The BBC has
joined
forces with Adobe to allow Mac and Unix users to use its BBC
iPlayer on their PCs.
The BBC and Adobe Systems
have announced the public beta of the new BBC iPlayer Desktop
download manager built on Adobe Air, a key component of the Adobe
Flash Platform.
The new BBC iPlayer Desktop beta will enable Windows, Mac and
Linux users to download programmes to their desktops.
Previously, the ability to download programmes was only
available for Windows users. This exclusivity had been
understandably slammed by Mac and Linux users, particularly as they
were expected to pay their TV licence fees like everyone else.
The new download manager allows users to view their favourite
BBC shows, online or offline.
The BBC iPlayer Desktop application on Adobe Air will first be
available to BBC iPlayer Labs users.
The BBC iPlayer Desktop application on Air will be rolled out to
all BBC iPlayer users during 2009.