I'm in London and thinking of bringing an ipad back to Lausanne with me, but only if it will pick up the bbc iplayer with, perhaps, a vpn link.
My new Sky system isn't working because, apparently, the box I paid a fortune for is faulty and needs to be replaced.
This means it has to be sent back to the UK to be replaced under guarantee BUT I will have to pay the Geneva installer for picking it and and returning it, and I will obviously be without UK television for quite some time.
Any information anyone can give would be very much appreciated, as I am retired and money is rather tight, but I'm also arthritic and spend quite a bit of time watching television.
BBC iPlayer does not work outside the UK, in general. I live in Switzerland and iPlayer certainly doesn't work for me on my internet connected PC.
Your only hope would be to try accessing it via a UK based proxy server (some proxy servers are free usage), but going via a proxy server would probably be far too slow for streamed video.
So, sorry, I don't think you'll be able to watch it. On the bright side, the cable TV providers usually carry all of the BBC and ITV channels, so you shouldn't be short of programmes to watch.
I have the iPlayer app on my iPad and it is working just fine! The monthly subscription is 9 francs or yearly 65.- If you don't have substcription you can watch limited number of free shows. Never tried the option with the VPN though. Hope this info helps.
As far as I'm aware you'll need a VPN in the uk to use iPlayer. The latest version of the iOS offers all the standard VPN protocols so hooking into one shouldn't be a problem. As for which one I'll have to leave that to the others to answer.
If you'll be happy with standard broadcast UK TV then perhaps Zattoo would suit your needs. It's now a free app from the itunes app store, but supported by ads unless you stump up for a subscription. I've not used on my iPad yet, but I use it all the time on my Mac. Sunday morning isn't a Sunday morning without Andrew Marr.
Would it not be just as well to pick one up when you get back here. I don't think the price difference is that big, and the last time I checked Apple stuff was actually slightly cheaper here. Not to mention you'll get the iPad with the correct wall plug.
Language won't be a problem as the iPad supports quite a number anyway. English is obviously included. That way you can avoid all the squirming in the Regent Street apple store.
It's just that I would like to reclaim the vat, but I heard that someone had to queue for over 2 hours at the Heathrow vat bureau, and no way would I be prepared to do that. I may be hard-up, but I'm not desperate.
You can watch all UK channels on FilmOn Live website or at Zattoo or teleboy.
FilmOn website has all the channels and works very well on ipad and on computer. If you have laptop with hdmi port just connect it to your television and you can watch all the channels you want on your television thru FilmOn website.
Out of interest, does anyone regularly watch telly on a Tablet - my wife has an iPad but she rarely watches video on it as she is (what I guess) is a typical sofa surfer and finds it uncomfortable to hold the Tablet in one position for too long. Of course the solution is to put it down on the table in a case of some sort, but then would you rather not watch on a laptop?
I use VPN UK and it is certainly fast enough to watch live streamed BBC programs. I just tested it again as I tend not to watch it live on my iPad and I had no problems. It is about 45 seconds delayed from what I see on my DSL TV connection and has no stutter or jumps. I used to watch Sky Go live up until a few months ago but no longer have access. That was great quality too.
With VPN UK I have both UK and US proxies. I use the US one to access NetFlix for movies and some US TV shows. I have both set up on my iPad so I just need to select which VPN server I need before launching the app. With NetFlix the quality auto adjusts so sometimes you notice a lower quality of video, but usually just for a few seconds. I think this is acceptable, instead of the video pausing while it buffers.
@Homer I wouldn't say I'm a regular iPad TV watcher but I do watch some programs, typically while on the balcony or in bed if I can't sleep. I don't watch movies on the iPad as i prefer to hook up my laptop to the TV for that, but I do watch sitcoms and dramas on it. For me it's lighter and cooler than my laptop and I haven't really had a problem getting comfortable. In the balcony I just need to stay in the shade.
Apple stores are not the only place to buy iPads you know, and if you've got a problem with your iPhone you could probably ask for advice here. There are a lot of people here that are way more knowledgeable than the goons poorly trained individuals apple calls geniuses.
Apple stores are hateful places. I was in the one in Zürich this morning, just trying to get just a simple accessory. After the 20 minute wait to pay the guy wanted to know my email address before he'd put the transaction through. This led to another couple of minutes of me explaining to him that on no account would I give him my email address for something that costs 30 chuffs.
I was wondering whether I dared to ask you yet another question so, here goes!
It seems that, assuming I buy an ipad, the bbc iplayer will apparently work on it, but only if I use a vpn from an itunes account linked to a credit card from a UK address.
My credit card, my itunes account and my UK bank card are all linked to my Swiss address, because that's where the money is (what little I have left of it)
The Apple 'genius' tells me there's no way round this, and they even rang me in London to confirm it.
The VPN has nothing to do with iTunes. You sign up for the service independently, and you have a choice of providers. I think you can pay for most with a Swiss credit card, or a Swiss address.
Your iTunes account is a different situation. My UK iTunes account uses a credit card which now has a Swiss address. I haven't had any problems buying apps and music, presumably because when I set it up the card had a UK address. However, if buying an item from the iTunes online store to be shipped to Switzerland I think you have to have a Swiss iTunes account. I had to set one up to order my iPad. I'm not sure if I understand the issue correctly, but is it that you were trying to buy an iPad in the UK with a Swiss card and Swiss iTunes account?
Ok, that makes me think that Zattoo may be a better solution for you. Just launch, pick the channel you want (all uk terrestrial channels are there, sit through the ad and then watch). You can also record what you want to watch which will be held for 30 days on a free account and 90 days on a paid account. With a paid account you can also have 90 days of recording, without the ads, and you can get the video in HD.
No messing with VPNs, no fuss, just start the program and go.
Of course if there are specific things that iPlayer does that Zattoo doesn't and you want them, then it's VPN I'm afraid.
Ok, I've just started Zattoo on my iPad, logged in and it seems to work brilliantly.
Edit: the reason that Apple London told you it was impossible is that the person you spoke to is either doesn't know it's possible, or has to take the company line and tell you it's impossible.