New Technology Reviews!.: vision

BBC: iPlayer on BT Vision is a 'major advance'

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/btvision_iplayer_listing1EE-200-200.jpg"> The BBC has given an insight into its decision to offer the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/television/bt-vision-to-offer-bbc-iplayer-catch-up-service-907316">iPlayer on BT Vision</A> – suggesting the partnership represents a 'major advance'. The success of the iPlayer on Virgin Media's cable service and on both PS3 and Wii have been proof that consumers are keen to watch catch-up TV on their traditional television sets. And a partnership with BT now means that the iPlayer will be accessible through the BT Vision IPTV service. Connected audience "Opening BBC iPlayer on TV to such a large connected audience represents a major advance in our effort to bring the full BBC iPlayer experience to TVs, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2010/11/bbc_iplayer_on_bt_vision_under.html">blogged TV iPlayer product manager Gideon Summerfield</A>. "Already, nearly a third of all TV programmes enjoyed through BBC iPlayer are watched using TV-connected devices including games consoles, set-top boxes, disc players and connected TVs. "This is all the more enjoyable when the experience is accessed from the same remote as the TV, as is the case with BT Vision." Presentation framework The BBC blog also outlined the technology that was used to bring the service to BT Vision. "BT Vision's set-top boxes use the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV platform to deliver TV on demand alongside TV broadcast over Freeview, added Summerfield. "Last year Microsoft added a technology to this called Presentation Framework (MSPF) to let IPTV network operators add extra services delivered over the Web. "We partnered with Pushbutton to build the BBC iPlayer app on BT Vision using this technology. You'll see the experience is pretty slick!"

BBC: iPlayer on BT Vision is a 'major advance'

The BBC has given an insight into its decision to offer the iPlayer on BT Vision – suggesting the partnership represents a 'major advan...

BT Vision to offer BBC iPlayer catch-up service

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/home-entertainment/tv/images/btvision_iplayer_listing1EE-200-200.jpg"> BT Vision will soon have the BBC iPlayer, with two of the biggest British brands announcing a deal to bring the catch up TV service to the IPTV platform. BT and the BBC are already working closely on the forthcoming YouView, and the two will now collaborate on iPlayer for the former's BT Vision television over internet platform. The iPlayer will be introduced 'over the next five months' with roll-out beginning in December and all customers granted access by April 2011. Record breaker The BBC-branded application will be accessed through the programme menu and is the full iPlayer package – offering 'almost all' of the television and radio programmes available on the online iPlayer. Daniel Danker, BBC General Manager for Programmes and On Demand, said:"October was a record month for BBC iPlayer witha total of 139 million programme requests on computers, TVs and mobiles. "Over 20 million of those requests were delivered to TVs. Licence-fee payers love the option of enjoying BBC iPlayer's high-quality experience and vast choice of programmes on the living-room TV, and we're delighted to be able to bring the service to BT Vision." Significant move The move is a significant one given the history between the two – with BT the biggest critic of the strain that video applications like the iPlayer put on its network and, at one stage, traffic managing connections to the online player. Marc Watson, chief executive of television and online services, BT Retail, said:"We are really excited to be partnering with the BBC to bring the BBC iPlayer service to BT Vision customers. "The launch of BBC iPlayer on BT Vision adds to the vast range of quality entertainment already available to our customers."

BT Vision to offer BBC iPlayer catch-up service

BT Vision will soon have the BBC iPlayer, with two of the biggest British brands announcing a deal to bring the catch up TV service to the I...

3D on demand arriving on BT Vision

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/BT%20Vision%20Plus/027-200-200.jpg"> BT has announced that it is finally jumping aboard the 3D bandwagon - with the company signing deals with NBC Universal and Vertigo that will bring 3D content to its BT Vision IPTV service. With <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tech/sky-3d-launches-uk-01-10-2010">Sky offering Europe's first 3D channel</A>, and Virgin Media offering a <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tech/virgin-media-offers-3d-movies-demand-teams-samsung-28-09-2010">small amount of 3D</A> content on demand, BT Vision has finally managed to get in on the latest tech trend. A 12-month deal with NBC Universal Television Distribution means that it can show all 3D movie titles on its On Demand service, including the forthcoming Street Dance 3D and the excellent Despicable Me. Vertigo A separate deal with Vertigo means that BT Vision will be strutting its stuff in 3D by showing British movie StreetDance. Obviously, viewers will need a 3D television to be able to take advantage of the 3D content. Marc Watson, chief executive of BT Vision, said: "We already have an extensive catalogue of more than 500 movies in the UK courtesy of our long-term deals with major Hollywood studios and independents like Vertigo. "Now Vision viewers can experience films at home in fantastic 3D, thanks to these new deals. This is just the start of 3D on Vision - viewers can expect to hear much more from us in the coming months." Both Step UP 3D and StreetDance 3D will cost £5.99 - a pound more than the HD versions and a couple of quid more than standard def versions.

3D on demand arriving on BT Vision

BT has announced that it is finally jumping aboard the 3D bandwagon - with the company signing deals with NBC Universal and Vertigo that wil...

3D on demand arriving on BT Vision

3D on demand arriving on BT Vision

BT has announced that it is finally jumping aboard the 3D bandwagon - with the company signing deals with NBC Universal and Vertigo that wil...

Exclusive: Microsoft's Windows 8 web app vision

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/software/operating-systems/images/Windows%208/IE9%20pinned%20sites-200-200.jpg"> The alleged Windows 8 slides <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-8-rumours-everything-you-need-to-know-701764">leaked this summer</A> included some tantalising references to web apps that sound a lot more like Windows programs (because the slides note, "currently, the indication is that app development will move to the web"). According to the slides, web apps in Windows 8 will be able to use webcams (for previewing, taking photos and streaming video), local storage, location data from the PC and ambient light and proximity sensors. We'll get "multimedia experiences using web technologies," like being able to use the Play To option (currently in Windows Media Player) to make web content linked using HTML5 audio and video tags play back on other devices around the home. Bearing fruit It sounds like the job advert Microsoft posted late last year is bearing fruit (this promised that web apps would be able to "take full advantage of the power of Windows… in ways that a browser cannot… by creating a new model for modern web applications to rock on Windows"). And talking to the IE team after the PDC conference we were hearing more tantalising references to what comes after pinned sites in IE9. "Pinned sites is all about putting the application in web application," says program manager Justin St Clair. But shouldn't that mean more than an icon on the taskbar and a jump list (welcome as those are)? How about being able to control the volume for individual web sites, or having notifications from sites appear when we don't have them open or being able to search our webmail when we're not online? IE9 is the appetiser "That's 100% the line we're thinking along," says St Clair. "IE9 is the appetiser for the entrée you're describing; that's where we're moving. We want HTML5 to really work, we want to help the world to realise the value of web sites as applications and this is the beginning of it." He calls what IE9 does "step zero in realizing the full potential of web apps; allowing web applications to be installed by users and giving users (and applications) the ability to interact with those applications directly from their desktop." <img alt="Play to" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/software/operating-systems/images/Windows%208/Web%20apps%20get%20Play%20To-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> PLAY TO: You could use a web app in Windows 8 to play music from an online service like Spotify on your connected TV without sending it through Windows Media Player Pinned icons can show that you have new messages – Facebook already does – and thumbnail previews can let you pause audio from web sites but Web developers want more powerful options, like Windows apps, says St Clair. "How do I make Gmail or Hotmail or Yahoo Mail a real competitor with Outlook? That's what Gmail wants, that's what Hotmail wants; they want to be your email application." St Clair can't speak for Google's plans, but he did share some thoughts he's heard from Microsoft web developers. "Outlook Web Access and Hotmail have the exact things you'd expect around 'how do I show how many messages the user has unread?' The user has five reminders now and they dismiss one and it should only show four… they're wanting to scroll the thumbnail preview through a set [of views] where they to change to reflect what's happening in the app right now." Improving jump lists doesn't take changes in Windows, just JavaScript libraries that simplify coding up the features. What comes next is "deeper and deeper integration between your operating system and your web app". And in the long term, he predicts "we break down the barriers between Windows and web applications, when users can't tell which is which – they all live on the desktop, they all provide rich and immersive experiences."

Exclusive: Microsoft's Windows 8 web app vision

The alleged Windows 8 slides leaked this summer included some tantalising references to web apps that sound a lot more like Windows program...

PM outlines vision for hi-tech valley in east end

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/images/google-crop-200-200.jpg"> Prime Minister David Cameron wants to create a hi-tech rival to Silicon Valley in London's east end. Cameron wants the area around London's Olympic Park to attract cutting edge technology innovation and investment to this formerly run-down area of London. Google and Facebook are already lined up as investors backing the PM's new vision of the east end. Cameron is set to announce a new entrepreneurial visa, in order for innovators that want to work and invest in the area to move to the UK without facing too many bureaucratic barriers. The PM is also looking to change the UK's laws surrounding intellectual property, following lobbying from Google, with the company claiming that UK laws are far more restrictive than the US. Google and 'fair use' "The service they provide depends on taking a snapshot of all the content on the internet at any one time and they feel our copyright system is not as friendly to this sort of innovation as it is in the United States," is in the PM's speech. "Over there, they have what are called 'fair-use' provisions, which some people believe gives companies more breathing space to create new products and services." Cameron is also set to note that there is already a flourishing tech start-up scene in and around London's Old Street and Shoreditch areas. "Silicon Valley is the leading place in the world for hi-tech growth and innovation. But there's no reason why it has to be so predominant," the PM will say in his speech today. "Our ambition is to bring together the creativity and energy of Shoreditch and the incredible possibilities of the Olympic Park to help make east London one of the world's great technology centres." Google, Facebook, Intel and McKinsey & Co are some of the investors already lined up to invest in the new hi-tech east end Innovation Hube..

PM outlines vision for hi-tech valley in east end

Prime Minister David Cameron wants to create a hi-tech rival to Silicon Valley in London's east end. Cameron wants the area around Londo...

PM outlines vision for hi-tech valley in east end

PM outlines vision for hi-tech valley in east end

Prime Minister David Cameron wants to create a hi-tech rival to Silicon Valley in London's east end. Cameron wants the area around Londo...