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BBC praises PS3 iPlayer quality

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BBC praises PS3 iPlayer quality

New version of BBC TV viewer on Sony’s console offers pictures “almost as good as broadcast television”

Speaking on the BBC Internet Blog, the BBC’s head of digital media technology Anthony Rose has singled out Sony for special praise thanks to the work it has put into the PS3 version of the iPlayer.

Arriving as part of Sony’s recent 3.0 PS3 firmware update, the new version of iPlayer supports higher quality H.264 playback and, thanks to its use of hardware acceleration, can support full frame video at a rate of 25fps.

“Sony has done a great job of enhancing the PS3's Flash playback experience, and the latest V3.0 firmware update allows for a substantial improvement in the playback experience,” Rose stated.

“Over the past year, we've also done a lot of tuning and enhancements to our iPlayer video encoding. Put the two together and the result is an iPlayer on PS3 with brilliant video quality – almost as good as broadcast television.”

The iPlayer is now an embedded app in the PS3’s XMB.

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posted by Redh3lix Sep 08, 2009 at 3:37 pm
1

"The iPlayer is now an embedded app in the PS3’s XMB."

Hmm, wouldn't say "application", more of a link to open the PS3 browser taking you to the iPlayer PS3 webpage.

Is good stuff though. Quality seems a little bad at first but it seemingly settles down after a second or two. Not sure if that's anything to do with my connection.

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I love it

posted by PSMako Sep 08, 2009 at 4:00 pm
2

My net is really slow (0.5mb) but plays iPlayer perfectly. Im happy with the PS3/BBC partnership

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Works brilliantly for me

posted by Mark Sep 08, 2009 at 5:09 pm
3
Mark

Don't care that it's a link, it behaves like a proper application, and works really well. Infact I can't believe how good it is.

Well done BBC and Sony. I'm looking forward to the other TV services that are coming to PS3 too. (Although the free PS3 and better services don't seem to get the huge shouting from the rooftops that Microsoft made about their pay-for Sky deal)

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bbc on ps3

posted by jeff Sep 08, 2009 at 5:24 pm
4
jeff

Well done BBC and Sony,hopefully some HD will be broadcast in time.

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Agred

posted by Weezer Sep 08, 2009 at 10:11 pm
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Weezer

Yep. Really surprised at the quality, given that mine's connecting over WiFi. At last, I have reason to own a PS3... or a least not sell it.

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Wii

posted by Pete Sep 09, 2009 at 9:32 am
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Pete

Now when are they going to fix the wii iplayer then?

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re: Wii

posted by Mark Sep 09, 2009 at 9:42 am
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Mark

I didn't think anyone was using Wii anymore, the fad had worn off.

Wii has done more damage to the gaming industry than any other console, non-gaming consumers are now wary of buying "another wii that sits in the cupboard under the stairs".

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What nonsense

posted by LeeC Sep 10, 2009 at 5:15 pm
8

Sorry Mark but that is just sheer nonsense. Or maybe you would care to back up your claims of "more damage to the games industry than any other console" with some actual facts as to how it has done so.

The only damage it did, was to expose the developers who were so unimaginative, they would rather opt for the "easy way out" option of an eye-candy filled "product", rather than an inventive, imaginative "game". You can't blame Nintendo for incompetent, greedy devs, who can't think past the end of their yearly income.

Your argument "non-gaming consumers are now wary of buying "another wii that sits in the cupboard under the stairs" is just about as irrelevant as it could be. If they're non-gaming consumers, then how can that affect the "gaming" industry, that they're not part of?

Let's put it this way, I use the motion controls on my Wii a damned sight more than I use them on the PS3. So if you want to talk about "fads" and "wearing off", then maybe you could start with Sixxaxis, as that would seem more valid.

As for the topic, my iPod streams in as good a quality as my PS3 on the iPlayer. It's to do with the connection, not the hardware. Or does that mean that my iPod is as powerful as my PS3?

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Nonsense in reply to nonsense?

posted by CeeL Sep 12, 2009 at 4:10 pm
9
CeeL

So LeeC, your iPod streams the same quality as your PS3? Riiiiight, so your iPod has a 720p/1080p screen does it? Streaming at the same resolution are you? No, don't be so stupid. Your iSchmok appears "as good" because the feed to a much lower resolution tailored to the screen.

As for using motion controls on your Wii more than on PS3, that's only because you have no choice. 99% of Wii games have no innovation in them at all, just using motion "because they can".

Not such a smart ass now eh, you stupid faggot.

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