Bbc iPlayer Now In High Definition

[TheMagicTramp]

The Bbc iPlayer is now in Hi-Definition (HD) check this amazing feature out now;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv/bbc_hd

[Kyle!]

This is really fantastic, but must be costing the BBC A LOT of money in bandwidth. I wouldn't watch it on the flash player by the way, it'll be a lot better quality if you download it, although it is a very big file.

[Agnostic Bear]

This is really fantastic, but must be costing the BBC A LOT of money in bandwidth. I wouldn't watch it on the flash player by the way, it'll be a lot better quality if you download it, although it is a very big file.

It's paid for by the public, not the BBC. The BBC is funded by the public.

[Stephen!]

It's not even HD.

[Kyle!]

It's paid for by the public, not the BBC. The BBC is funded by the public.

Right I know, I'm not stupid, but BBC still pays for it on their end. Even though we pay it. I know you're just being difficult and awkward like you usually are, and I know that you knew what I meant, so just get out.

[Nick.]

Right I know, I'm not stupid, but BBC still pays for it on their end. Even though we pay it. I know you're just being difficult and awkward like you usually are, and I know that you knew what I meant, so just get out.
Well said.

[Tim.]

It's not even HD.

Its Because you need a HD PC Monitor

[BeanEgg]

Its Because you need a HD PC Monitor

Exactly. LOL
It's HD for me too. Looks awesome! - Nice find. :)

[jackass]

Very nice, but my internet doesn't like it one bit! :P

[Stephen!]

HD is the definition given to something that is the size of 1280 x 720 or greater. These videos aren't, they're more like 1000 x 800 and when blown up to fullscreen the quality is shocking.

[Tomm]

Before you edited it you said it was near 500 by something :P

Anyway, it is HD. 720p HD to be precise as you can see in this screenshot:

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/36995a6387bdd2diplayerhdquality.png

Although for some reason it does not seem to play in firefox:

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/40768a6387bdd2diplayerhd.png


HD is the definition given to something that is the size of 1280 x 720 or greater. These videos aren't, they're more like 1000 x 800 and when blown up to fullscreen the quality is shocking.

[Stephen!]

Meh, quality is still shocking. Look at the pixellation.

[N!ck]

The resolution is 720p, but the bit rate is far lower than what you'd expect for HD, meaning it doesn't look particularly HD like. Faster moving scenes really show this. The downloaded version seems slightly better than the streamed, but not much. It's a big improvement over the standard service, but if they're going to do HD they should at least do it properly :S. The bit rates are around half to two thirds what they should be.

Edit: Thinking about it properly if they did it at proper bit rates then most people's internet connections would not be physically fast enough to download it at the rate required stream it (7000-8000Kbps - 0.9-1MB/s), but they could offer this bitrate in the downloaded version.

[Stephen!]

They should call it Super High Quality.

[Tomm]

Some of the HD (1080p) movies I have on my PC are around 35,000 - 40,000 kbps like below:

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/134720ecb8473e8bond1080p.png


The resolution is 720p, but the bit rate is far lower than what you'd expect for HD, meaning it doesn't look particularly HD like. Faster moving scenes really show this. The downloaded version seems slightly better than the streamed, but not much. It's a big improvement over the standard service, but if they're going to do HD they should at least do it properly :S. The bit rates are around half to two thirds what they should be.

Edit: Thinking about it properly if they did it at proper bit rates then most people's internet connections would not be physically fast enough to download it at the rate required stream it (7000-8000Kbps - 0.9-1MB/s), but they could offer this bitrate in the downloaded version.

[bigdavecox90]

I have an HDMI socket on my laptop and also an HDTV, if I plug laptop into TV it should appear in HD?

[N!ck]

Some of the HD (1080p) movies I have on my PC are around 35,000 - 40,000 kbps like below:

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/134720ecb8473e8bond1080p.png

Yeah. My 720p movies are around 6000Kbps on overage and around 8500Kbps at peak.

I just calculated that an episode I downloaded on iPlayer is around 2800Kbops on average.

[Kyle!]

I have an HDMI socket on my laptop and also an HDTV, if I plug laptop into TV it should appear in HD?

LOL! Your laptop will already be on a HD resolution, (Not certainly, if you're on a netbook or something.) HD is just a big resolution. 1080p is 1920x1080 and 720p I think is 720x1024. So it'll probably already be on HD.

[Thai-Man-Land]

I had an email about his earlier in the week - be careful if you aren't on unlimited internet plan - read below


The Beeb's iPlayer now offers image quality to rival freeview, but watching an hour programme now means using 600MB of your download allowance, not the prior 300MB. It's automatic: Open 'the large video window' and it'll use this quality if possible, though you can switch to 'use lower bandwidth version' for the old quality. HD Content: High def is now also available if selected, but then an hour uses over twice as much again; 1.5GB and requires a fast PC & connection. Check if your broadband's limited. Many impose monthly download limits eg 2GB, and after that charge per GB, so regular web viewers should consider an unlimited download deal - see the Cheap Broadband (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband) guide. Plus, install a bandwidth monitor like Rokario (http://www.rokario.com/) to check your actual usage.

[PoizZoNxX]

I had an email about his earlier in the week - be careful if you aren't on unlimited internet plan - read below
What ISP has a 2gb per month limit?

[Stephen!]

Mobile broadband maybe.

[PoizZoNxX]

Mobile broadband maybe.
meh fair enough

i never really thought about the limit on it though, tbf i dont watch iplayer that much but virgin caps you if you go over like 2.3 gb during peak hours

[Nick.]

What ISP has a 2gb per month limit?
plus.net
on their basic package - my grandmas with them.

I'm with talktalk and have a 40GB limit and i'm always fretting cos im always downloading.

[PoizZoNxX]

plus.net
on their basic package - my grandmas with them.

I'm with talktalk and have a 40GB limit and i'm always fretting cos im always downloading.
jeez

virgin media has no limits after 9 so i just download most of my stuff then lol

[Blinger1]

I really wish Aussie ISPs would catch up, we have a 25GB limit and spend about 90 bucks a month.. which is maybe 40 pounds?

[The Professor]

I really wish Aussie ISPs would catch up, we have a 25GB limit and spend about 90 bucks a month.. which is maybe 40 pounds?

I've heard you Aussies have it really bad atm, isn't your net pretty slow too? And all the government firewall business scares me, if Australia manages to push it through and it proves effective at stopping whatever they want to stop they could use the same thing over here :(

[TheMagicTramp]

Check your connection speed;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics