News

When Adobe finally dropped the Android download axe on Flash last month we wondered how online video content providers would respond to their material becoming inaccessible to owners of the most popular OS in the world; well now Auntie Beeb has stepped up as first to provide an answer: BBC Media Player…

A clever new way of securely playing video and audio content on all Google OS-toting devices, the access option is already up and running on the current iPlayer website, but next week will see the Beeb release a whole new version of BBC iPlayer solely for Android.

“I want to reassure you that Android is an important platform for us. And I know that this platform is an important one for many of our users,” said Chris Yanda, Executive Product Manager, POD Mobile Management, BBC Future Media. “We looked at a number of different solutions. In the end, Flash was still the best choice of media format for us to use. And the only practical technology for us to play this format back on Android is Adobe Air.”

As a separate Android entity, BBC Media Player allows a wide selection of recent shows, from the Sci-Fi of Doctor Who to the misery mongering of EastEnders, to be played back across all Android OS flavours from one simple, just for us app.

“We will continue to work on this application and on improving media playback and mobile experience on Android smartphones and tablets,” concluded Chris. “The team and I would love to hear what you think about this approach and how well this new application works on your device.”

Well, you heard the man…