Video stew: iSpy with my little i... iview for the iPad!

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 03 December 2010 16:46

Your IT - Mobility

The ABC's popular 'catch-up' iview TV service has finally come to the iPad, featuring a 'fresh new contemporary look' - but Android, iPhone and Samsung TV users will have to wait until 2011 before they can join the iview party.

iview on the iPad has been long iAwaited, but finally, Australian iPad users can join in the video viewing fun, adding that extra bit of versatility to Apple's already ultra-versatile iDevice.

Announced in the corporate section of the ABC's website, not only is an iPad version now available (iTunes download link here), but iView will say iDo to a marriage with iPhones and Samsung's 'Internet-enabled' TVs and Blu-ray players in 'early 2011', too.

This means that Samsung will join Sony in being able to offer iview on select TVs and, in Sony's case, also the PS3.

And yes, dear ABC people, iKnow it's iview with a lowercase v, but when making  Apple iReferences, that V needs to be in upper case, and anyway, this is my iArticle and both iview and iView shall be henceforth, on these pages, iNterchangeable.

An article over at ZDNet says that an Android version is also in the works at the ABC, with Android's fragmentation the main issue to be dealt with, while ZDNet also remind us all that iView streaming to an iPad is not 'unmetered', although discussions between the ABC and ISPs is underway.

It's also worth noting that the iview app only streams those 'catch-up' TV episodes via Wi-Fi, at least for now, but if you do want to watch ABC News 24 via the iview app, you can do it over Wi-Fi or 3G.

iPad owners still yet to upgrade to iOS 4.2.1 will also be pleased to know that iOS 3.2 is the minimum iPad OS requirement, and given that ever iPad owner will either have iOS 3.2 or higher, no iPad owners will be left behind.

Even though you probably haven't been living under a rock and have most likely given iview a go on your computer, what does the ABC promise for its iview iPad app?

Well, you'll be unsurprised to discover that it will 'give users access to more than 160 programs in December, from ABC1, ABC2, ABC3 and ABC for KIDS, live streaming of ABC News 24 and iview exclusives.'

There are also some special features for the iview app.

Broaden your view on iPage two, please read on!