RTE Player Finally on Android

Bluefrog · 10-09-2013 11:08pm #1

Might be a bit late with this but just noticed tonight that RTE Player is now available on Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.RTE.OSMF.Minimal.

Alpha Dog 1 · 11-09-2013 12:03am

Bluefrog wrote: »

Might be a bit late with this but just noticed tonight that RTE Player is now available on Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.RTE.OSMF.Minimal.

Yeah there's been numerous threads already on this and it was mentioned in the apps thread a few weeks ago.
Great to have it, although after wanting it for years I've barely used it since it came available.

Bluefrog · 11-09-2013 1:39am

Definitely beats side loading flash and using the touch enabled site

beauf · 11-09-2013 2:38am

Needs a later version than 2.3.6 anyway.

GreenWolfe · 11-09-2013 4:56am

beauf wrote: »

Needs a later version than 2.3.6 anyway.

The app page itself says ICS or over, seems like an odd decision on their part.

Bluefrog · 11-09-2013 3:17pm

Easier to make it tablet friendly.

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

The app page itself says ICS or over, seems like an odd decision on their part.

listermint · 11-09-2013 3:18pm

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

The app page itself says ICS or over, seems like an odd decision on their part.

anything below ICS doesnt support certain screen sizes.

Why youd want a below ics android phone at this stage is beyond me...

beauf · 11-09-2013 3:45pm

listermint wrote: »

anything below ICS doesnt support certain screen sizes.

Why youd want a below ics android phone at this stage is beyond me...

Like wise why would anyone want below the latest version 4.2.x ...:rolleyes:

From a developer pov you're cutting off 30% of your market/audience by excluding older devices. Most of the time there's nothing in the apps that require the later version either. its just a cost cutting measure by the developer.

They could go further and cut off all versions except the latest one, forcing people to buy a new phone every 6 to 12 months.

DrPatrickBarry · 11-09-2013 3:49pm

I have been using the "TuneIn Radio" app for ages to play RTE Radio.

Bluefrog · 11-09-2013 3:53pm

beauf wrote: »

Like wise why would anyone want below the latest version 4.2.x ...:rolleyes:

From a developer pov you're cutting off 30% of your market/audience by excluding older devices. Most of the time there's nothing in the apps that require the later version either. its just a cost cutting measure by the developer.

They could go further and cut off all versions except the latest one, forcing people to buy a new phone every 6 to 12 months.

Yup and that side menu is using fragments which take a bit more effort to use in pre-ics.

Alpha Dog 1 · 11-09-2013 4:01pm

Developers probably need to aim for their target audience. People still running gingerbread or below on their phones are most likely kids and people who just use the phone for texts and phone calls and therefore unlikely to download the app.

Also if the developer has to take into account pre historic phones won't that affect any the performance of the app on the latest os?

listermint · 11-09-2013 4:25pm

beauf wrote: »

Like wise why would anyone want below the latest version 4.2.x ...:rolleyes:

From a developer pov you're cutting off 30% of your market/audience by excluding older devices. Most of the time there's nothing in the apps that require the later version either. its just a cost cutting measure by the developer.

They could go further and cut off all versions except the latest one, forcing people to buy a new phone every 6 to 12 months.

I think people fail to grasp that the audience (customers) know that certain applications do not run on older devices thats a fact. So no one is expecting people to go out and buy a 4.2.2 device but you cant expect to support phones that are completely outdated and maintain entirely the level of design UI the is expected in the marketplace.

Google have only started to rationalise cross device type support.

30% of the audience on gingerbread....

Also save the rolls eyes for the school yard.

beauf · 11-09-2013 7:29pm

Why are they there if you can't use them?

Unfortunately its not simply older or outdated devices. Its any device that the manufacture (or operator) decides it won't update. Its planned obsolescence. It can be devices bought new today, and hardware well able to run the latest OS.

Unless you have a top end android, or a brand new one, the support lifespan of an android device can be surprising short. Indirectly you are being charged for updates, though needing to buy a new phone, or a top end one.

Bluefrog · 11-09-2013 7:40pm

Well I guess the interesting question here is, as the state public broadcaster, does RTE have a responsibility to ensure their content is available to as wide an audience as possible. If I don't have the cash to upgrade to the latest and greatest phone, should I be excluded from being able to view on that basis.

Just food for thought

beauf · 11-09-2013 7:57pm

True. I guess it was a budget and resourcing decision.

Is the app any good. I had stopping using the player website because the whole ads and glitches making it start over were doing my head in. The quality was brutal too. Having such a poor on-line and catch up service will just encourage people to switch to more establish streaming services.

Bluefrog · 11-09-2013 8:52pm

Haven't had a proper play round myself yet with it but had a couple of bugs in the quick look I had, a crash and problems with display on orientation change but I'm sure they'll get there

_Whimsical_ · 11-09-2013 10:45pm

Bluefrog wrote: »

Well I guess the interesting question here is, as the state public broadcaster, does RTE have a responsibility to ensure their content is available to as wide an audience as possible. If I don't have the cash to upgrade to the latest and greatest phone, should I be excluded from being able to view on that basis.

Just food for thought

It'll be interesting to see how the answer that in a years time when we are all paying the new equivalent of the tv licence.

loyatemu · 11-09-2013 11:12pm

I assume there's no Symbian, Windows Phone or Blackberry apps either, and you probably can't get the player if you have a Windows 95 PC - they have limited resources they can't support every version of every operating system.

anyway - watching it on my Google TV box at the moment - its not bad, but is there a way of getting it to go fullscreen? The standard android menu is still at the bottom, and there are bars at the side to maintain the ratio as a result. Netflix, iPlayer etc manage to use the full screen.

Sat_Down · 08-01-2014 5:24pm

Boys and gals trying to get my head around all of this. have a tizzbird media player and its running on gingerbread is there anyway to get rteplayer working. i can get on the site get the ad playing but then the programme dies just as it is starting. 4OD working perfectly.

any help appreciated

White Heart Loon · 08-01-2014 5:26pm

Sat_Down wrote: »

Boys and gals trying to get my head around all of this. have a tizzbird media player and its running on gingerbread is there anyway to get rteplayer working. i can get on the site get the ad playing but then the programme dies just as it is starting. 4OD working perfectly.

any help appreciated

Gingerbread is very old, doubt the app supports that far back

IrishStuff09 · 08-01-2014 5:51pm

Sat_Down wrote: »

Boys and gals trying to get my head around all of this. have a tizzbird media player and its running on gingerbread is there anyway to get rteplayer working. i can get on the site get the ad playing but then the programme dies just as it is starting. 4OD working perfectly.

any help appreciated

4.0 and newer I'm afraid

Ste- · 08-01-2014 5:57pm

Time for XBMC and the irish player add-on me thinks.

RTE Player Finally on Android

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