iPhone Buzz » BBC

Verizon gains on new iPhone talk, BBC iPhone apps on hold, new eBay app seller tools

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:23:38 +0000

BBC has announced that it has put all of its iPhone app development on hold. This was done after other news organizations complained about the possible effects on the market the apps could have.

Verizon has gained in stock price on new talks of an iPhone coming to the network. At the same time, the talk has shares of AT&T falling. IPhone users are likely to migrate in droves away from AT&T once the iPhone is available elsewhere in the US.

eBay has launched a new seller app for the iPhone. The new app allows users to list items they want to sell in less than 60 seconds right from the smartphone.

reMail gobbled by Google, call for BBC app ban, and 21 useful travel apps

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:00:05 +0000

Search giant Google has acquired the firm behind the reMail search application for the iPhone. The app is designed to provide a search function for Gmail and IMAP email accounts.

BBC News reports that a newspaper group is calling for BBC iPhone apps to be blocked. The reason behind the cry to ban the apps from the Newspaper Publishers Association is that the BBC apps would “damage the nascent market” for apps.

The LA Times is offering up its list of 21 most useful travel apps. Making the list are apps like MapQuest, Skype, Kayak, Priceline and more.

BBC iPlayer TV downloads coming to Mac ‘sometime 2008′

Chris Davies — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:36:09 +0000

Back in July the BBC launched their TV download service, iPlayer, to a mixed chorus of excitement and – from the Mac (and Linux) contingent – sobbing; the software was, and in fact still is, compatible with Windows XP only. In a recent interview Ashley Highfield, head of the corporation’s Future Media and Technology unit, revealed that a streaming version of the application would be available for Mac and Linux users by Christmas (just in time for the Queen’s Speach, I suppose); in fact, he claims it was always in the timeline, and the error in fact was not missing out the non-XP formats but failing to publicise the coming alternatives.

Of course, streaming is one thing but what about taking downloaded shows with you and watching them on, say, your shiny iPod Touch or iPhone? Well, it turns out that Highfield is quite the fan of the Touch himself and, while he wouldn’t be pushed on any solid plans for DRM-free media, he did discuss downloads:

“We do want to find a download solution, if at all possible, for Mac users. We do believe the next suite of Adobe Air products will enable us to offer a download solution for Macs and we believe that would be possible at some point during 2008. The point is, I’m not going to be able to commit to it until we’ve got our sticky mitts on it, tried it, tested it, worked out the cost implications” Ashley Highfield, BBC

He goes on to reiterate his expectation that mid-2008 will see a suitable client, as well as discuss the sentiment that the BBC “is not wedded to DRM or any form of DRM. I’m not in bed with Beelzebub.”