iPlayer
iPlayer Downloader is a free Application for Mac OS X which lets you download programs from the BBC iPlayer website.
It’s a joint project between myself and Lawrence Dudley, who kindly hosts the project website (as well as hosting the downloads too!). It’s also one of my first major forays into Mac application programming. To download it, or to find out more, go to the main site….
As well as a fair amount of the coding, I also made the icon for the project, and the previous icons as well….
Latest News: As you may have noticed, iPlayer’s currently not working for our app. We’re looking into a fix, sorry about this…
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Thanks for this. However, although versions before v3 were very stable, v3.1 has proved very buggy for me on 10.5.5.
More than half of downloads fail around the 95% mark and about half the resumed downloads result in a damaged file that cannot be played.
Hope you can fix these problems in a new version.
Yeah, we’re having a few problems with it still, not to mention some ongoing problems that resulted from using Apple’ buggy PackageManager. If you do a clean install on a machine that’s not had iPlayer Downloader on it before it’s usually fine As it is, cleaning all the damage PackageManager did is sometimes tricky and on top of that the BBC are slow about putting up programmes in the iPhone format (which is what we get), so sometimes, the show is available, but when you click on it, it’ll download an empty file ’cause the version we can download isn’t really there……
We are aware, and we’re working on it. In the mean time, sorry, and if you swing by the iPlayer site (on Lawrence’s page, listed above) you’ll see the latest news and all the tips you can try to get things working. It really does work most of the time…
We have thousands of users that it wrks for, so I really am sorry for those like you that it doesn’t.
Math
Hi, got to congratulate you guys on iPlayer downloader for Mac but my computer at home uses OS X 10.4.11 so I can’t use version 3.1. However, I can’t seem to access the older version 2.0 anywhere. Could you point me in a direction where I can download this please?
You guys rock!!! i’m loving it!
Here is a link to V2
http://mac.download3000.com/iplayer-downloader-download-6754.html
Hey Guys, nice work, - nice icon too - Also had a few files that don’t work, “cannot play this movie as it is not a movie file”
but maybe it’s just as you say that they’re not the right version. I’t would be nice if the BBC worked on this with you guys.
I did have a previous version, but downloaded the .app file - are there any other files I should delete?
Cheers
Brett
Sorry, I meant to say I Deleted the previous .app file, not downloaded it - duh!
Brett
David: dunno about that link you put in. It’s not one we approved. If you download from there, be aware it could be anybody that’s put that up, it could have a malware app in there, could wipe your system etc.
If anyone *really* want’s V2, they can mail me, although why you’d want it I’m not sure. The source code is out of date and it uses an old script that you’d need to replace with a new one that you’d also have to edit (as we do) to get the app working.
I’d avoid that download like the plague, and just get it from the proper site…
No, that *should* be it.
I do not seem to be able to download BBC Scotland. Should I be able to?
It depends; usually the BBC have messed something up
Not much we can really do about that, I’m afraid.
Bummer, all downloads failing today (not even starting), but was working fine yesterday. Only 3 days left of Springwatch, looks like I’ll miss the last 5 episodes. BBC must have have changed up on us!
Hi Guys,
I’ve been using your iPlayer Downloader for some time now & I find it very useful. Thanks.
If you guys ever have the inclination, something similar for Spotify would by very very useful. I know it’s possible to do it now with Audio Hijack but it’s a rather messy, two program process. A “One Box” solution would be great. PLEASE!!!!
Thanks Chris…
We’re aware of Spotify. Sadly efforts to “crack” it may be quite difficult. Unlike the BBC (who merely stream the programs in unencrypted standard video-codecs over html), Spotify have their own (secure) method of streaming…
THere is an open-source program that acts as an unofficial client, but reverse engineering their pure C code into something we could then use to get, download and store files could be something beyond my meagre programming talents; I’m just a pixel-pushing artist….
Hi. Great utility, used extensively to timeshift BBC progs. A problem: is there a way of bypassing the BBC restriction on downloading a programme which they will “show again”? Currently, this is the problem with the Wallander films on BBC4.
Also, is there an answer to downloads which appear to complete OK, but have downloaded/stored insufficient content and will not play as “movs”?
TIA
No, and no, basically.
Trouble with iPlayer Downloader is we rely totally on the BBC’s servers. If they decide to stop a show being there, we can’t get it.
Often, a download will fail because the BBC have changed something, or uploaded something badly, or just “i dunno”. Sorry this isn’t much help to you….
Thanks for the thoughts
Please could I a version that works with 10.4.11
My friend has this program and LOVES it. Thank you.
Do the Channel 4 OD and ITV websites use a similar technique to ‘play again’ their content? and if so are there any plans to modify your programme?
This program is superb! I commute 5hrs a day and the ability to download loads of TV programs and instantly upload them to my iPhone without having to convert them has made my hellish journey a real pleasure. It’s just so simple to use and does exactly what it says on the tin. Just one question/suggestion though. Could you adapt the code so that as well as downloading from iPlayer you could also download from 4OD (Channel 4) and from Channel 5?
Any instructions for using the ‘proxy’ setting in preferences?
thanks
Hi guys,
Firstly a BIG thanks for the application, works great, written a little additional automator script so it is automatically imported into itunes upon download completion, one minor flaw i have noticed though, in preferences when you try change the download location, the choose more brings up the open window, not the default mac save window, not allowing me to select a folder. little bug fix would be greatly appreciated, as downloading directly to my external drive would be easier.
Thanks again John
Hi, Great little utility you have here but has the BBC changed things again? Can’t download anything with version 3.3.
Problem arose in middle of the week for me and can’t seem to access any content from any of the TV channels or Radio sources.
Very annoying!
Hi Can you help i love your software but recently iplayer downloader is coming up with message ” the request programme could not be downloaded” but this is doing it on all programmes.
many reasons why?
Great app, not sure if you’ve noticed though that over the last few days every download attempt seems to come up saying ‘unable to download’. The programme IS viewable on the iPhone so looks lik something has changed in Cloud BBC again…
Hi Math
Nothing seems to want to download at the moment. Have the BBC jumped one step ahead ?
Jack
What is happening to this application or the BBC? I have for three days now been attempting to download ANY programme, and be met with the message “this programme is not available for download”. I am using version 3.3 on a G5 with MacOS 10.5.8, and have made a donation. Is it the BBC settings that are making iPlayer Downloader redundant? Can the application be reset?
Hi there,
I’ve just downloaded iPlayer Downloader 3.4 to give it a try and I’m very impressed by it. I’m running it on Snow Leopard and it seems to work fine. Just one thing I notice, the option to choose a different download location doesn’t seem to work. If I pick the ‘Choose’ option in the dialog it opens a window, but wherever I go only the ‘Cancel’ option is then available.
Version 3.4 seems to have overcome these recent problems. Well done chaps !
I’d certainly hope it does
3.5 may be out sooner than you thought owing to an annoying undocumented bug courtesy of Apple if you’re running Snow Leopard, which causes problems selecting the directory to save to…