[xman]

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/blog...st+rivals+03+1

[Al B]

Here is the source of this article on the BBC Blogs. What do we think the chances are of the masses getting iPlayer on freesat before Christmas?

I expect to start a Beta deployment by the end of November using capable Freesat devices.

[scottspa]

[quote=Al B;36434052]Here is the [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2009/11/ What do we think the chances are of the masses getting iPlayer on freesat before Christmas?[/QUOTE]

Absolutely Zero, look to next year, Freesat TV advertising starts on Saturday and it all based around Freesat+ and FreesatHD, not i-player as originally planned.

[angustay]

My source suggests I Player will be rolled out late november to all compatible HD Boxes with SD boxes recieving it next year.

Here is some more info

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/2923...-to-freesat-hd

[PaulB67b]

Originally Posted by angustay

My source suggests I Player will be rolled out late november to all compatible HD Boxes with SD boxes recieving it next year.

Here is some more info

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/2923...-to-freesat-hd

That article also says it will be a beta test at the end of November, not a full roll out.

[larkim]

Originally Posted by Al B

Here is the source of this article on the BBC Blogs. What do we think the chances are of the masses getting iPlayer on freesat before Christmas?

Putting my optimistic head on, could "beta deployment" mean availability to all customers with a Freesat HD box / TV but caveated with "this might not work" (as they originally did with iPlayer, I seem to recall)?

Its not unusual in the current world for beta testing to be as widespread as possible (see for example gmail which has only just come out of beta despite being well used for the last 3-4 years, or Windows 7 which was beta deployed to anyone who wanted it). I would have thought that it would be difficult to beta test something like this as they would need to rely on a transmission over the airways which cannot be selective about which houses it reaches.

I'm not aware of any port on my Panasonic Freesat TV which would allow it to be selectively updated with firmware which would switch on the IP connectivity required for Freesat iPlayer to work (though I might be wrong here).

Matt

[CPN]

Originally Posted by scottspa

Absolutely Zero, look to next year, Freesat TV advertising starts on Saturday and it all based around Freesat+ and FreesatHD, not i-player as originally planned.

Not forgetting that we'll need some soft/firmware uploaded to all our boxes first anyway so that it is actually usable...

[scottspa]

Originally Posted by larkim

Putting my optimistic head on, could "beta deployment" mean availability to all customers with a Freesat HD box / TV but caveated with "this might not work" (as they originally did with iPlayer, I seem to recall)?

Its not unusual in the current world for beta testing to be as widespread as possible (see for example gmail which has only just come out of beta despite being well used for the last 3-4 years, or Windows 7 which was beta deployed to anyone who wanted it). I would have thought that it would be difficult to beta test something like this as they would need to rely on a transmission over the airways which cannot be selective about which houses it reaches.

I'm not aware of any port on my Panasonic Freesat TV which would allow it to be selectively updated with firmware which would switch on the IP connectivity required for Freesat iPlayer to work (though I might be wrong here).

Matt

Sorry Matt you can take your optimistic hat off. Beta testing is only for a select few and the manufacturers themselves.

[scottspa]

Originally Posted by angustay

My source suggests I Player will be rolled out late november to all compatible HD Boxes with SD boxes recieving it next year.

Here is some more info

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/2923...-to-freesat-hd

Retailers have already been told it will not be this year

[MOB]

Originally Posted by scottspa

Sorry Matt you can take your optimistic hat off. Beta testing is only for a select few and the manufacturers themselves.

Not so few. It seems that many members (myself included) are lined up as testers.

[scottspa]

Originally Posted by MOB

Not so few. It seems that many members (myself included) are lined up as testers.

Depends how you qualify "many"

[larkim]

Originally Posted by scottspa

Sorry Matt you can take your optimistic hat off. Beta testing is only for a select few and the manufacturers themselves.

But that's patently not true, given the examples I quoted. Indeed wikipedia (for what that is worth!) notes the same (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_testing#Beta_testing)

I do understand that beta testing comes in different flavours, and its entirely feasible that the BBC will beta test iPlayer only to Foxsat HD boxes and a select few members of the public. But can't I at least dream that perhaps this will be like the original iPlayer beta testing which was a fully public beta test (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iplayer#Development which confirms my recollection of it). Perhaps that this is not being trailed as "open beta" should be the sign that I can condemn myself to further despair that I won't have iPlayer on the TV for Christmas, but I'm an optimistic chap so I'll keep hoping until I hear definitively otherwise!!

Matt

[johnes]

Originally Posted by scottspa

a select few

... which, sadly, does not include me - I asked and was amongst those (many, I guess) told 'no'.

[larkim]

Originally Posted by MOB

Not so few. It seems that many members (myself included) are lined up as testers.

I suppose the fact that you've not yet tested it tells me that it will be beta tested only to those who are part of the trial.

Am I right in thinking that the only manufacturer which will be part of this beta test is Humax? That's a touch disappointing for Panasonic Freesat viewers, who surely must be the majority of Freesat HD viewers (aren't we?).

Matt

[johnes]

"The ads, shot in slow motion, will focus on Freesat enabled PVRs and will use ‘idiosyncratic British TV fans to illustrate the benefits of pausing, recording and rewinding live TV and the immersive experience of watching in HD television for free."

This does not hit any of the platform's USPs though, and since freeview PVRs are available at a lower price than the hummy it strikes me that the ads will do freeview more good than freesat. The promise of the iPlayer might have made for a more effective campaign.

[angustay]

I Player has to be tested on all makes of boxes as all boxes react differently. Just look at the recent update fiasco that affected some boxes yet left many working fine. Freesat will not want another problem like that to arise.

[larkim]

Originally Posted by johnes

"The ads, shot in slow motion, will focus on Freesat enabled PVRs and will use ‘idiosyncratic British TV fans to illustrate the benefits of pausing, recording and rewinding live TV and the immersive experience of watching in HD television for free."

This does not hit any of the platform's USPs though, and since freeview PVRs are available at a lower price than the hummy it strikes me that the ads will do freeview more good than freesat. The promise of the iPlayer might have made for a more effective campaign.

True enough, but I think a lot of people will find iPlayer over Freesat to be a confusing concept, whereas PVRs are readily explicable.

There are (relatively) so few TVs and STBs out there that have either wired or wireless IP connectivity, and fewer still that can easily be connected to the home network (how many people's routers are sufficiently close to the TV to allow an ethernet cable to be tidily connected?) so I think the BBC would be out for a hiding in the press if they tried to persuade little old dears (my in-laws spring to mind) that their shiny new Freesat TV could access iPlayer.

Remember, Freesat's USP is free HD and reliable reception.

Matt

[scottspa]

Originally Posted by larkim

True enough, but I think a lot of people will find iPlayer over Freesat to be a confusing concept, whereas PVRs are readily explicable.

There are (relatively) so few TVs and STBs out there that have either wired or wireless IP connectivity, and fewer still that can easily be connected to the home network (how many people's routers are sufficiently close to the TV to allow an ethernet cable to be tidily connected?) so I think the BBC would be out for a hiding in the press if they tried to persuade little old dears (my in-laws spring to mind) that their shiny new Freesat TV could access iPlayer.

Remember, Freesat's USP is free HD and reliable reception.

Matt

Does not have to be hardwired from your PC upstairs, you can use a Homeplug a/v system which Freesat are due to launch in december or wirelessly with the TechniSat receiver. I accept that "little old dears" would not necessarily want i-player but not all of Freesats customers are in that catergory. Dont forget moving forwards there will be other on demand services available and not just i-player that can be played via your receiver.

[johnes]

Originally Posted by larkim

Freesat's USP is free HD

It has been, true, but not for much longer.

[MOB]

Originally Posted by larkim

I think the BBC would be out for a hiding in the press if they tried to persuade little old dears (my in-laws spring to mind) that their shiny new Freesat TV could access iPlayer.

Matt

I'm a 'little old dear' and I'm going to be part of the trial! Old ain't necessarily daft!

[larkim]

Originally Posted by MOB

I'm a 'little old dear' and I'm going to be part of the trial! Old ain't necessarily daft!

True enough, and young certainly ain't wise!!

I know all about homeplugs etc (and their downsides), I'm just generalising that most people currently don't have IP connectivity in their lounge. I know that I don't, I rely on the convenience of wifi for my Wii, two laptops and other IP devices in the house (except for my PC which is hardwired). Possibly more people have their router in the lounge than I imagine.

Matt

[macc_ladd]

Mine is

[MOB]

Originally Posted by larkim

True enough, and young certainly ain't wise!!

I know all about homeplugs etc (and their downsides), I'm just generalising that most people currently don't have IP connectivity in their lounge. I know that I don't, I rely on the convenience of wifi for my Wii, two laptops and other IP devices in the house (except for my PC which is hardwired). Possibly more people have their router in the lounge than I imagine.

Matt

When I registered there were questions about connectivity. I said I couldn't connect by cable, so I was then asked about wifi. When I confirmed this, I think they said it would be used via USB, but it was a long time ago for an 'old dear' to remember.

[Grannygrunt]

Originally Posted by MOB

I'm a 'little old dear' and I'm going to be part of the trial! Old ain't necessarily daft!

Ditto here as well! I dunno these young uns, write you off after you hit 60!

GG

[johnes]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8343350.stm