Using iPad to watch on demand TV

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neilinnz

165 posts

Master Geek

#75897 25-Jan-2011 16:39

It's a little frustrating that none of the on-demand TV works on the iPad (or iPhone/iPod Touch). We have a desktop PC in the office and single tv in the lounge with MySky HDi. If we forget to record something or want to watch something away from the TV our only option is the on demand stuff in the office - which we basically don't do.
I've been trying to come up with some solution so we can catch the odd program on the iPad but there doesn't seem to be any decent answer. MySky won't allow us to watch it's content anywhere but the TV it's connected to and iSky will only allow us to catch up on a desktop or laptop computer, likewise for TVNZ and TV3.

Today I stumbled upon Splashtop for the iPad which is a remote controlling app allowing you to view and control your PC/Mac from your iPad. What's different about this is that it manages to stream both audio from the PC/Mac and also flash video. I was skeptical to say the least having used VNC/Logmein before but this really does manage it.
The quality is about 90% of what's on the computer and the frame rate is only a couple of frames less too but it's more than watchable and the audio syncs perfectly.
There's a free version of the app too so you can try it for nothing, it limits you to 5 minutes.

So anyone out there with an iPad (or iPhone) who wants to use the online on demand stuff from TVNZ, 3 and Sky on their local network should take a look at it.

p.s. I am in no way connected to this product I am just putting this out there for any other frustrated iPad users.
p.p.s. it does mean your computer cannot be used for anything while it's being controlled though.
p.p.p.s TVNZ, TV3, Sky need to sort out some native apps too for ondemand, for iOs, Android, the lot.

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#431093 25-Jan-2011 16:48

neilinnz: It's a little frustrating that none of the on-demand TV works on the iPad (or iPhone/iPod Touch). We have a desktop PC in the office and single tv in the lounge with MySky HDi. If we forget to record something or want to watch something away from the TV our only option is the on demand stuff in the office - which we basically don't do.
I've been trying to come up with some solution so we can catch the odd program on the iPad but there doesn't seem to be any decent answer. MySky won't allow us to watch it's content anywhere but the TV it's connected to and iSky will only allow us to catch up on a desktop or laptop computer, likewise for TVNZ and TV3.

Today I stumbled upon Splashtop for the iPad which is a remote controlling app allowing you to view and control your PC/Mac from your iPad. What's different about this is that it manages to stream both audio from the PC/Mac and also flash video. I was skeptical to say the least having used VNC/Logmein before but this really does manage it.
The quality is about 90% of what's on the computer and the frame rate is only a couple of frames less too but it's more than watchable and the audio syncs perfectly.
There's a free version of the app too so you can try it for nothing, it limits you to 5 minutes.

So anyone out there with an iPad (or iPhone) who wants to use the online on demand stuff from TVNZ, 3 and Sky on their local network should take a look at it.

p.s. I am in no way connected to this product I am just putting this out there for any other frustrated iPad users.
p.p.s. it does mean your computer cannot be used for anything while it's being controlled though.

p.p.p.s TVNZ, TV3, Sky need to sort out some native apps too for ondemand, for iOs, Android, the lot.

Contact apple. They are the ones who don't allow flash on it. You should have also been aware before purhcasing that apple ipad/iphone/itouch don't support flash which is what most tv on demand systems use.

neilinnz

165 posts

Master Geek

#431099 25-Jan-2011 16:59

Why would I want to contact Apple?
I bought an iPad knowing full well it doesn't support flash and these sites. I am mearly passing on a little bit of information for those people who might find it of interest or of any use.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#431113 25-Jan-2011 17:44

neilinnz: Why would I want to contact Apple?

Because they're the ones who refuse to allow Flash content.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#431116 25-Jan-2011 17:56

neilinnz: Why would I want to contact Apple?

I bought an iPad knowing full well it doesn't support flash and these sites. I am mearly passing on a little bit of information for those people who might find it of interest or of any use.

Only Apple can fix this. One work around for freeview stuff, is get a tivo with homenetworking. You can then copy recorded programs off it, and convert it to an ipad video format. That is what I do.

neilinnz

165 posts

Master Geek

#431120 25-Jan-2011 18:19

sbiddle:
neilinnz: Why would I want to contact Apple?

Because they're the ones who refuse to allow Flash content.

I am giving information out, I'm not complaining.
I don't want flash on my iPad, I bought it knowing it does not run flash, had I wanted a touch screen keyboard less easy mobile consumption device with 10 hours battery that ran flash I would have waited until 2015.

Flash is just a container surrounding the video, it can be wrapped in anything. I was simply suggesting that these ondemand services could be available for the most popular mobile consumption devices rather than PCs. Some people don't want to lug laptops round to catch up on tv when they have a mobile device better suited for the task of passive media consumption. We know there are x times the number of PCs with flash installed on them than iPhones, iPads and iPod touches but in reality I have two PCs with flash and I never sit at a desk and catch up on last nights Campbell Live but I would if I could sit in an easy chair with an iPad. I can do this now with this little app which is what my post is about.

This isn't a pro-Apple post, they just happen to make the device I was talking about and this was posted in an iOS forum where I presume other iOS users look.

neilinnz

165 posts

Master Geek

#431121 25-Jan-2011 18:21

mattwnz:
neilinnz: Why would I want to contact Apple?

I bought an iPad knowing full well it doesn't support flash and these sites. I am mearly passing on a little bit of information for those people who might find it of interest or of any use.

?

Only Apple can fix this. One work around for freeview stuff, is get a tivo with homenetworking. You can then copy recorded programs off it, and convert it to an ipad video format. That is what I do.

Thanks for the suggestion but we only get Freeview via satellite here. That's an option if they release a satellite version though.

Mizon

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#431215 25-Jan-2011 22:20

neilinnz:
p.p.p.s TVNZ, TV3, Sky need to sort out some native apps too for ondemand, for iOs, Android, the lot.

The TVNZ and TV3 apps do have some (very limited) ondemand content, generally some news stories, articles from close up/campbell live.

Why they don't have everything they have on their websites is beyond me though. I can't see any real technical reason for it, if they can do some shows why not all?

As for sky, they're still working out isky for pcs, and people have been asking for an ios version of remote record since it came out (sky uk has this). Sky NZ just don't seem interested in supporting mobile devices.

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mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#431498 26-Jan-2011 17:10

Mizon:
neilinnz:
p.p.p.s TVNZ, TV3, Sky need to sort out some native apps too for ondemand, for iOs, Android, the lot.

The TVNZ and TV3 apps do have some (very limited) ondemand content, generally some news stories, articles from close up/campbell live.

Why they don't have everything they have on their websites is beyond me though. I can't see any real technical reason for it, if they can do some shows why not all?

As for sky, they're still working out isky for pcs, and people have been asking for an ios version of remote record since it came out (sky uk has this). Sky NZ just don't seem interested in supporting mobile devices.

You can also download them as podcasts from the itunes store on the ipad. I suspect it is licensing and advertising behind the reason for ondemand programs not being on it. There is alot of advertsing on the ondemand website and commercials too these days.

samdouglas

203 posts

Master Geek

#437801 10-Feb-2011 15:45

if its jailbroken just install XBMC, it will play all the tvnz and tv3 ondemand stuff perfectly - just go to video - video addons, browse and choose tvnz and tv3 on demand. done.