Having found the URL for stations, can someone with an internet radio (I have no hardware internet radios) try and see if the HLS URl will work in their radio?
It does on the pure radio's like the One Flow which received the software version 3.5 update. As the pure website says some older radios could not be up dated.
Does anyone know the URLs of the HLS wrapped AAC streams the BBC is now using?
I am happy to try them on my PURE one flow.
I have to say I think the BBC have made a big mistake here. They should release the normal unwrapped AAC+ streams . Also why do so many of the BBC local MP3 streams only have mono audio???
Having found the URL for stations, can someone with an internet radio (I have no hardware internet radios) try and see if the HLS URl will work in their radio?
Having found the URL for stations, can someone with an internet radio (I have no hardware internet radios) try and see if the HLS URl will work in their radio?
Having found the URL for stations, can someone with an internet radio (I have no hardware internet radios) try and see if the HLS URl will work in their radio?
I have just tried it on a Roberts 93i Stream
First as an mp3 stream and then as a WMA Stream
Both give an error of "Cannot open selected media"
The only other option on Frontier Silicon is Realaudio
The failure to work on Sonos (and Squeezebox) is an issue. But for myself I'll make do with the MP3 feeds and when they cease I'll just make do with the feed from my iPad or PC. However as both those require extra effort it will just mean that BBC radio drops off my listening radar.
So be it. I did buy a DAB radio some years ago but the reception was totally crap. The radio still works and my daughter has it. Squeezebox and latterly Sonos gave me better access to radio with whole house coverage, but if the BBC wants to exclude me as a regular listener so be it.
I will however be amongst the group that opposes the TV license.
...if the BBC wants to exclude me as a regular listener so be it. I will however be amongst the group that opposes the TV license.
The Audio Factory move has little to do with improving listener experience, and much more to do with placing access to the radio streams behind a portal, where the users can be identified. The Beeb, via the talking head in the blog linked earlier in the thread, have even said that this is the reason for obscuring the non-MP3 URIs.
I'm guessing ahead that portal => registration => (eventually) subscription, maybe not directly to the Beeb, more likely to intermediaries and stream aggregator apps on smartphones and tablets, as mentioned above. With this guff, we've seen the first move of the Beeb's free-at-the-point-of-delivery radio services towards that PoD being defined as DAB and FM only, with anything else i.e. Internet access, being a paid-for extra.*
If this is in fact the case, it would be an amusing volte face, given how quickly the Beeb moved to refashion ITV Digital into Freeview, building up a huge base of decoder boxes without Conditional Access Modules before any Government could get around to making the Beeb subscription, rather than licence-fee funded.
*from my own PoV this may not be a bad thing, depending on the granularity of the subscription. I'd love to be able to access footy commentary outside the UK, which is not possible at the moment "...due to rights restrictions..."
Still no comment regarding access for the blind and visually impaired?!!!
This afternoon, the Webbie app that my husband uses to access on demand radio has also ceased working. Whilst not intentionally discriminatory, this has had the effect of disenfranchising those who rely on simple interfaces to access both live radio and on demand radio. There are many, such as my husband, who are unable to navigate the BBC radio pages to find the correct programs and actually start them playing. He is totally blind, with no residual vision, and has to rely entirely on hearing to navigate a cluttered page, always assuming his screen reader is actually able to read all the elements on it. This is almost impossible for many blind people, especially the older generation who are struggling to get to grips with the rapid changes in technology. Loss of sight amongst the elderly is increasing, and easy radio access will become an ongoing issue unless it is taken into account now.
This is very shabby treatment from a state/public funded broadcaster.
I have sent an email to the BBC outlining my thoughts on this whole fiasco, but we'll have to see if I get any response.
The Audio Factory move has little to do with improving listener experience, and much more to do with placing access to the radio streams behind a portal, where the users can be identified. The Beeb, via the talking head in the blog linked earlier in the thread, have even said that this is the reason for obscuring the non-MP3 URIs.
[..]
While you may be onto something with a potential move to a more enhanced platform to manage access rights, at least another factor will have been a technical one.
HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) has a number of technical benefits for both broadcaster and recipient:
1) It is much more robust than old streaming technologies and can dynamically scale bitrate up and down dependent on available bandwith. Especially useful for reception on the move where bandwidth can constantly vary greatly.
2) It scales a lot better. You can spread your content across many locations using large Content Delivery Networks and people will receive their stream from the closest location instead of one server. This is very useful if you expect an audience across the world or in the many tens of thousands.
3) It can travel through firewalls and routers much better as it uses basic HTTP as transport mechanism. Especially with the exhaustion of IPv4 and the slow take-up of IPv6 in the UK, the reliability of people's internet connections will get worse over the next few years due to double (or triple!?) NAT patchwork and other duct tape solutions.
...HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) has a number of technical benefits for both broadcaster and recipient:...
All noted, I look forward to being amazed as, no doubt, do the other nay-sayers on this thread. Your man in the blog did have a point about the aacPlus streams being single server and therefore SPoF, but I never had any problems any time I tuned in.
As stated above, I don't mind a subscription; I don't pay a telly licence fee as a point of principle due to the liberal left crap that the Beeb pump out as acceptable programming, which leaves me feeling guilty not paying for a radio service that is without even close comparison anywhere in the world (and I've been around it all with work).
Apart from the 'Steptoe & Son' comparisons that a radio-only licence would attract, I can't see any technological impediment to it. Say the paper/online TV licence sports some password or other to allow access to the portals, while Luddites like me have to tap a credit card into a third-party portal, all well and good if that then unlocks the football and other sports. I know others on this thread would have a real problem with that, out of principle.
These are the links for the high quality (over 320kbps) some clever chap posted on the logitech forums. They work in vlc but take a lot of processor. I am trying to find a less heavy solution but I am sure these will be useful to some. They also work fine on an iPad. Just click the link. May be good for Airplay as well.
I tried a few of those (2, 4, 4 Extra and 6 Music) and they seem to play fine in Android using XiaaLive, and don't seem to consume any more resources than a 128k mp3 stream. Only listened for a few minutes, but the streams seemed solid.
I tried a few of those (2, 4, 4 Extra and 6 Music) and they seem to play fine in Android using XiaaLive, and don't seem to consume any more resources than a 128k mp3 stream. Only listened for a few minutes, but the streams seemed solid.
Ah, I wasn't aware XiiaLive (watch your spelIing, Alan!!) already had support for HLS.
What this means is that I can Audiocast it losslessly from my phone using BubbleUPnP to my Smart TV, which is connected to my home cimema system!
These are the links for the high quality (over 320kbps) some clever chap posted on the logitech forums. They work in vlc but take a lot of processor. I am trying to find a less heavy solution but I am sure these will be useful to some. They also work fine on an iPad. Just click the link. May be good for Airplay as well.
Works well on my Android tablet with XiiaLive. Just tried them in my Roberts Steam 83i and no joy.
I would be eternally grateful to anyone who can get a link that works on my Roberts for 5 Live Sports Extra. I've got the mp3 stream working, but because it's the international stream the Cricket is being blocked.
Talk about weird logic. The BBC offer a stream that can't air sport because of rights issues, on a station that only does sports commentary.
Are the BBC going to offer UK versions of the mp3 streams does anyone know?
I have them all working fine on VLC Inkblot. Now if only they would play on everyone's internet radio...
Someone else posted this on the BBC Audio Factory blog but it sums up quite nicely how this 'switchover' was handled I think, and it made me laugh:
"But Mr Dent, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months."
"Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them, had you? I mean, like actually telling anybody or anything."
"But the plans were on display ..."
"On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them."
"That's the display department."
"With a flashlight."
"Ah, well the lights had probably gone."
"So had the stairs."
"But look, you found the notice didn't you?"
"Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'."
I have created a nice little playlist file for these streams in VLC Player and added the station logos. Sorry BBC, know you want me to use HDS on my desktop but this way I know the stream that I am using and i'm not having to use Flash.
What's the betting they go and change the URLs now that they are known?
'All devices running iOS 3.0 and later include built-in client software for HTTP Live Streaming. The Safari browser can play HTTP streams within a webpage on iPad and desktop computers, and Safari launches a full-screen media player for HTTP streams on iOS devices with small screens, such as iPhone and iPod touch. Apple TV 2 and later includes an HTTP Live Streaming client.'
Comments
It does on the pure radio's like the One Flow which received the software version 3.5 update. As the pure website says some older radios could not be up dated.
Does anyone know the URLs of the HLS wrapped AAC streams the BBC is now using?
I am happy to try them on my PURE one flow.
I have to say I think the BBC have made a big mistake here. They should release the normal unwrapped AAC+ streams . Also why do so many of the BBC local MP3 streams only have mono audio???
No go on my Avox Indio Color (Reciva-based, latest firmware).
Unsurprisingly the impertinent people at Frontier appear to have ignored the BBCs communique from 12 months ago. How dare they!
I have just tried it on a Roberts 93i Stream
First as an mp3 stream and then as a WMA Stream
Both give an error of "Cannot open selected media"
The only other option on Frontier Silicon is Realaudio
So be it. I did buy a DAB radio some years ago but the reception was totally crap. The radio still works and my daughter has it. Squeezebox and latterly Sonos gave me better access to radio with whole house coverage, but if the BBC wants to exclude me as a regular listener so be it.
I will however be amongst the group that opposes the TV license.
I'm guessing ahead that portal => registration => (eventually) subscription, maybe not directly to the Beeb, more likely to intermediaries and stream aggregator apps on smartphones and tablets, as mentioned above. With this guff, we've seen the first move of the Beeb's free-at-the-point-of-delivery radio services towards that PoD being defined as DAB and FM only, with anything else i.e. Internet access, being a paid-for extra.*
If this is in fact the case, it would be an amusing volte face, given how quickly the Beeb moved to refashion ITV Digital into Freeview, building up a huge base of decoder boxes without Conditional Access Modules before any Government could get around to making the Beeb subscription, rather than licence-fee funded.
*from my own PoV this may not be a bad thing, depending on the granularity of the subscription. I'd love to be able to access footy commentary outside the UK, which is not possible at the moment "...due to rights restrictions..."
I have sent an email to the BBC outlining my thoughts on this whole fiasco, but we'll have to see if I get any response.
So what happened? I listened to Feedback and nothing mentioned about it at all.
HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) has a number of technical benefits for both broadcaster and recipient:
1) It is much more robust than old streaming technologies and can dynamically scale bitrate up and down dependent on available bandwith. Especially useful for reception on the move where bandwidth can constantly vary greatly.
2) It scales a lot better. You can spread your content across many locations using large Content Delivery Networks and people will receive their stream from the closest location instead of one server. This is very useful if you expect an audience across the world or in the many tens of thousands.
3) It can travel through firewalls and routers much better as it uses basic HTTP as transport mechanism. Especially with the exhaustion of IPv4 and the slow take-up of IPv6 in the UK, the reliability of people's internet connections will get worse over the next few years due to double (or triple!?) NAT patchwork and other duct tape solutions.
As stated above, I don't mind a subscription; I don't pay a telly licence fee as a point of principle due to the liberal left crap that the Beeb pump out as acceptable programming, which leaves me feeling guilty not paying for a radio service that is without even close comparison anywhere in the world (and I've been around it all with work).
Apart from the 'Steptoe & Son' comparisons that a radio-only licence would attract, I can't see any technological impediment to it. Say the paper/online TV licence sports some password or other to allow access to the portals, while Luddites like me have to tap a credit card into a third-party portal, all well and good if that then unlocks the football and other sports. I know others on this thread would have a real problem with that, out of principle.
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_two.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_three.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_fourfm.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_four_extra.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_five_live.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_five_live_sports_extra.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_6music.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_fourlw.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_asian_network.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_1xtra.m3u8
I'd almost reversed engineered the links from iplayer and could play Radio 2 in VLC at 320kbps.
Your link plays in mplayer as well (which is what I wanted). I was missing having the stream in an m3u8 playlist.
Ah, I wasn't aware XiiaLive (watch your spelIing, Alan!!) already had support for HLS.
What this means is that I can Audiocast it losslessly from my phone using BubbleUPnP to my Smart TV, which is connected to my home cimema system!
Works well on my Android tablet with XiiaLive. Just tried them in my Roberts Steam 83i and no joy.
I would be eternally grateful to anyone who can get a link that works on my Roberts for 5 Live Sports Extra. I've got the mp3 stream working, but because it's the international stream the Cricket is being blocked.
Talk about weird logic. The BBC offer a stream that can't air sport because of rights issues, on a station that only does sports commentary.
Are the BBC going to offer UK versions of the mp3 streams does anyone know?
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_one.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_1xtra.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_two.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_three.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_fourfm.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_fourlw.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_four_extra.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_five_live.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_five_live_sports_extra.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_6music.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_asian_network.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_scotland_fm.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_scotland_mw.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_nan_gaidheal.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_ulster.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_foyle.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_wales_fm.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_cymru.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_berkshire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_bristol.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_cambridge.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_cornwall.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_coventry_warwickshire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_cumbria.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_derby.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_devon.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_essex.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_gloucestershire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_guernsey.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_hereford_worcester.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_humberside.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_jersey.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_kent.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_lancashire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_leeds.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_leicester.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_lincolnshire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_london.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_manchester.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_merseyside.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_newcastle.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_norfolk.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_northampton.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_nottingham.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_oxford.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_sheffield.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_shropshire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_solent.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_somerset_sound.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_stoke.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_suffolk.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_surrey.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_sussex.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_tees.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_three_counties_radio.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_wiltshire.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_wm.m3u8
http://a.files.bbci.co.uk/media/live/manifesto/audio/simulcast/hls/uk/sbr_high/ak/bbc_radio_york.m3u8
AFAIK the only radio that will play these streams natively is the Pure One Flow but there may be more out there.
Is there a way to get iTunes to play them?
edit: though simply clicking on the links in Safari opens a new page with a player which plays the streams!
Someone else posted this on the BBC Audio Factory blog but it sums up quite nicely how this 'switchover' was handled I think, and it made me laugh:
"But Mr Dent, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months."
"Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them, had you? I mean, like actually telling anybody or anything."
"But the plans were on display ..."
"On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them."
"That's the display department."
"With a flashlight."
"Ah, well the lights had probably gone."
"So had the stairs."
"But look, you found the notice didn't you?"
"Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'."
What's the betting they go and change the URLs now that they are known?
I don't think iTunes is designed to play these streams. They play natively in Safari as you have found:
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/StreamingMediaGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html
'All devices running iOS 3.0 and later include built-in client software for HTTP Live Streaming. The Safari browser can play HTTP streams within a webpage on iPad and desktop computers, and Safari launches a full-screen media player for HTTP streams on iOS devices with small screens, such as iPhone and iPod touch. Apple TV 2 and later includes an HTTP Live Streaming client.'