After taking an eternity to come around it seems, we’ll finally be able to enjoy the Olympics in July and thanks to a new deal struck by the BBC and Sony, you’ll be able to watch hours of footage from all the different events from the comfort of your PS3 console.

As detailed on the official PS Blog, the deal doesn’t just cover the Olympics either. It turns out that you’ll be able to watch Forumla One as well as Wimbledon on your PS3 as well. The footage will be available in the form of the BBC Sports App and it’s going to be a free download this Summer.

There’s no mention of Euro 2012 in the statement though, so we’re guessing you won’t be able to watch live football matches direct from the app sadly. There also doesn’t appear to be any confirmation that the BBC will be providing live footage either. 2500 hours of London Olympics footage is some of the official wording, so it may just end up being a highlights package, which is still pretty decent for free.

We imagine this is exclusive to UK PS3 users for licensing reasons, but you can bet that US PS3 users and other consumers migrating would love to be able to view this as well. Hopefully the BBC will release more details on the Sports App soon, but it looks very promising. Let us know your thoughts on this, and if you would be willing to watch the Olympics and Wimbledon direct from your PS3.

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To begin with the app was only available on Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices before it eventually rolled out across Android smartphones, which is reported to have been downloaded on the Google platform devices over 3 million times since. As of today however it will be made available to Android tablets also, the owners of which can now take advantage of the app’s service.

Unfortunately there are some limitations which are the app only works on tablets that have a display of 7.1” or more and are running Android Honeycomb, meaning those running older versions like Gingerbread will still miss out. For those that are able to use it and are interested in doing so, the app has been optimized for the larger screens, as you may have guessed and is easily customizable, allowing users to access to several on-demand videos as well as offering the option to specify the content that they are interested in separating it from the rest.

The BBC has also announced they are working on an international version of the app meaning our friends over in the US will soon be able to catch up with the news of the world via the BBC also. At the end of last year the BBC began rolling out their BBC iPlayer app across Android smartphones and the iPhone, which had previously only been available on the iPad. Will you be using the BBC News app on your Android tablet?

More About: Android, BBC, BBC News

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The online movie service from Netflix has inked a deal with BBC Worldwide, which according to The Guardian will see popular shows such as Doctor Who, Little Britain, and Top Gear being shown. This new agreement will also see Netflix streaming other big shows such as Torchwood, Fawlty Towers, and Miss Marple.

Subscribers to the service will have access to content from six months after they were first broadcast on the TV. This agreement comes after similar deals were struck with the likes of Miramax, as the US based Netflix looks to launch in the UK and Ireland during the early part of 2012.

Ted Sarandos of Netflix said in a statement that over twenty million subscribers of the service already enjoy content from the BBC, and added “We are incredibly proud to make these high-quality programmes available to Netflix members in the UK and Ireland”.

There were no financial details of the deal revealed by either company, and BBC Worldwide has similar agreements from a variety of other service providers. These include the likes of BlinkBox, BT Vision, and Virgin Media.

Meanwhile Steve Macallister from BBC Worldwide said “UK audiences have really grasped the experience that online viewing can bring, and our programming has proven to be particularly popular with this digital audience”. Netflix will be going head to head with Lovefilm in the UK, which is owned by Amazon but doesn’t have a deal with BBC Worldwide.

Will you be signing up to Netflix when it launches?

More About: BBC, Netflix

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According to an article over at TechRadar the BBC Trust has relaxed rules where its content can only be shown on demand via its iPlayer. This could well mean that all or some of the BBC’s back catalogue finally getting onto the Sky TV subscription service. Before now Sky have refused to replicate the BBC’s iPlayer onto its catch up service Sky Go.

We may even see BBC content finding its way to other services such as Netflix and LoveFilm as well. in the UK Virgin Media have been offering the iPlayer on its TiVo box, but Sky refused the service as they would have to take all the iPlayer content and display it in an iPlayer style setting. This was instead of it being able to decide what content from the BBC it actually wanted to show.

There are supposed to been talks between the BBC and Sky for a while now, and could have resulted in the BBC relaxing its rules. The new rule basically says that it’s in the interests of license fee payers being able to access BBC content from a variety of platforms and devices.

It continues by saying that iPlayer content should be clearly marked as BBC content, but there are times that special arrangements can be made to change this. If this does happen it will please many consumers who use Sky or Netflix.

Would you like to see the BBC iPlayer on Sky or Netflix?

More About: BBC, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Sky TV

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Anthony Rose the man behind the Zeebox has come up with a service that makes solitary viewing a thing of the past. Zeebox comes in the form of a free app for the iPad, which at first looks like a regular EPG, giving users the schedule for what’s on and what’s on next for different channels including Virgin Media, some premium Sky channels and the Freeview ones.

As TechRadar explains the Zeebox app is much more than just an EPG however. The most interesting feature, and the part of the service that is most significant, is the Facebook functions it has. By connecting the service to the user’s account their Facebook friends can not only see what they are watching but they can also see what their friends are watching and can invite them to watch with them as if they were in the room with them. You can also hide from them or instant message them too.

Those users that own a Smart TV can also take advantage of using the iPad with the app as a remote controller for their TV. The app also has Twitter features and compatibility. Head on over to TechRadar for more details on this revolutionary way of socializing and watching TV at the same time. What do you think of this service? Is it something you would consider using in the future?

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Around 54,000 of the devices, which are voiced by Jeremy Clarkson, had already been manufactured, but it appears that is to be the last of them according to PC Advisor, due to an infringement on the rules of a contract which prevents the shows presenters from endorsing any type of product related to motoring, including TomTom satellite navigation systems. In order to get around this embarrassing situation, any profits which are earned from the existing devices that have already been made will now be donated to Children in Need.

Plans that had been made to allow existing TomTom sat-nav owners to download Clarkson’s voice have also now been scrapped. For those Top Gear fans who will be left disappointed, here is some of the amusing sarcastic quotes which are programmed into the themed sat-nav devices that you will be missing out on: ‘Keep left – if you’re not sure which side left is you really shouldn’t be on the road’, ‘After 700 yards, assuming this car can make it that far’ and ‘you have reached your destination, with the aid of 32 satellites and me… well done.’

The BBC were all for the production of these devices until they realized the problem, which forced them to change their minds. Due to the thought that these devices would be very popular amongst fans in the run up to Christmas, they were being rushed out, which is why so many were able to be produced before production was halted. Clarkson is reported to have had no part in the charity deal set up and will not be making any profits from the remaining devices sold.

Are you disappointed not to get your hands on one of these devices? Were you one of the lucky ones who managed to purchase one of the 54,000 already existing?

More About: BBC, TomTom, top gear

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The redesigned iPlayer has been reported by Cnet to have similarities in design to Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS. It has the same reclining tiles featuring programmes that expand when selected which rotate like a carousel across the screen. You can also set favorite programmes, view history of previously searched programmes and the revamp also has an improved search system.

The reason for the retuning from the BBC is aimed at improving the performance of the iPlayer on larger screen TVs and will eventually be rolling out as a TV app and on internet connected TVs but will first be featured on the PS3. The broadcasters say it will be better for users of devices without a touchscreen or a mouse.

Meanwhile the BBC has been rolling out their BBC iPlayer for iPad app across the rest of Europe. Until recently the app was only available for UK residents but will soon be available to France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and Austria if it isn’t already.

While the UK residents are not charged for the service, European habitants will have to pay €49.99 annually or €6.99 per month. This is because those in the UK already cover the cost for the service in their annual TV licensing fee. Check out the article by Gary Johnson for more details about the iPlayer for iPad app.

What do you think of the new look BBC iPlayer for the PS3?

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During the next month owners of Android handsets can download the UK 3G Survey application, and play a part in the survey. Once the app has been downloaded it will measure street level coverage across the country. According to an article on the BBC, an iPhone application is not currently available because of the difficulty getting Apple devices to gather information in the background while other apps are working.

You are advised to read all the terms and conditions of the application before proceeding with the download. The application has been designed by network analysis firm Epitiro, and will hopefully provide consumers information where 3G services are available and from which carrier.

Ofcom say there is currently more than 12 million smartphones in use in the country, and using many of the devices features a good internet connection is vital. Many users can experience bad mobile coverage which can be down to the time of day or if they are indoors.

The average mobile download speed in the UK is 1.5Mbit/s, but in good signal areas this can rise to 2.1Mbit/s. Phone regulator Ofcom has put coverage as a priority, and estimates that the UK has 76% 3G coverage, and 91% 2G coverage based on land mass. The regulator is currently conducting its own survey of UK mobile coverage and expects to publish the results later this year.

Postcode based coverage checkers are available but their accuracy is often questioned, and O2′s chief technology officer Nigel Purdy agrees with their sometimes inaccurate results. O2 and other UK operators do their own tests which include drive-bys to best plan where new stations should be put.

Network operator 3 want the way customers are informed about coverage changed, and feels some operators exaggerate coverage. The company owns a high frequency 3G spectrum but is not ideal for getting the signal though buildings for when people are indoors.

While the likes of AT&T and Verizon roll out 4G services in the US, consumers have to wait to at least 2012 for similar services to start becoming available in the UK. As carriers try to expand their coverage which most customer’s want, when a new mobile mast is put up in residential areas it is often met with people living nearby protesting about its position.

The survey is only going to measure coverage and not download speeds, if you want to take part head over to the Android Market. How is the mobile coverage in your area? Will you take part in the survey?

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What-Hi-Fi Sound and Vision are reporting that the BBC normally broadcasts the content in 1080i, but when they have switched to 1080p some TVs have experienced sound dropouts. The problem was first highlighted on the sites forum pages from a user who said that they had problems on their Sony 2010 TV.

Another poster complained of the same issues on their Sony KDL-EX503, and the BBC itself has also received complaints. The broadcaster upgraded their software back in March and now there is an auto switching feature between 1080i and 1080p. It is this that’s been causing the problems and with some complaining of picture dropouts as well.

Sony has released a statement on its UK website stating the company is working on the problem, with more information promised in the next few days. The BBC is also involved with the work with the TV manufacturers.

Have you experienced any problems with your Freeview HD set?

More About: BBC, HD Freeview, Sony Bravia HDTV

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According to Tesla they supplied Top Gear with two Roadsters and both returned with a least 25% charge, if true this means that Top Gear pushing the Roadster back to the garage was staged.

The BBC released a statement showing their support for Top Gear on the matter, here is what they had to say “the BBC stands by the programme and will be vigorously defending this claim”.

Anyone who watches Top Gear knows that some of the events seen in the television series sometimes seem a bit staged an unbelievable, however doing this at the expense of a company’s flagship vehicle would not be fair, we do not know who we should believe about this matter, therefore we will have to see what the courts decide.

If you head over to Engadget you can watch a video showing the segment of TopGear which showed the Roadster being pushed back to the garage. We will keep a close eye on the matter and keep toy up-to-date as we find out more.

Do you think Top Gear are in the wrong?

More About: BBC, Tesla, Tesla Roadster

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