BBC News goes live in the UK App Store, live TV for free
In less than 24 hours after its release, the BBC News application has shot up to #1 in the News category. It was a story about bureaucracy at its worst whenever the BBC Trust, BBC’s governing body, told their development team to shelve the iPhone application launch in the UK due to “uncertainty about the potential significance of whether the BBC's plans constitutes a change of service.” Now, five months later, its passed the test and can be downloaded free of charge to all UK iPhone – and iPad – users.
The universal application provides the latest news from around the globe, offering a live broadcast of the BBC News channel to UK residents. The channel runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but sadly does not work over 3G – despite a network charge warning appearing the first time you tap “Live”. The application’s design for iPhone is discerningly similar to Pulse News Mini, with its articles presented in boxes rather than in a list; the iPad edition resembling the widely successful Financial Times application with its category navigation. The pull down to refresh feature first seen in Tweetie is also in there. Rotating the application into landscape mode on the iPhone presents a uniquely designed news scroller.
The application also features a rolling news ticker and the ability to send a snapshot from your iPhone straight to the BBC team, but is missing a much-needed search feature. In addition, there’s no weather section to the application.
There is a certain amount of irony in the late launch of the British Broadcasting Company application, which has been available to download (with live radio instead of TV) in the US App Store since April. No word yet on whether BBC Sports and BBC iPlayer will be launched, both of which were discussed at the same time as the News application. The Sports application was planned to be released one month after the News application in mid-May.
You can read more on the BBC Technology page.
Note: BBC Trust quote courtesy of The Guardian. iPad image courtesy of the BBC.
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: News
BBC News goes live in the UK App Store, live TV for free is a post from 148Apps
Say Hello to Guitar and Bass, iPad
Every day the iPad can be something different – a fun way to play games one day and an easier way to read books the next. Now, it’s music’s turn with AmpliTube for iPad. Amplitude is a virtual amp and effects processor for your guitar or bass, allowing you to plug in your instrument via the iPad’s 3.5mm jack connection with some specially designed kit made by IK Multimedia. The application is available now for $19.99. There is a free version available, with a limited number of effects, but you can buy and download effects on-the-go.
AmpliTube provides the same twenty-three effects as the iPhone edition, which was released last month also at $19.99. Such effects include five amp models, eleven stompbox effects, five cabinets and two mics. For a full break down, see the bottom of this post. The iPad’s extra power means that it can handle four simultaneous stompbox effects, rather than three on the iPhone. In addition, a built-in tuner and metronome are provided, as well as the ability to import songs and backing tracks.
The specially designed kit that I mentioned earlier, namely IK Multimedia’s iRig, costs $39.99 (€29.99) but doesn’t include the premium version of AmpliTube. You plug your guitar into iRig, which then connects to your iPad. It offers a 3.5mm line-out for headphones and speakers. You can buy it here.
Hit the jump for more details and video.
The iPad demo isn’t available on YouTube yet, but you can watch it on IK Multimedia’s website. For now, here’s the iPhone edition:
IK Multimedia isn’t the first to the iPad block. Last month, Ben Harvell highlighted AmpKit, created by AgilePartners in collaboration with amp giant Peavey. AmpKit is still only available for pre-order, and will cost £39.99.
Note: AmpliTube is not universal, meaning if you’ve bought the iPhone edition you won’t be able to make full-use of the premium iPad edition.
Five amp models: clean, crunch, lead, metal and bass. Eleven stompbox effects: delay, flanger, phaser, overdrive, distortion, filter, wah, fuzz, octaver, chorus and noise filter. Five cabinets: 1
