In the absence of any official BBC apps for Windows Phone, we must be grateful to third-party developers who are filling the gap.
One is London-based Igneous Software Ltd, which has produced BBC Podcast Lounge and BBC Radio Player.
While the BBC firmly refuses to make apps for WP, even including iPlayer, BBC Podcast Lounge lets you replay and download dozens of BBC radio programmes.
It's smooth and works well apart from one glitch. It often tells you it can't connect to download shows. We've found if you cancel the warning, it works fine.
The app will cost you £1.49 - perhaps we could claim a refund on our licence fee. Or perhaps not.
We'll just have to continue emailing and tweeting the Beeb to start supporting Windows Phone. Or we could ask for an inquiry. We're sure the BBC wouldn't mind adding another inquiry to its very long list.
.gif)
Igneous Software also does an excellent job with its BBC Radio Player app in the Windows Phone Store. It's 99p and streams 74 live BBC stations, national and local. Here's the company's website description of the app:
- Slick metro-styled electronic programme guide that allows you to see what’s on now and what’s coming up. The guide also shows you how much is left to run of the current programme.
- Ability to run behind the lock screen for 7.0 users and the ability to run fully in the background for 7.5 (Mango users).
- Advanced streaming server management which seeks out the most reliable streaming source for your connection. Audible pips inform the user that servers are being updated in real-time without the user having to intervene.
- Full integration with the Music + Video hub allowing favourite channels to be stored in the history.
.gif)
Igneous also produces free apps to stream individual national stations - Radios 1,2,3 and 4.
You can follow IJSMblog on Twitter and Facebook
Comments