Via InsideTheCBC.com comes news that CBC Radio has launched an iPhone/iPod Touch application.
The application streams content from Radio One, Radio 2, and CBC Radio 3, and audio from CBC Television.
The free application works on the iPhone or iPod Touch. It will allow users to listen to as many as 19 live streams and a host of on-demand content. “One of the best features is the integration of the iPhone optimized web site within the application, so that you browse cbc.ca while you’re listening to the CBC,” Jonathan Carrigan, who lead the product development, said this afternoon.
I just installed the app, and I have to say, I’m pretty impressed. You can download it from iTunes here.
Why isn't there a Windows Mobile app too?
Hi Michelle – thanks for the post. We'd love to serve every device and format but we simple can't afford to. So, we have to focus where the demand is greatest, and iPhone/iPod Touch users are among the biggest consumers of mobile content.
I'm wondering if there are plans to increase the number of local live streams. Right now the closest stream to Charlottetown is Goose Bay, and there's nothing else east of Quebec City available.
Hi Peter. Hi Michelle. I've let Jonathan Carrigan know that there are questions here about the app, and invited him to weigh in.
Hey Peter – Thanks for the post. The reason we didn't include all streams is because they're currently not all compatible with iPhone. We're in the process of upgrading our streams, and we'll be adding them to the app as the process unfolds. Watch for updates in the app store. Cheers!
What kind of data usage can we expect when streaming?
thats great news about iphone app
I’d be really keen to hear the expected data usage too. This is essentially a question of bitrate. The streams sound pretty good, so I’m guessing 192 kbs equivelant? That would equal 11.5 kb/ minute; if it’s that simple …
Oooops, forgot move the decimal point, it would be 11.25 Mb/ minute…. That still feels wrong though, help anybody?
The bit rates range from 128 kbs – 192 kbs. So if we assume 192 kbs, you'll use about 11.25 mb per minute. However, nothing is charged to your data plan if you're connected to wifi.
Thanks John!
The app is great! But, after using it while traveling, I can't help but wish for the ability to pre-download the on-demand broadcasts and play them when away from 3G or wifi networks — in effect, making it a branded podcast client. That would make it a killer app for me.
Please don't neglect CBC Prince George/Rupert! I greatly appreciate visiting Canada's BC Northwest with Carolina and Chris. It's enjoyable to listen next door in Alaska to what is going on with my friends and neighbors in Northern BC. I even have it on in my car and my friends wonder how I get such great reception.
I love the app except that it does not include Victoria !!!
Is there a plan to add this station for us Vancouver Islanders
Great the CBC has put this out ahead of BBC's plans.
But I think NPR may have beaten them all. NPR's app is out (free as well).
I have downloaded this cbc radio app on my iphone, its good.
An Android app would be nice as well.
If an Android app was developed, it could be done in Flash and work on several devices
We need an android app!
We Really Really need an Android app!
The stream freezes very frequently, and then the feed starts again from anywhere from a few seconds to a minute behind. Sometimes the feed stops completely. It' a little bit frustrating, is there any work happening to improve the feed's stability?
For the past 2 days, I have been unable to connect. What's going on?
The CBC promotes itself on Radio 2
by saying it's commercial free.
Yet, at the end of every national newscast we hear,
'We're now available on the iPhone and iPod Touch,
just download the free CBC application'.
If someone has an i thing and they follow the CBC
shouldn't they look to see if the CBC has an app'.
Why make the millions of us who will never have such a device
listen to this advertisement.
When it first came out they found it so important to include it
that when the national news switched to regional weather
it got cut off, for example
'And in the BC Interior It'll be ….'
Their choice to market the iPhone application
was hindering us from hearing our regional weather.
They fixed that one so we now hear both, but still 2 years later,
we hear the promotion with the addition of the iPad and Blackberry Torch.
I find it as redundant as saying at the end of a news cast,
'we're available on Sony, Pioneer and Panasonic stereo systems'.
Am I being too picky; is it really necessary anymore?
Would love love love an Android app too! I love Apple as much as the next person but chose Android for ease of selecting my mobile provider. Maybe iPhone people use mobile content more because they can access it……..Please!
Is there a way to restrict the app to using wifi only to avoid accidental data usage?