What is the iPlayer?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV The oddly-named BBC IMP (Interactive Media Player) is a test system designed to allow you to watch BBC television programmes and listen to BBC radio programmes after they have been broadcast.
When you run the program, you see a five-tabbed display. The first, called home highlights the new and favourite content.
The second tab, Guide, allows you to search the listing for programmes to watch. This is really a Microsoft Internet Explorer window. From here you can find all the programmes that the iMP can deliver to you.
A third tab, Search, allows you to use free-form text searches (Google-style) to search for programmes to download.
Tab four, My Downloads, provide the facility for reviewing, cancelling, deleting or watching the programmes you have downloaded:
The content has been specially modified for IMP. This includes on-screen branding:
And also a DOG in the corner of each program. You can also use a special hidden monitor screen to monitor downloads and uploads your computer is making.
