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BBC to launch mobile 'apps'

Newspaper Publishers cry poverty (February 2010)

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RT
rts Founding member
Snapped these pictures for you. Lovely start up image.

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg844/scaled.php?tn=0&server=844&filename=agb.png&xsize=640&ysize=640 http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg267/scaled.php?tn=0&server=267&filename=ijq.png&xsize=640&ysize=640
AG
AxG
Just downloaded the App, I find it very easy to use. Very Happy
JO
Jonny
Is it just me who's experiencing a blank white screen when attempting to view the home screen vertically (on a 1st gen iPod Touch)? The stories display momentarily before disappearing, reappearing when the iPod is turned horizontally.
M
M@ Founding member
It does seem a little bit buggy. My mate's had the white screen a couple of times and I've just been told I can't watch live video outside the UK (the button then disables itself). It's a shame the graphics aren't very high quality too. Look pretty blocky on iPhone 4. Otherwise, it's a good app. The live stream and video clips are lightning fast.
LI
littlesmegger
It's slightly buggy, and surprisingly not for the iPhone 4's resolution. The menu icon, and even the BBC News banner within the app look pixelated on my iPhone 4's screen.

You would have thought they'd have doubled the resolution for icons and boot screens by now seeing they've known the 4's resolution for some time.
DO
dosxuk
I'm under the impression the app was finished, and ready for release when the outcry happened, so it was stopped, along with all work on any mobile apps. I assume therefore, that when the decision came through today, it was a case of get this app released immediately so they've got something to show for their work, and fixing the bugs / updates for the iPhone 4 will come shortly.
JF
JamesyFish
Jonny posted:
Is it just me who's experiencing a blank white screen when attempting to view the home screen vertically (on a 1st gen iPod Touch)? The stories display momentarily before disappearing, reappearing when the iPod is turned horizontally.


Yeah, I did on my 1st Gen Touch, but a reboot did the trick Smile
JO
Jonny
Jonny posted:
Is it just me who's experiencing a blank white screen when attempting to view the home screen vertically (on a 1st gen iPod Touch)? The stories display momentarily before disappearing, reappearing when the iPod is turned horizontally.

Yeah, I did on my 1st Gen Touch, but a reboot did the trick Smile

Thanks James, that sorted it!
RD
rdd Founding member
I'm under the impression the app was finished, and ready for release when the outcry happened, so it was stopped, along with all work on any mobile apps. I assume therefore, that when the decision came through today, it was a case of get this app released immediately so they've got something to show for their work, and fixing the bugs / updates for the iPhone 4 will come shortly.


They've been available internationally (or at least in Ireland) for a while now, presumably they would have gotten some bug reports back. There's a BBC Sport Football one, which was released for the World C as well available internationally but since there's not much football going on at the moment (which doesn't stop Sky Sports News talking about it, but anyway) its kinda useless at present.

I can't really see why there should be a huge deal about the BBC launching these apps, they are basically another way to view the content on the BBC website. There's not a huge deal of difference between viewing it in Safari and viewing in an app, other than with an app you're minimising the amount of content you need to download as the main fixed graphical elements are part of the app. Mind you, I suspect a lot of the objectors to the BBC having these apps would also like to see BBC Online closed down, which is not a runner in this day and age.
NW
nwtv2003
I was quite pleased it was released this afternoon, content wise it's not a bad App, it's easier to have then using the BBC News site on Safari, although I think for me the Sky News App still edges it, I think because it has more video content, but for it's first day in the UK, the BBC App looks pretty damn good. Although I was only using 3G as opposed to Wi-Fi but I take it you can watch the BBC News Channel over Wi-Fi?
AN
Ant
I was quite pleased it was released this afternoon, content wise it's not a bad App, it's easier to have then using the BBC News site on Safari, although I think for me the Sky News App still edges it, I think because it has more video content, but for it's first day in the UK, the BBC App looks pretty damn good. Although I was only using 3G as opposed to Wi-Fi but I take it you can watch the BBC News Channel over Wi-Fi?


You can but a previous poster (and me) are getting an error saying that video is unavailable outside the UK... despite definitely being in the UK.
SP
Spencer
I've got to say I'm a bit disappointed by the app. It doesn't really offer much that the mobile formatted website doesn't already have, other than live streaming of the News Channel, which you can already get via TV Catchup. I'm also really surprised there's no access to the looped headline videos, which you can get on the mobile website, but strangely not on this app. I was also hoping for some weather content too.

I don't think it's particularly well laid out either. Putting each story in a box means a lot of headlines are cut off, and you can't see all the main stories at a glance without scrolling the boxes to the left.

As someone who generally prefers BBC News, I'm sorry to say that Sky News' app pees all over the Beeb's one. Here's hoping it's just a case of 'early days'. Deffo more work needed IMO.

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