It’s finally here, the BBC iPlayer application for the Apple iPad has been released on the Apple iTunes store and best of all it’s free (in the UK anyway) – though you need iOS 3.2 or later, and a Wi-Fi connection, to make it work (it currently isn’t available for the iPhone).  On a side note, the BBC says the application is also available for Flash 10.1 enabled Android tablets running Android 2.2+.

As the application says “Watch and listen live, or choose your favourites from over 400 hours programming from the last 7 days.” There is a caveat though in that if you take your UK purchased iPad abroad you will not be able to access any TV programmes [1] which makes a lot of sense as it must be difficult enough tracking who holds a license fee just in the UK. ZD Net tells us that “US watchers will have their chance this June when the app launches stateside with a paid subscription plan.” [3].

The Guardian are hinting at a backlash to the application particularly citing the need for Wi-Fi and the lack of iPhone support [4] – but they need to remember that this a first step in an application that has a lot on anticipation and expectation behind it. As a first release product it still has a long way to go. Not only that, but would you really want to try and watch a streamed TV programme on anything other than a Wi-Fi connection?

It’s early days for the application but it looks good so far. The video and sound, which are obviously the most important elements, appear to be there and the streaming seems fine too. Check it out on iTunes [2].

Reference and Further Reader

[1] BBC: iPlayer Tablet Devices

[2] iTunes: BBC iPlayer

[3] ZD Net: BBC iPlayer app headed to iPads starting this week

[4] The Guardian: BBC iPlayer apps spark online backlash