³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer Pop-Out Radio Console: new version
Hi, I'm the product manager responsible for Radio in ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer.
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Online listeners of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ radio may have noticed the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer team recently launched a new version of the pop-out radio console.
Anthony Rose in his previous post described some of the new features in the latest version of iPlayer. In this post I wanted to focus on the enhancements we've made for our global radio audience.
Whether you pop out the console from a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio site, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News or iPlayer, we continue to recognise first and foremost online radio audiences want to listen, and as such the new features in the console have been layered into the design to ensure they complement the listening experience rather than distract.
Online listeners requested we provide additional programme information with our broadcasts. The new console features a short synopsis and clear signposts to further episode information for both the current and next radio programmes. And watch out over the coming months for now playing track information for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ music programmes.
The new favourite feature available in the iPlayer site is also present in the pop-out console, enabling listeners to highlight their favourite programmes so there is no longer an excuse to miss future episodes of A History Of The World. Not only can you favourite for your own pleasure, you can share your recommended programmes with friends on Facebook or Twitter.
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An average day for me might consist of tuning in to Shaun Keaveny on 6 Music, catching the local news and travel on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Three Counties Radio and finishing the day tuning in to 5live for Champions League football commentary. The Stations feature in both the pop-out console and iPlayer site makes it possible for listeners to quickly discover and personalise their list of favourite national, nations and regional stations, so in the future switching between stations and programmes is possible with the minimum of clicks.
We understand that a pop-out console is not to everyone's taste and today iPlayer offers even more alternative listening options. Radio listeners should check out the latest iPlayer Desktop application, which for the first time features live Radio, or perhaps listening in page through the iPlayer site will satisfy your live and on-demand audio needs.
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David Blackall previously discussed some of the enhancements we made as a result of your feedback during the iPlayer beta. We've not stopped listening and will continue to improve Radio in iPlayer. For example, you asked for A to Z filtering of station programmes and this will be added as soon as possible, and we're also continuing to investigate the streaming problems plaguing some of our international listeners. Please keep sending us your feedback, using the comments below or tweet including #bbciplayerfeedback.
Dave Price is Product Manager, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer
Comment number 1.
At 1st Oct 2010, michaelkenward wrote:Could this be the only bit of iPlayer that works?
The TV side has been a disaster.
For some reason, no one from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s tech team has seen fit to chip in with feedback on what the hell is happening.
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Comment number 2.
At 1st Oct 2010, Nick Reynolds wrote:michaelkenward - people from the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s tech team have "chipped in" - for example here.
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Oct 2010, Briantist wrote:Tiny little bug - when you start iPlayer content from a /programmes page such as
/radio4/programmes/schedules/fm
The pop up window is the wrong size and shape.
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Comment number 4.
At 1st Oct 2010, Stephen Mackenzie wrote:Consumes a lot of processor, on my admittedly old computer. Previous version didn't. As much.
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Comment number 5.
At 2nd Oct 2010, Jonathan wrote:Maybe I haven't found it, but there's one piece of useful information that's not available anymore. The date of expiry from the iPlayer is sometimes made about 100 years in the future - ie. it doesn't expire. This is typically for documentaries.
It's not on the programme website (at /programmes), and neither is it in the new iPlayer pop-out radio (lovely otherwise), but used to be on the iPlayer radio site.
Could you put this field back in, at least somewhere, please?
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Comment number 6.
At 2nd Oct 2010, Neil wrote:Well part of the work I was hoping listen again would increase from 80k mp3 but not only has this not happened but the local live listen has been downgraded from 128 aac+ to 96k aac+?
Meanwhile you trial 320 aac+ for Radio 3?
Instead of closing threads down can anyone at the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ explain this mean stunt without announcing cutting costs?
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Comment number 7.
At 4th Oct 2010, Russ wrote:Yep, the console is getting better - thankyou.
A suggestion: on non-iPlayer programme pages, could we have the pink star 'add this to your favourites' thingy?
Russ
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Comment number 8.
At 7th Oct 2010, Ivan wrote:I have the same problem as Briantist (comment 3) except that it pops out needing resizing (both length and width) when clicking from the module on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ homepage. The alternative is the now large number of clicks needed to get at one that comes out the right size from the iPlayer webpage. It's an unwanted and unpleasant dilemma.
Also, regardless of whether I use the pop-out, the desktop or a tab, there is now a reduced volume and a thin sound quality, even if you turn the volume up, on Radio 4. This used to be a problem on the World Service but since the update it seems to be spreading.
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Comment number 9.
At 8th Oct 2010, Squirrel wrote:I just can't credit Nick's superior posting @#2 above.
The blog you refer to "iPlayer gets even better" has 190 comments - all of which I have read and only 14 of which are positive - that's less than 7.5%
Some of the posts have been blocked for breaking a house rule, I think we can assume those were not praising the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ either!
Thousands of posts have been made to the iPlayer message board about problems.
I still cannot use the iPlayer Desktop to store any programmes for more than 5 days. This is a problem which keeps being referred to by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer staff as fixed now, but has persisted for months and through several updates of the Desktop application.
It all started when the "beta" option appeared on the web page. Now that beta is the live version!
Why do I bother? You will either fix it or not and eventually remove the download option anyway! I must have sent over a dozen sets of log files, submitted many a comment form and even telephoned to register a complaint.
People can tell that the iPlayer team are only listening to each other and never to viewers and listeners in the big wide world outside.
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Comment number 10.
At 17th Oct 2010, John99 wrote:Dave,
You wrote above
Radio listeners should check out the latest iPlayer Desktop application, which for the first time features live Radio,
Does that work as intended, or could it cause problems for some users?
See for instance the iPlayer thread
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 7 button "hidden" on netbook's iPlayer Desktop
I note myself it seems ok, although I did manage to create problems by deliberately trying on low screen resolutions.
(Does Desktop specify screen resolution requirements ?)
Are others having problems, especially R7 listeners ?
(I think I recall another similar comment but can nor remember precisely where it is)
I do recall quite a few comments on the iPlayer messageboards about the loss of the popout and so users will be happy it has returned.
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