Desktop BBC iPlayer: Flash Player upgrade

Will this affect the many people who use an iPad which doesnt use Flash Player?

Any update on when we can expect the Android iPlayer app to be updated to support Jelly Bean and Nexus 7?

I have to say I am disappointed you are still clinging to Flash, which I will not install on my iMac for various reasons including security issues. I note that you are having to develop a new way to deliver to Android after Adobe pulled its player from the platform. The writing is on the wall and I eagerly await the day you switch to a unified HTML5 player that works across all platforms.

Still hoping for WebM streaming to all my devices, any updates BBC?

Completely agree with Ian Gregory

Can I, with respect, suggest an alternative link for Flash Player upgrade:

https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html

It checks what version you have installed before suggesting an update and also points to help if you have problems.

Just a suggestion...

When are you going to support Android device owners and open up your HTML5 streams to us like you already do with Apple users? Can you please stop keeping us in the dark?

Considering that Android devices are out selling any other, there is something fundamentally wrong with the how the BBC is spending licence payers money.

When can we expect the Android iPlayer app to be updated to support Android Jelly Bean. The Nexus 7 is selling out all over the place and is getting rave reviews all over the press. this is only adding to the conclusion that as others have said Android devices are out selling any other OS.

It seems, that the BBC along with SKY are giving iOS devices preferential support with no justification.

Please BBC get your act together. We expect you to lead the way with support for the most common OS not the most expensive.

Can you give us a date when you expect to support Jelly Bean please stop keeping us in the dark!

Like others, dismayed that you seem to still be clinging to Flash when the growing market is mobile access and neither Apple nor Android support Flash. Surpirsed you release this statement about the importance of upgrading flash two days after Adobe pull it from Android, and yet you don't mention this once. I guess HTML5 resource is thin on the ground at the BBC? Sure, by all means keep your flash expertise employed and busy, but I suggest you start recruiting/skilling up and pointing in the right direction as you're falling behind.

Sounded a bit grumpy in the above post - It's only because we value the quality service of the iPlayer that we care so much to be reading and commenting on this post ;) Appreciate these updates. Would be keen to know if there's an HTML5 e.t.a. for Android?

My problem with iPlayer isn't Flash - but Adobe AIR - when I did update to the new version iPlayer wouldn't work.

Luckily on some forum Digital Spy? another user had found a site that hosted the earlier version of AIR that does work.

@ABP

If iOS is getting preferential treatment, it's probably because those users are using iPlayer/Sky services on their devices more than Android owners. Sales don't matter, actual usage does.

Not officially supporting older versions of flash is ok, but please don't put in place any artificial blocking where you check for a minimum version. There are many examples where users may not be able to upgrade flash for various reasons, so having unsupported access with some limitations is better than nothing.

Might I suggest that some attention now be given to actually serving the "For Portable Devices" versions of programmes from the provided link. The failure of the advertised might I say contracted smaller download to be delivered from the appropriate link is of many months standing.

The android app needs updating immediately. The delay is completely unwarranted as the death of mobile Flash has been known about for some time, and using it was always stupid anyway: Flash requires that the app be in the foreground with the screen on even when streaming radio programmes, resulting in many times more power consumption than necessary.

There were 3rd party apps around on android 2-3 years ago that did a better job by using the streams provided for the iPhone, before the Beeb had them all shut down to be replaced by their rubbish version.

It's a great pity the BBC have shown themselves to be behind the game by not developing support for the current versions of the Android operating system at a time when the market for tablets is expanding. To buy a new Tablet with Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and find I can use ITVPlayer but not BBC IPlayer is frustrating and also suggests the BBC has taken its eye off the ball.

@KAC

Thanks for the comment, you could be right!

I do not need to have an IOs device to view this service.

I have Windows desktop, laptops and tablets (Fujitsu Q550) that I can use, However the Nexus7 blows these out of the water for speed, portability and ease of use.

You can't count me as a non user of Android iPlayer if I cannot actually use my device for this purpose.

Ipad is too big (and expensive) for my needs, however if Apple ever get around to offering a 7" iPad Air at a reasonable price I will buy it...!

(BBC & Sky not working in co-hoots with Apple are they?)

I really don`t care whether you`re using Flash on not. All I want is for iPlayer to woek. It`s lost all my downloads some of which are about to expire & I am unable to download any programmes. So I can`t use iPlayer. iPlayer has over the years been crashing my laptop, this is something I`ve only just found out after I found reports deom Windws 7 hidden away. What passes for customer service is appaling too. Sort iPlayer out. I have the latest version for what it`s worth. I`ve uninstalled & installed it but it makes no difference. Does anyone know what they are doing with iPlayer?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

@19 - "Does anyone know what they are doing with iPlayer?" - Have you seen the 'latest' (nearly a month ago) help page about this issue:

https://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/announcements/desktop_issues_iplayer

Personally I found I needed to; delete everything iPlayer, re-boot, clean registry, re-install iPlayer desktop, shut it down and re-boot, restore the BBC registry folder from backup. Then when you start iPlayer it takes a while, but eventually retains all programmes that are still 'in date' and deletes the folders of the expired programmes.

It went less smoothly than described, but that was before the BBC had acknowledged the problem existed! It's been working since, with pre-existing bugs. I got the idea that the critical issues are deleting the iPlayer cache files and registry entries.

I am worried that the next mandatory upgrade to Flash required will remove iPlayer from Linux as Adobe are no longer supporting it for the platform. I hope the BBC has plans in place for the growing number of devices/operating systems that can't have a supported version of Flash.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

@13 KAC

If more people are using the iOS iPlayer more than the Android iPlayer then that is likely to be because it is actually usable while the Android version is a bug-ridden mess.

@22 Alex.

There are other ways of getting iPlayer content on Linux. Suggest you google "iPlayer on Linux"

My worry is that the BBC are going to turn to Adobe Air for delivering iPlayer to Android. That is what ITV Player uses.

If you have ever tried the Android ITV Player you will know why this worries me. It is a truly shocking piece of software, even worse than the current Android iPlayer (and that's saying something).

@27 Dave Price

Regarding content protection

The problem with the current Android iPlayer client is that its reliance on Flash for "content protection" resulted in a very poor user experience for many people.

If anything is going to drive people to turn to "pirates" its making the "legal" option a very poor experience.

IMHO, you would probably find less people turning to dodgy sources of BBC programmes if you provided them with a decent experience with unprotected media.

In other words, the BBC's misguided attempts to protect their content is probably having exactly the opposite effect. Its actually creating a market for the pirates.

"the BBC's misguided attempts to protect their content is probably having exactly the opposite effect. Its actually creating a market for the pirates."

This is absolutely correct. It's additionally worth noting where the 'pirate' versions of BBC programmes actually come from, generally they're grabbed from air, not from the iPlayer. There is no point even trying to protect the iPlayer (particularly the mobile iPlayer) copies at all, by the time they're generated, the horse has long since bolted, and in full HD.

I have upgraded my flash player to activex version 11.4.402 265 but my iplayer still
keeps asking me to download flash player

@21 squirrel
Thanks for replying. I had seen the `latest issues`. That applied to the previous version of iPlayer. The latest version was meant to fix that. I never had the problem on 3.2.14 but this happened on 18/8/2012 on 3.2.15.. What you were forced to do sounds very complicated. I`ve contacted `customer help` but they don`t know what is wrong this time. It`s been passed to their technical or development team but I have no idea how long they`re going to take.At least they might be taking seriously as it`s happened before. It`s so annoying when they don`t take the probllem seriously. Thanks again. I was told that last time those affected had to delete files, that was the reason they brought out the so-called improved version. I`ll report back when.if they come up with something.

"For those using Flash Player 10.1 and below, the upgrade is really simple."
NO, on my Mac it's impossible. Flash 10.2 and higher is NOT AVAILABLE for Macs with a PowerPC chip (as opposed to an intel chip), even with OS 10.4.
Will you provide an alternative version of programmes that will still work on PowerPC Macs?

As an annoyed Nexus7 user, may I add my voice to the clamour asking Dave Price "How soon is soon?".

May I also suggest that based on Dave's arguments above, the BBC is being a little precious about its rights management? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that no rights management mechanism need apply for UK users, because the BBC has a statutory role and revenue stream - so I see no reason to delay providing an Android HTML5 player which can access BBC content without restriction, as long as the Android device's IP address is in the UK.

I've just tried to download the adobe Flash software it does not work, and will not accept my prompts. Further, the Adobe Flash 'Help' page is inexplicable to me and inaccessible. I've read the comments below, and although I do not understand the technical terms referenced, I agree with the underlying tone and message regarding the lack of accessibility and therefore exclusion from BBC i-Player due to this so-called 'upgrade'. So much for Public Service Broadcasting & Inclusion. Kindly rectify the options available asap so that all users will, at least, have a compatible software choice about running BBC i-Player.

PS I've also got a Power Mac 10.4.11 as Barry Press wrote & it's not working. Shame..

oh, HELP ! i have an old Mac i Book G4 10.5.8 power pc (i love it .) it doesnt want to know about flashy player updates it wants the world to continue as it was !!!
Me howerver although not very high-tech need radio 4 on internet in deepest darkest perigord (france,) please ,please can someone help ?

Some of these recent comments from power pc mac users are exactly what I feared may result from this kind of enforced minimum version change. I appreciate there may be some issues caused by older versions but losing access completely is a far bigger issue.

It would be ok to put a big notice on the page explaining you are using a unsupported version of flash and that there may be some issues, as long as you still let users who can't do anything about it bypass the warning.

Get in from work today and can't access bbc online as have power pc mac. thanks a lot....

Same here. Power PC Mac user. So, is the BBC's approach is 'we don't care, buy a new computer?' It seems inconceivable that a decision like this would have been made in the world of traditional broadcasting.
The quote, above - "Unfortunately, we've found decisions not to fully deprecate legacy versions of software (not just Flash Player) can lead to greater confusion months down the line and significantly increase contacts to BBC Audience Services team." - adds insult to injury, as the BBC's solution leaves a lot of people not able to access the service at all. Still that's got to be better than increased contact to 'Audience Services', eh?

Another Power PC mac user who's been cut off by the BBC, NOT fair!!

re:flash up-grades .! please can some-one complain to the eu,union ,this is discrimination at the most pernicious level ! (MONEY ). if you cant afford a new computer ,you cant access information .its a scandal, coming from the mother of democracy ,THE B.B.C !

I can't believe that I can no longer enjoy BBC iPlayer. I pay my TV Licence but because I use a mac that doesn't have intel I can't download the flash player now required. I won't be throwing away my powermac to buy a new one with intel but
I am going to miss iPlayer.

@DavePrice. Appreciate your response and update related to Android and HTML5. As a new tablet owner using the Nexus 7 (which I think is a fabulous device), I look forward to the eventual release of iPlayer for this device.
I'm in the world of software development also and only too well know what it's like working with new technology that's being released on virtually a daily basis.

I would like to echo Simon's comment above. Like him I have an old Mac for which an upgrade to the new version. I rarely watch the main TV in the house and have really enjoyed the iPlayer. Now you have effectively just switched it off. A minor update hey Dave. NOT FOR ME! Is this thanks and goodbye from the BBC?

I am really incredibly upset. To echo both John Anderson and Simon's comments above, I also have an old Mac with no intel and therefore cannot upgrade to Flash 10.2, it is impossible. I do not watch, or even have a televison, but I pay my license fee as I listen to radio programmes on iPlayer on my Mac ALL the time. I listen to plays, dramas, Classic serial, Drama on 3, comedy, several hours a day, sometimes all day. I suffer from an illness, and so am at home a lot, and listening to good radio on iPlayer is one of the sustaining and comforting joys of my life. This is not a minor change AT ALL. Not for me. I now have no access to all the hours of radio that I listen to everyday, on listen again. I am gutted. Please do something about it as soon as possible. Why did you not think about us? What can I do? Will you do anything? I guess me, and my license fee doesn't matter very much. I am really, really upset. There will be a tremendous gap in my life. Please respond Dave.

Another mac user who now cannot use iplayer. How very technically supportive. Flashy? Perhaps not. A refunded license please.

This is so upsetting! My iBook G4 10.4.11 Power PC was very happy watching iPlayer having been blocked from all others because of updates. Now I can't even watch the BBC ! This is so wrong. Yes, I may be over 60, but there must be younger people too who cannot afford to keep on buying new computers because theirs is deemed an antique. I was just going to enjoy a drama I missed AND no Archers. What a disaster...

I'm yet another PowerPC Mac user in the same position as Kalyana and Kjm, and I'm disgusted by your decision to use the latest version of Flash to watch or listen in to iPlayer. Yes technology moves on but have a care, we licence fee payers still pay your wages. Besides what was wrong with Flash 10.1.102.64??? It worked perfectly well before you decided to up the anti! Not many of us can afford a new pentium Mac. We just have to make do with PowerPCs on our limited income!

Again, you disgust me and I will cancel my licence fee in the morning. So much for 80 years of television and nearly a 100 years of radio. Call yourself a public broadcaster with the moto: Nation shall speak peace unto nation? Yes, I'm a retired BBC employee, too. Tell you what, increase my pension then I mat be able to afford a new computer!

My computer (currently Flash Player 10.1.102.64, 1.8GHz, 32Mb video) doesn't have the 'minimum requirements' for Flash Player 10.2 ("2.33GHz, 128Mb video" ?), but comments elsewhere on the web suggest that 10.2 may work perfectly ok on computers with much less than the stated minimum. Has anyone else tried it? I'm certainly tempted to.

As others; I am disgusted that one day I have access to programmes and the next day I don't!!? Clearly I have missed the consultation period and warning, telling me I need to buy a new computer? (I don’t think my piggy bank realised either!) I know technology is moving on but I don't consider a Mac OS X, 10.4.11 PowerPC particularly old.
I do not have access to a TV. Great....... thanks for the warning and understanding.

@ 49. At 23:40 22nd Aug 2012, Paul Ivor Rayner

Unless you're using a Mac with a Intel processor, no. Perhaps Mr Price believes people like us using 1.8Ghz, 32 Mb video are dinosaurs who the lowest of the lows or something brown and smelly he picked up on the sole of his shoe's. It's okay for them being able to afford a new computer on an income of probably over £100k PA. Well I've got news for you Mr Price. Wait until you retire and have to manage on the pittance of a pension from the BBC, then we'll see who's laughing.

At least with the Olympic coverage you could still watch the games on a pop out player even when BBC Sport advised you that you needed to upgrade to the latest version of Flash!

Advance Warning of the transition to flash 10.2? Yeah right... In your dreams there was a warning

@ 50. At 00:10 23rd Aug 2012, lill6

Incidentally I'm using a G4 PowerPC running 10.5.8 and likewise, my machine isn't that old either

Quote David Price 'For those using Flash Player 10.1 and below, the upgrade is really simple. You can upgrade at the Adobe website in advance (or see the BBC Webwise Guide), or wait for update prompts on BBC iPlayer next Wednesday.'

Yes very simple indeed so simple in fact Adobe only provides Flash 10.2 for Apple Macintosh Intel machines. A Big Joke on PowerPC users and I'm not laughing!

Reinstate the old version of Flash (10.1.102.64 minimum) on iPlayer you bunch of numpties

another grumpy Powerbook owner, do I really need the flashiest Flash to listen to Peter Wimsey? Please go back, I can't afford a new computer.
So I'm in the 1.5% not using 10.2. If I was in the right 1% guess it wouldn't be a problem.

I'm also using a PowerPC mac, at the minute I can't justify (or afford) buying a new laptop when I have a perfectly good one that worked fine for everything I wanted it to do until yesterday. Have now lost a good chunk of what I use if for. Is the BBC really thinking at the height of a recession forcing people who want to use their services must shell out for a new laptop when they have, as far as anyone else is concerned, a perfectly good one. I'm particularly annoyed that the radio iPlayer now has no availability, I understand it is one integrated system, but surely, as far as streaming radio programmes goes, this new update adds nothing at all?

For those using Flash Player 10.1 and below, the upgrade is really simple." NO, NO,
NO, on my Mac an iBook G4 build Jan 2005- it's impossible. Flash 10.2 and higher is NOT AVAILABLE for Macs with a PowerPC chip (as opposed to an Intel chip), even with OS 10.4.11. - Get on the case with Adobe please.

Please allow PowerPC mac users access to iPlayer again - it would seem you have made thousands of computers obselete with this update - completely unnecessary. (G5 powermac, dual 2.7ghz, 8gb ram, 10.5.8)

TVCatchup will still allow powerPC mac users to watch live TV (albeit with some adverts) - click on the 'old player' link at the bottom - but no access to iplayer's vault of programmes..

And yet another PowerPC (G5) Mac user, with OS X 10.5.8

It's a perfectly good computer, but without the power to display HD video. I can't use the higher quality, I don't want the 'extra user experiences'. I just want iPlayer to work on my computer!

Give us an option to use the old software, please.

As has already been stated above, we've paid our licence fee, and we've just been ripped off.

Another annoyed Mac powerbook user. Come on there must be a work around to get iplayer back on a g4 non intel. I am sure your estimate percentage of people that are affected is wrong. Not a happy bunny!!!

Completely aside from the iPlayer, the versions of Flash, MacOS X and other software available for PowerPC Macs are:
- ancient,
- riddled with security holes,
- never going to be fixed.

You're nuts if you want to take a machine like that online. The tsunami of spam, the DDOS attacks, and the fraud hosting botnets are all down to selfish, socially irresponsible people who can't bring themselves to behave with a basic standard of decency and keep their systems up to date with security patches.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that Apple cut off support for Macs very quickly, but that's part of the Apple experience you choose to buy into - Apple don't support the version of OS X that was released in 2009, Microsoft still support Windows XP that was released in 2001. If you're on a budget, and you can't afford constant upgrades, that's fine - but don't buy a Mac. Doing so is like forking out for a Ferrari and then whining that you can't afford to keep putting petrol in it.

Just realised my 84 year old mum's ibook will not work either. She only uses it for iplayer and and emails.

Out of interest could you let us know how many complaints it would take to get something done about this, it is not like getting at £30 set top decoder or another radio, a computer is a serious investment.

A couple of years ago, when the BBC killed off the excellent 3rd party Android iPlayer client BeebPlayer (which would run on any Android device, and could play radio streams in the background with the screen off) and then (after some delay) introduced their own "official" iPlayer app, there were a large number of complaints about the use of Flash.

The BBC's response was that it was the best way of preserving quality over the widest range of platforms.

Fast-forward to today. The Android iPlayer client is just as shockingly poor as it was when it was released (having been graced with one, solitary, update) and Adobe have pulled the plug on Android, PowerPC Macs and Linux.

And the BBC have stopped support for certain Nokia phones as well.

If you'd just provide iPlayer content in an open and/or widely supported format you would save all of this grief. Very few are going to rip-off iPlayer streams from their phones or computers. All people want to do is watch the programmes they want to. All you are doing with this obsession with "content protection" is disenfranchising a wide range of people who do not have one of the diminishing range of supported devices.

What do you think a lot of these iPlayer-disenfranchised people are going to do? A lot will start looking around for other ways of getting the programmes they want to watch, and they will find them (easily, as it happens). Once they have discovered how easy it is, they will then notice there are a lot of other programmes, films, music, etc that are available from the same sources. Stuff they would have happily paid for until content-protection-obsessed media industries (not just the BBC) drove them into the arms of the "pirates".

This obsession is tantamount to cutting off their noses to spite their faces. They seem to be quite happy to stop one person from copying content themselves even if that causes 100s to turn to "pirate" sources.

@ 63. At 11:48 23rd Aug 2012, _Ewan_

You're wrong. Most of the problems with internet security issues have been compounded by hackers using MicroSoft Windows.

Just found this on the site...go figure!
BBC accessibility standards and guidelines
How the BBC ensures best practice for accessibility online.
When websites are correctly designed, developed and edited, all users can have equal access to the sites' information, functionality and benefits.

BBC Online aims to make our websites accessible and usable for people of all abilities and disabilities, including older audiences, and those with visual, hearing, cognitive or motor impairments.
...................UNLESS YOU HAVE AN NON INTEL MAC!!!!!!!

I agree. Unless you have a non intel mac. I am so, so, disappointed. I have been utterly and suddenly, with no warning, cut off from a source of support, company, and connection. Please remedy this as soon as possible. Thank you.

Despite my oldish computer's "less than minimum requirements" spec, I've just installed Flash Player 10.2 on my Windows XP 1.8GHz_AMD 512MB_RAM 32Mb_video PC, and so far it's ok for Radio Listen Again and Shaun the Sheep (!) Watch Again. [Flash Player 10.2.159.1 installed from helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html]. It seems it was worth trying.
Sorry to hear about the PowerPC Macs; There's already a 'Low Bandwidth' button, How about a 'Veteran Computer' button?

I know that the issues with iPlayer and non-Flash platforms are really frustrating for everyone, especially as I'm a Linux/Android/Nexus 7 user myself and resent having to use the various work-arounds that are only available to me because I'm reasonably techy.

But I do think a bit more patience may be helpful. The BBC's problems are not all of its own making - at ;east. not the technical ones. It can't unilaterally set its rights agreements with non-BBC content (of which there is a great deal, even in many BBC-sourced programmes), but has to operate as a public service broadcaster in a world where everything assumes a full commercial model. The commercial world is still totally paranoid about 'piracy', even though we all know that war has been lost, and large organisations like the BBC still need the figleaf of DRM to do business. DRM and open standards are not as incompatible as many think, but it's still a legal, practical and public minefield.

I know, from discussions with BBC people, that this is as frustrating for them as it is for us, but they're operating under all sorts of restrictions in what they can do and what they can say - some unavoidable, some which (in my opinion) could be avoided... but not by the people at the sharp end making this stuff work. They know (and have known for years) how to make the systems that do everything we want, and they want to do it, but they don't have the freedom to make it so.

Be angry at this, by all means; I am. But please be angry at the people who are actually responsible for the limitations and latenesses; they're not the people who run these blogs.

Ooo @Cowherd, how do I do that? Thank you. No further comment from tech support, so I'm guessing we have to go our own way.

So it's bye bye BBC iPlayer.
No longer accessible because my computer (a PPC-based Mac) is not supported with Flash 10.2 and above.
The computer is perfectly good and I have enjoyed iPlayer which worked very well as long as the BBC was prepared to support it. But now I am too poor to use the more modern technology they insist we all have.

Bye bye.

"For those using Flash Player 10.1 and below, the upgrade is really simple."
NO, on my Mac it's impossible. Flash 10.2 and higher is NOT AVAILABLE for Macs with a PowerPC chip (as opposed to an intel chip), even with OS 10.4.
Will you provide an alternative version of programmes that will still work on PowerPC Macs?

My Mac hasn't got an Intel inside so now I can't watch i-player, please send videos asap.

I worry a bit that telling Mac PPC users about a way to fix their problem means the BBC will act to neutralise the work-around, but at that risk, I can report that there is a work-around.
Apparently what the stranded PPC user needs is a version of FlashPlayer that is 10.1 but reports to the streaming site that it is in fact 11.something. Ah... a little white lie gets things working again. I have just tested it on my PPC G5 running OS 10.4.11. Camino (a Mac version of firefox) does not work on its own, but Safari v. 3.04 works and once BBC Iplayer has been 'woken up' with Safari, Camino v2.06 works too. Still testing, but the basic problem of not working at all is over. To find out how to get this fix, put iCrAKhv3R_c into your search engine and it will direct you to the right place.

I report this in good faith and hope I can trust the BBC not to scupper it.

Or search for 'powerpc flash 11' and the first result gives you the instructions and link to the file to download. Perfectly good machine saved from the scrapheap here.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

@ 77. At 23:58 23rd Aug 2012, Kjm

Nice one Kjm and thanks. I can confirm the plugin works, here's the link if PPC users have trouble finding it.

https://lowendmac.com/ed/royal/12sr/flash-11-and-powerpc.html

I work for a small independent supplier of Android tablets, and we're currently inundated with emails and phone calls from customer who can't use iPlayer on their devices. We explain the situation as best we can, but we're still receiving negative feedback and bad reviews of our products regardless of the fact that the iPlayer issue is out of our hands.

I do understand the situation regarding Flash and rights protection (although our BBC licence-paying customers are less sympathetic) but there is clearly a communication problem between the BBC's iPlayer marketing/development teams and the general public - a problem that hardware suppliers like us are paying for in both time and lost business.

I'd like to see the BBC make it clear that their iPlayer software will not reliably work on most recent Android platforms so that suppliers like us aren't left looking like we're selling deficient kit.

It's very frustrating for us and, I don't think it's too strong to say, very irresponsible of the BBC to push a service without explaining the limited number of platforms it will work on or giving an ETA on when Android will be supported at all. The tablet market is extremely competitive at the moment and without the BBC providing a level-playing field regarding iPlayer compatibility, any company who takes it upon themselves to make these announcements on behalf of the BBC will only lose business to those who won't - and we can't afford to do that. No one can.

Thanks @KeithD - G5 happy again!

Thanks keithD, back listening again. plugin works with mozilla, took just a couple mins to install.

A perfect metaphor for modern times. The corporations aren't going help you, its those on the edge of society who often have the best solutions. Thank you whoever you are for making my old Mac stream iplayer again.

So now I can't use iplayer on my laptop.

I'm very frustrated.My Mac won't support flash 10.2 because I don't have an intel core processor.

I am very annoyed with the BBC. Can I have a refund on my licence fee to get a new Mac that supports the required software?

Another non-Intel mac user... I have a perfectly good Dual 2GHz G5 tower that I use only for iTunes and radio... but now no radio.

The BBC supported black and white TV and AM radio for decades after moving to colour and FM.

The shipping forecast that they continue to broadcast (despite all vessels these days having full graphical weather data on LCD screens) is now unavailable to me on my 6 year-old £3000 video editing machine.. nor my dad's emac or my mother-in-law's ibook.

Gonna try the link mentioned.

Another desperately disappointed Mac user. Tried everything but not been able to get iplayer progs since some moron thought it a great idea to change things. Giving up now with great regret.

Dear 'Auntie' Beeb,
None of my real aunties ever treated me this shabbily. Your fawning adherence to the whims of Adobe's Flash Player (always a wobbly, 20th Century technology) has stitched me up completely.
I lost count of the people who are now shut out of iPlayer because we can't update Flash. How can Dave Price be in the slightest bit confident in stating, '98.5% of people who use the desktop version of BBC iPlayer already have a version of Flash Player in excess of 10.2'. How has he measured this?
Just remember; what seems like a minor technical tweak to your boffins who don't like having too many variables to consider, is actually an 'off-switch' for iPlayer for many of us. Shabby, thoughtless, dismissive, discourteous to the point of arrogant is what this is.
By failing to plan ongoing developments for your tech support for iPlayer, as millions are watching streamed video on various (e.g. non-Flash compliant) devices, you're failing to provide public service broadcasting.
Stop fobbing us off and sort it out.

KeithD's fix (Comment #76) makes iplayer work fine on my G4 PowerPC iMac (with OS 10.4.11 and browser Safari 4.1.3).
It also enables me to see videos on Facebook that I couldn't see before.

Thanks, KeithD!

The entire Planet has been aware that Google would be dropping flash for well over 12 months, but rather than directing their efforts into supporting another streaming method, the BBC have even made further changes to support the dying platform. As such there will now be an unacceptable and frustrating delay whilst the BBC plays catch-up. This is a shambolic waste of our licence fees. Its about time some heads rolled, perhaps then the BBC would keep their eye on the ball.

I had a call from my Father last night, quite upset that he could not watch his programmes on iPlayer any more as it the website was asking for an upgrade to Flash 10.2 and that when he followed the link and tried he was told "This version of Flash cannot be installed on your iMac". He believes he now needs a new computer to continue watching iPlayer? Surely this can't be the case! How many others are having to wake up to this. How come the BBC are not allowed to turn off analog transmitters without a staged transition being in place over a few years, yet with no warning at all they can cut people off with a simple software upgrade.

Not happy about this at all.

Of course I realise progress has to move on but it seems that no alternative has been planned for and it certainly has not been executed very well. Is an iMac from 4 years ago really to old to run Flash, very strange indeed. I can't believe that only 1.5% of people out their will be in the same place. Love to hear from others on this.

Disgruntled son.

To confirm we have resolved iPlayer by using this version of Flash as commented above. Phew!

https://lowendmac.com/ed/royal/12sr/flash-11-and-powerpc.html

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

"Unfortunately HTML doesn't quite provide everything that is needed to play video" .....yet you can now use HTML 5 on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/html5

so I said something the BBC didnt agree with and they wouldn't publish my comment, it contained no abusive or improper language just a difference of opinion They seem to forget they are public servants having their wages paid by tax payers, licence payers and the national government ...shame on you! OFF TOPIC yes, but your selective censorship is appaling. Only allowing people with flash player 10.2 and above to watch IPlayer is discriminatory and against everything I thought the BBC once stood for.

have found out my flash player is 10.1 not sure if I can change it to 10.2 and certainly can't follow what to do- was perfectly happy with quality I was watching so I'm afraid your 'minor' alteration is a major pain for me and many programmes missed already and in the future no doubt. If it ain't broke PLEASE don't fix it!

I too cannot upgrade the Flash player because I have a Power PC version iMac. It is clear from the many other frustrated people posting the messages that that this is not a small number of people involved with the problem. There must be thousands of others affected that have now been denied access to the wonderful facility of the iplayer. I think there must be an easy way around this and the BBC should be able to sort it. Where there is a will there is a way.

Just to add that I'm another unhappy user with a PPC Mac that can't upgrade to Flash 10.2. Currently the hack described above is working for me, but I assume that in due course Auntie Beeb will kill it somehow. C'mon Auntie, Flash is dead technology. Come and join us in the wonderful world of HTML5.

To say that "As 98.5% of people who use the desktop version of BBC iPlayer already have a version of Flash Player in excess of 10.2, we're confident only a small proportion of you are affected." ignores the possibility that the 1.5% who haven't upgraded CAN'T upgrade. What's more it ignores the real question of the number of people that represents - on March's radio usage figures that would be nearly 80000 users and that doesn't include any TV browsing. Doesn't sound as small as '1.5%' does it? Then add in the TV users - I'm guessing around twice that number based on the information I can find on information that was posted on this blog last year. So that would be around 240000 unique users, or roughly a quarter of a million. It might only be a 'small proportion', but it's still a lot of people. How many businesses would happily tell a quarter of a million potential customers that they were not worth bothering about?

And when I can get iPlayer on my smart TV (which doesn't have Flash) over the internet, I fail to see why it's SO essential to have Flash on my Mac (PPC or otherwise).

HLS has been supported on Android since 3.0 which was released well over a year ago. Android is the #1 most popular mobile OS in the UK, the BBC should have started work on an HLS player for Android when Android 3.0 was released. This could have supported flash as a fall-back for phones and older tablets. Its inexcusable that the BBC waited until Adobe actually killed off flash on Android before deciding to do something about developing a new Android player. It has been known for quite some-time that flash on Android was at EoL. Please BBC, throw some resources at your Android dev team, Jelly-Bean updates for many Android devices are imminent, and none of these will work with the existing iPlayer once updated. Android users pay TV license fees too you know!

Nigel

It seems that I am one of the 1.5% who can't use the latest version of flash player. I am trying to listen to Book of the Week on iPlayer but am being asked to download the latest version of Flash Player which I cannot do as I am running Mac OSX 10.4.11 (Power PC) and am told it is not supported. Please can you help?