPlayer in HD yet? Any thoughts on the service? Let me know in the comments.
This new update also coincides with the introduction of 720p HD content. The easiest way to find HD content on iPlayer at the moment is to browse by channel, and go to the BBC HD channel.
If you want more details, PC Pro has a full review of the new software, but from a quick play around with it over the weekend, my three word verdict would be:
Cleaner, faster, prettygoodallroundifnotamazing.
I never had much of a complaint with the previous iPlayer application though - but I was keen to see some HD programmes. Quality is definitely improved over SD programmes, albeit not dramatically. You also get a widescreen picture, so there’s slightly more of the image compared to the SD version, too.
Only certain programmes are available in HD so far, and it seems a fairly random selection – does anyone really need to watch Last of the Summer Wine in eye-popping, wrinkle-picking 720p?
That said, it’s good to see the BBC is following YouTube and starting to embrace HD video on the web. Those who usually get TV through a set-top box (for example, Virgin cable or Sky) will also benefit as you can now watch HD content without needing to upgrade your set-top box.
Have you tried iPlayer in HD yet? Any thoughts on the service? Let me know in the comments.
18 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyIf you're happy with streaming SD, then check out TunerFreeMCE. But I find the frame rate abit low for my tastes.
It might have been widescreen, but the HD stuff is definitely wider - I compared the SD and HD versions of the Jonathan Ross show, and there's more picture at each edge on the HD one than the SD one.
SD (i.e. their HQ streams): 832x468 @ ~1500Kb/s
True HD streams: 1280x720 @ ~3200Kb/s
And there is a marked difference between the quality, I just wish they broadcast the F1 in HD too.
And for those using Linux (or Windows for that matter), I recommend using get_iplayer rather than the BBC's iplayer downloader. You don't need Adobe Air or any of that junk, and you can download the flash streams straight to an h264 video file DRM free (the flash streams don't have DRM).
Ooh! Awesome stuff. I'll definitely have to give LOTSW a watch :D
Absolutely - I know you can F1 in HD in other countries, seems so unfair we don't get it in the UK... Still, at least F1 is free to air in this country, and the catch up videos on the BBC F1 website are very good.
mint i've been faffing with wget and mplayer to get realplayer streams for the radio this looks a much better solution.
Yeah its very easy to use and can download TV, radio and podcasts. You can either stream direct into mplayer or dump to disk.
as far as i can see, tunerfree pulls the HD content automatically now. i noticed by accident. update your plugin.
lmao
BBC natural history unit films in HD == bloody stunning
Also I will be trying this on my little Aspire One to see how it goes tonight, could be good for something to watch on the train...