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I know the question of viewing BBC iPlayer on the TP2 has been raised before, but it seems like none of the suggested solutions really works very well, or at least not for me.
I've tried the trick of adding the Samsung Omnia user agent code in Opera 9.5. This works up to the point where the Streaming Media app opens, but then the video never loads - it just stays at 0% buffering for ever.
One can, of course, use Skyfire to access the iPlayer website, but Skyfire looks like pixellated crap and I hate it. Video playback is jerky too.
I did come across a stand-alone iPlayer app a while back, but it proved too unstable to use; constantly crashing.
The best results I've had so far are with using myplayer. Unfortunately I'm too cheap to shell out for Coreplayer so instead I use the Streaming Media player for actual streaming, and for downloaded material (which it says is "higher quality" - is that true?) I use TCPMP, which is not altogether satisfactory as you only get about 80% of frames rendered. I imagine Coreplayer would do a better job of playing the downloaded .MOV files, but even so, the resolution you're getting on those is really pretty poor compared to what you get out of iPlayer on a desktop PC. Downloads from myplayer have a resolution of 480x270, I think - certain 480 horizontal. Downloads to iPlayer desktop are, what, 640x360? And streamed content from iPlayer on my desktop PC (in "large" mode) has a resolution of something like 850x480.
Now, if I were starting with (say) a 720p .mkv file, I could feed it through the Encoder app, and cook it into a .mp4 file with 800x480 resolution and 750kb/s bitrate and it would play back beautifully using HTCAlbum as a player - HTCAlbum (and, indeed, Windows Media Player) do a far better job of video playback than CorePlayer on the TP2, thanks to their making far better use of the GPU. Is there any way of capturing high-resolution output from iPlayer on a desktop PC, and then using Encoder on it in the same way? Can this be done either with the flash videos that one streams to a desktop browser, or with the (encrypted?) .mp4 files that are downloaded to iPlayer desktop?
Are there any possibilities I'm missing?
(bump)
No one has anything to say...?
Works for me
Got iPlayer running OK on my TP2. Entered sgh-i900 in the Custom User agent of Opera config.
apv245l said:
Got iPlayer running OK on my TP2. Entered sgh-i900 in the Custom User agent of Opera config.
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Well, as I've already said, that doesn't work for me. Possibly because O2 blocks access to iPlayer streams, I don't know. What sort of playback resolution do you get? Full desktop res? Does the streaming media player cope without dropping frames?
apv245l said:
Got iPlayer running OK on my TP2. Entered sgh-i900 in the Custom User agent of Opera config.
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Out of curiosity I went back and had another go at this. Connecting to iPlayer over GPRS, EDGE or 3G, I now get a message on the website saying that iPlayer doesn't work over my network, and that I need to connect using WiFi. A note elsewhere on the website says that iPlayer is available over 3G for people on the 3 or Vodafone networks, but not on others. (I'm on O2). Connecting (briefly!!!) over my office's wifi network does work - the video can be played and opens in the Streaming Media Player. (I did try this once over a public wifi connection in my local Pret-a-manger, and it didn't work correctly).
However, even over wifi, the quality when streaming like this is even worse than I get from a myplayer .mov download - the resolution is a risible 320x176! So none of this really address my original question, which is how one can get better resolution out of iPlayer.
EDIT: Just to clarify, if I use myplayer to get streamed output from iPlayer, using Streaming Media Player to play it, this also gives me 320x176 video (but at least it manages to bypass the restriction on the O2 network, so it works over 3G). It also (sometimes) gives the option to download the programme in question, in the form of a 480x270 .mov file. Playing this nicely probably requires CorePlayer - TCPMP drops about 20% of frames.
Of course one could move the .mov file off the phone, re-encode to .mp4, and move it back on, and play it with HTCAlbum, but if you're going to go to that much effort it would be nice to be able to start with a higher-resolution video... which is where we came in.
Did a little more experimenting yesterday. Didn't really get anywhere, but in case anyone else has a bit more imagination than I have....
Some programmes on iPlayer now have two additional links. There's the standard "download" link (which downloads the programme for iPlayer Desktop on the PC). There are also (sometimes) two others which let you download the programme in WMV format - one suitable for desktop PCs, the other for "mobile devices".
Downloading to iPlayer Desktop produces a file with a .mp4 suffix, but no other application besides iPlayer Desktop (either on my PC or on my phone) seems to be able to make head or tail of it.
The "mobile device" .wmv file can be played correctly on the TP2 using Pocket Windows Media Player, but the resolution is the standard mobile 360x180 again, which makes it unwatchable. The intended-for-desktop .wmv file is much higher res - something like 680x544 (I forget the exact numbers, but it's roughly that). When played back on a desktop PC, Windows Media Player realises that it's in anamorphic format and scales it to 967x544 or thereabouts. It looks quite good.
Putting this file onto my TP2, however, doesnt work so well. Pocket Windows Media Player does play it, but playback is quite jerky (not surprisingly, as the bit rate is very high) and, even more annoyingly, it fails to recognise that it's anamorphic and plays it at "native" aspect ratio, which is useless. There doesn't seem to be any way to get it to stretch it.
I tried feeding the desktop WMV file through the Encoder application to convert it to 800x480 .mp4, but the end result is a video where sound and picture are both gibberish - the .wmv is obviously encrypted in a way that the encoder doesn't recognise.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
I dont know if its just my desire but the media experience is terrible.
Using YourMuze.fm to stream music, every stream stops at 5 minutes, tried using the flash via the browser on the bbc iplayer website to listen to radio - not enough bandwidth, I'm on 7MB wifi!! So tried the beebplayer app, it doesnt work for radio (does say its sketchy for radio) but the picture quality is pants. So that begs the question to reviewers what flash sites were they using as my experience is shocking! The IMDB app for iphone allows watching of trailers at full screen and in great quality. The IMDB website accessed via the desire browser gives a flash video at 75% screen size and poorer quality than the iphone!
The screen is 800 x 480 yet any video I have at MP4 640 x 480 at .h264 say works perfect but anything over that, i.e 720 x 480 at h.264 wont work without me re-encoding.
Also any internet streaming site that supports the iphone is not supported by the browser so any form of online video wont work, why not if android is competing with the iphone do the basics!
For media this thing sucks, as a phone and for maps it works amazing, why have they messed the media component up so badly?!
I'm fairly disapointed, I remember a friend had a G1 at launch and I used to taunt him with the fact I could play almost anything through CorePlayer on my Touch HD, I assumed when I bought a Desire though that Android would have progressed enough that I would have similar functionality.
It's not absoultely awful but I wish things were a bit better, I don't mind re-encoding videos and stuff but it would be nicer if I didn't have to.
Desire is a brand new phone and CorePlayer is being developed for the Desire, just need to be paitent.
Shouldn't be device specific.. make it for android 2.1 and possibly 2.2
Is there an app? Or do you have to use the touch Youtube site?
from what i've read, the first time you visit a youtube clip, it will ask you to download an extension, and after this it will play it like would any other video. it's not a seperate application persay, but merely just an extension to IE to allow you to play the youtube clips.
I could be wrong on this, but I have seen videos of youtube playing, so it's definitely there.
The Gate Keeper said:
from what i've read, the first time you visit a youtube clip, it will ask you to download an extension, and after this it will play it like would any other video. it's not a seperate application persay, but merely just an extension to IE to allow you to play the youtube clips.
I could be wrong on this, but I have seen videos of youtube playing, so it's definitely there.
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I just read on Wikipedia it will run it in a sort of media player app, but they state that Adobe Flash 10.1 is on the way so this could be improved, or hell, there is the possibility updates will bring Youtube apps and better support.
There is built-in support for viewing the videos, but Google will need to develop a separate Youtube app if you want the off-browser experience.
Iridox said:
There is built-in support for viewing the videos, but Google will need to develop a separate Youtube app if you want the off-browser experience.
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Chances are that Google are already working on an application for YouTube.
App in Marketplace that plays Youtube over 3g is craptastic, horrible quality over 3g. Seriously over 3g the quality is worse than on a Blackberry. WTF MS?
Microsoft doesn't own YouTube, so I dunno why you're asking them.
And the quality is probably poor because it's playing 240 or 360p version of the videos instead of HQ.
That's why Google needs to release a YouTube App.
Microsoft has more important things to worry about, like, the actual operating system.
The youtube experience on WP7 is amazing.. its the first phone i ever used that didn't require a full fledged app. I sort of like it that m.youtube.com works out of the box and there isn't "an app for that" - with that being said, people are free to use the youtube api and make their own apps and google may do just that. However with m.youtube.com the quality for me is amazing. I don't watch it over 3g since AT&T rapes us with 3g bandwidth costs but over wifi the quality is beautiful. M.youtube.com also works with your login id so you can easily play your favorite and surf the website. It isn't a pretty package, but hell, sometimes its better that the web integration works this well rather than waiting for a required app
Apparently the youtube app adjusts the video settings if not on wifi. Which doesn't make sense since my 3g connection can more than handle youtube....
Maybe contact the developer and see if we can get settings adjustments.
edit: nevermind, it lists microsoft as the developer so I guess maybe an update will help?
Ok I am using the Dophin Mini browser and I have set the User Agent to Desktop. When I go to bbc iplayer website, and go to view a show in high quality mode, it plays ok, but I am getting some stuttering.
When I go to play a HD video from the iplayer website, it is like watching a slide show its that slow.
So how come I can watch 1080p videos on youtube just fine, but I cant watch bbc iplayer videos.
How do you change the User Agent setting on the standard browser, as I believe that is GPU accelerated so I should be able to play bbc iplayer HD videos fine?
I don't think it is related to this site or the user agent that's not "gpu accelerated", the whole browser is hardware supported but there is some streaming players that are more optimized than others on the 3w. For now I only have a galaxy S and with the default browser I can watch 480p youtube videos just fine but I low quality videos stutter on some other sites like engadget, so I guess it's the same thing that happens to you.
And btw what's the point of watching 720p or 1080p videos on a 480p screen ?
Just stick with the resolution that you can watch it will be well enough I think. just my 2 cent
touness69 said:
I don't think it is related to this site or the user agent that's not "gpu accelerated", the whole browser is hardware supported but there is some streaming players that are more optimized than others on the 3w. For now I only have a galaxy S and with the default browser I can watch 480p youtube videos just fine but I low quality videos stutter on some other sites like engadget, so I guess it's the same thing that happens to you.
And btw what's the point of watching 720p or 1080p videos on a 480p screen ?
Just stick with the resolution that you can watch it will be well enough I think. just my 2 cent
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But watching the HD videos I do notice a difference in quality, there is less artefacts. Anyway even playing in standard definition I am getting a bit of stuttering.
And surely all flash videos should perform the same, my theory is because BBC Iplayer is using higher bit rate would that cause problems?
I think its all in your head, but anyways, opinions are opinions. Higher bitrate, maybe, who knows. And the issue for the UA string in the standard browser has been addressed atleast two times, so please search wisely next time. You change the UA string by typing in about:useragent
Kailkti said:
I think its all in your head, but anyways, opinions are opinions. Higher bitrate, maybe, who knows. And the issue for the UA string in the standard browser has been addressed atleast two times, so please search wisely next time. You change the UA string by typing in about:useragent
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Ok changed the user agent thank you.
And I have three options for watching iplayer. I can either watch in mobile mode, which significantly degrades video quality. I can watch it in desktop mode on low quality mode, and believe me there is a DIFFERENCE in quality between the two. Or I can watch it in HD mode, but I agree there wont be much difference between HD mode and low quality.
Still getting stuttering even in Low quality desktop mode.
Yeah I've noticed this as well. Kinda surprised as I thought the phone would be able to handle iplayer HD or even standard considering it plays 1080p youtube videos in browser without any trouble. The only one that works in the browser is the mobile version.
I also tried using the iplayer app my phone came installed with and medium and high quality are both a bit laggy whereas low quality is fine
Iplayer is just as juddery using the iplayer app
I would be very interested in finding a fix for this, as the iplayer app is unwatchable on this phone, stuttering constantly. Even when connected to fast wifi / adsl. The quality also seems to be heavy on artifacts.
Why aren't more people complaining?
I've just loaded the KF3 firmware and iPlayer still stutters.
I'm surprised there hasn't been more flak generated by this. Maybe it's because I'm in a small minority of SGS2 owners affected?
Are there owners out there with a completely smooth BBC iPlayer experience?
Not for me ;-<
It's really annoying - anyone know how to solve this ?
Here is my video about my experience with HTC Media Link
Enjoy
Don't forget to subscirbe my YouTube Channel, click here, I am uploading other videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PMZU8OXmtA
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-f36IAKaZg
That looks very smooth, I want to use it along with PS3 controller to play ShodowGun.
From the video, it looks like the Media Link can only handle mirroring but not streaming. Consider this cost almost the same as the Apple TV which does have both mirroring and streaming capability, I don't think I'll buy it at the current retail price.
P.S. Mirroring means both screen shows the same content. Streaming means you can play video from your device to the TV while do something else on your phone like web browsing.
Bigmille said:
That looks very smooth, I want to use it along with PS3 controller to play ShodowGun.
From the video, it looks like the Media Link can only handle mirroring but not streaming. Consider this cost almost the same as the Apple TV which does have both mirroring and streaming capability, I don't think I'll buy it at the current retail price.
P.S. Mirroring means both screen shows the same content. Streaming means you can play video from your device to the TV while do something else on your phone like web browsing.
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You can stream, watch other youtube videos of it, people demonstrate streaming a trailer onto the TV whlist checking e-mails/ messages and doing other things.
azazin said:
You can stream, watch other youtube videos of it, people demonstrate streaming a trailer onto the TV whlist checking e-mails/ messages and doing other things.
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Cool, I'll check it out YouTube, do you know if it can work with other Android devices like the Galaxy Tab?
Bigmille said:
Cool, I'll check it out YouTube, do you know if it can work with other Android devices like the Galaxy Tab?
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I don't think so, unless a developer from XDA implements it because it uses HTCs Sense 4.0 software
im hoping that someone comes out with emulators that stream to tv , so the phone just shows controls
azazin said:
You can stream, watch other youtube videos of it, people demonstrate streaming a trailer onto the TV whlist checking e-mails/ messages and doing other things.
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I agree, I remember seeing a video where the guy was streaming movie
Of his one X while browsing through the sense menu.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
@Bigmille
Yeah you can use streaming. You can also launch a film on the One and send it to the TV and continue to use your phone to call someone, send sms, go to network... EVERYTHING
I will add a new video tomorrow or after tomorrow about Media Link with video player
Some HTC Staff person have played to ShadowGun and they said me it's amazing! It's looks like a PS3!!!
+
I have asked to know if I can use it with my DHD and they are not sure because of compatibility with Sense ;(
Was thinking about getting one of these but this video confirms what i thought the experience would be like, i think for the most part it's going to be useless, the guy in the video spent 90% of it looking at the screen on the phone to see where he is poking the touch screen
streaming works, i seen it work at a demo. Here
@shan The guy, it's me
It's true for games it's not a miracle but when you are lot of people to see a movie or other things (documents, pictures...) it could be so greatful
PS: I have added a new video :
shangostar said:
Was thinking about getting one of these but this video confirms what i thought the experience would be like, i think for the most part it's going to be useless, the guy in the video spent 90% of it looking at the screen on the phone to see where he is poking the touch screen
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thst's why you need a controller via bluetooth
Hey, ive got one question. This HTC Media thing, ist it connected via Ad Hoc Wifi or is it (or MUST it) be built in into your home wifi?
Why this question?
Because my Wifi Signal is very weak at home and therefore the Signals are weak as well. But with an Ad Hoc Connection only between the HTC Phone and the HTC Media thing (that connects to the TV..) you can get a good connection. BUT when your connect to the ad hoc WiFi (to your HTC Media Thing) are you able to surf via Wlan? Or do you have to use 3G?
/Dev
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1583218
24inchsub said:
streaming works, i seen it work at a demo. Here
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Thank you for posting that video
Just to inform everyone so you don't make the same mistake that I did. The HTC Media LINK and the HTC Media Link HD are very different. The mirroring will NOT work on the HTC Media Link....is works ONLY on the HTC Media Link HD.
It's very ambiguous in all posting and documentation but again I am speaking from experience. The standard HTC Media Link will not mirror the One X. it can only act as a DNLA device.
nv00021 said:
Just to inform everyone so you don't make the same mistake that I did. The HTC Media LINK and the HTC Media Link HD are very different. The mirroring will NOT work on the HTC Media Link....is works ONLY on the HTC Media Link HD.
It's very ambiguous in all posting and documentation but again I am speaking from experience. The standard HTC Media Link will not mirror the One X. it can only act as a DNLA device.
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Thats for the information. Here in germany the HTC Media Link HD is not awaylable so i thought bo buy the HTC Media Link. you saved me some good money!
Does someone know how lagg would be when playing HQ games like gta3 oder shadowgun? i really would like to take my HOX as a gamingstation with ps3-controller connected.