The BBC launches new iPlayer in beta
The next version of the BBC iPlayer has been launched in beta, with changes to the user experience, more personalisation, and integration with social networks.
The iPlayer is as popular as ever, enjoying its best month to date in April 2010, with 123m requests for TV and radio programmes.
The homepage now has ’sliding drawers’ which open to reveal more content in each of the categories; featured, most popular, friends, and ‘for you’.
Other changes include a complete separation of TV and radio content to make it clearer for users, while you can also flick easily between channels while watching live TV.
The best improvements for me are the personalisation features. I use iPlayer regularly and it should know what I like based on my viewing habits, so making use of this data to produce recommendations would have been a welcome step.
Instead of simply learning from previous viewing habits though, it seems that the new iPlayer relies on users adding programmes into their ‘favourites’ folder, and then lines these up in a playlist for you.
The introduction of social network integration is another welcome step; while viewing any programmes, you can click to recommend it on iPlayer, as well as sharing it on Twitter or Facebook via the recommend button:
The addition of user recommendations should also make content discovery much easier, as you can now read other users’ reviews of programmes, and see the most recommended in chart form.
Other developments to come include the addition of links to programmes from ITV Player, 4OD, Clic, Demand Five and SeeSaw, meaning that the iPlayer can direct users to these other websites, while also making the iPlayer a more attractive destination.
Key new features
Simple
* Cleaner user experience, with three discovery areas:
–Sliding drawers: Featured, For you, Most popular, Friends
–TV Channels: TV listings page, showing what’s on now
–Categories: browse by genre and sub-genre
* Separate TV & Radio
–No longer grouped together, easier to browse
–Radio console
–Pop-up console runs while you browse
* Channel-hop whilst watching live
–Quick links in viewing window, one-click to flip between channels
* BBC iPlayer Desktop
–Download favourites in advance to save time
–Easier to watch favourite programmes offline
* Improved viewing experience
–Fewer buttons
–Larger screen
–Higher quality video
Personal
* Favourites
–Tell BBC iPlayer what you like, and it will line programmes up in a convenient playlist
–New programmes, expiring programmes and unwatched programmes are flagged so it’s easier to keep track
* Improved recommendations based on what you watch and listen to
–Stored in local cookies, or via BBC iD
–Families can log in through separate IDs: individual experiences through the same machine
–Improved programme alerts delivered via email, so you don’t miss a thing
* Roam with BBC iD
–Log in to store preferences, so you pick up where you left off on another computer
* Customisable EPG
–List your favourite channels and stations
Connected
* Connect with Facebook
–Post content directly to your wall to recommend and share with friends
* Sync with Twitter
–Auto-tweet to recommend and pass links to friends
* Live chat with friends using Windows Live Messenger
–Log in to Windows Live Messenger through BBC iPlayer
–Forward links to others online: watch on-demand at the same time
–Comment live on programmes as they air
Of course the REALLY BIG THING about the new player it it’s support for the iPad/iPhone by dropping it’s dependence on Flash. Way to go BBC, join the flurry of companies hammering nails into the Flash coffin. Quite a good BBC post on the new player at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2010/05/introducing_the_all_new_bbc_ip.html
I am really enjoying the new look to the iplayer – http://bbctvguide.co.uk/