BBC iPlayer on iPad: how to get it

UPDATE: BBC iPlayer is now compatible with iPad. Simply go to the iPlayer site from your iPad.

For those of you getting ready to queue for an iPad on the day of launch but gutted about the lack of Flash: the BBC is coming to the rescue (sort of).

• Apple iPad review (Wi-Fi version)
• Apple iPad 3G review

Erik Huggers, director of BBC future media and technology, has apparently confirmed that the BBC iPlayer will be iPad friendly by 28 May - the day of launch.

But Mark Prigg of the Evening Standard (who tweeted Huggers' original comment) has confirmed that the iPlayer is now up and running on the iPad - so if you were lucky enough to get it early, check it out.

Like YouTube but not

This means it will be working in the same way as the YouTube Widget, not using Flash (obviously) but still working as a web-only version.

We assume that there won't be any program downloading allowed, and for all we know 3G streaming won't be allowed at the start.

But given that apparently 40% of people would be ready to ditch a dedicated PC for a tablet according to Kelkoo (according to 950 people surveyed), it seems likely that this iPad-friendly version of the BBC iPlayer could provide yet another boon for Auntie's online service.

Via TechWatch