Channel 4 is bringing its 4oD on-demand catch-up service to Windows 8, beating the likes of iPlayer and ITV Player onto Microsoft's new tile-based operating system.
The app likely won't offer anything that you don't already get in your browser, on your smart phone or tablet or via your Xbox 360, but is yet another platform upon which to enjoy the likes of Homeland or The Inbetweeners. It's available to download today from the Windows Store.
Channel 4 says the app is the first UK video on demand app to be developed for Windows 8, and also promises that older shows from the last 30 years like Father Ted will be archived on the app, for when there's no decent contemporary telly to watch.
The Telegraph reports that the new app was instigated by Microsoft, which is trying hard to get developers interested in making apps for its new software.
Windows 8 hasn't exactly enjoyed a barnstorming launch, and Microsoft's own-brand Windows 8 Surface tablet has been greeted with lukewarm reviews.
One criticism levelled at the colourful new software is that its app selection can't match that of Apple's iOS or Google's Android platform. On-demand video apps are an important part of any app store, so it's good to see at least one UK broadcaster has released a dedicated app.
Microsoft is also going to allow grown-up games with a 16+ PEGI rating onto its app store, a move that backtracks on its earlier position of keeping gory games off its virtual shop shelves. The Surface tablet meanwhile is headed into real-life shops at last, so those of you who frequent John Lewis can snap one up without having to buy online.
Will you use the 4oD Windows 8 app? Or is it easier to just find the service using your browser? What do you think of Windows 8? Have your say in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
Image credit: The Telegraph
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Comments 16
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anonymous 14 December, 2012 17:04
Full screen then, no thanks, i already removed skype, instant messenger, ebay and outlook mail apps, the win7/browser versions far superior
anonymous 14 December, 2012 17:29
And yet still no Android app? I find it baffling and ridiculous that so many huge companies are failing to provide adds for the most popular mobile phone operating system in the country.
Baffling and ridiculous. But not in the least bit surprising. This country could and should be leading the way in terms of the internet, content, and innovation, but like always the big companies are holding us back. Change is well overdue. I just hope that Google brings some of it's revolutionary ideas to Britain sooner rather than later. Google Fibre and a Google mobile network? Please.
anonymous 14 December, 2012 18:05
Doesn't work! Everything I select just says, "this video failed to play". It would help if it said what the problem was.
anonymous 14 December, 2012 18:45
Content apps on my Surface???? May be I am missing something here! I prefer to read and interact on the browser. For example, reading The Economist, FT, The Time and most of the newspapers that I subscribe to, are better on the Bowser than on the apps.
In addition, I think developers need to understand that there is no point of targeting any operating system, where you have to also pay some of your hard earned money to the operating system's owner! instead, take advantage of HTML5 and use your target platform as the browser.
And for the consumers, what is the point of installing third party apps on your expensive device, which could also drain the battery while sending information about your activities.
Matt Winston. 14 December, 2012 22:26
I agree with anon 17:29. Furthermore, the ITV player doesnt download on all droids like mine, and is crap according to all the reviews. Plud, 4od was the first OD service in the UK, and they don't have an Android app yet and their mobile site is crap.
anonymous 15 December, 2012 10:58
My God... Just installed it, tried to start watching an episode of Big Bang and subjected to no less than fours ads before I gave up... Sorry guys Uninstalled... You need to get better at this stuff
Harry
anonymous 15 December, 2012 10:59
My God... Just installed it, tried to start watching an episode of Big Bang and subjected to no less than fours ads before I gave up... Sorry guys Uninstalled... You need to get better at this stuff
Harry
anonymous 15 December, 2012 10:59
My God... Just installed it, tried to start watching an episode of Big Bang and subjected to no less than fours ads before I gave up... Sorry guys Uninstalled... You need to get better at this stuff
Harry
anonymous 16 December, 2012 02:45
You were lucky at 4 ads - I gave up a 6. Pathetic. Uninstalled.
anonymous 18 December, 2012 10:09
Doesn't work, apart from the ads.
anonymous 19 December, 2012 20:58
Have to agree , video failed to play after install , thght it was falsh so redownloaded after installing the latest adobe player and still no joy ..... UNINSTALLED ..... :)
anonymous 19 December, 2012 20:58
Have to agree , video failed to play after install , thght it was falsh so redownloaded after installing the latest adobe player and still no joy ..... UNINSTALLED ..... :)
anonymous 19 December, 2012 20:58
Have to agree , video failed to play after install , thght it was falsh so redownloaded after installing the latest adobe player and still no joy ..... UNINSTALLED ..... :)
anonymous 7 January, 2013 13:51
Works actually fine for me.
I don't really understand the furor against Windows 8. Yes, the Windows 8 apps are full screen... but I just built an HTPC for my partner running Windows 8 Pro with Media Center for the living room so that we could stop connecting my laptop to the TV for netflix, etc, and with the Bluetooth mini keyboard I've bought, and hopefully soon the Leap Motion device that I've preordered, Windows 8 is working like a charm. I've even set up automatic VPN connections for using my US services like Hulu Desktop. I've integrated the Windows 8 Netflix app into WMC with a few small batch files and will be doing so shortly with 4od.
The Windows 8 versions of both netflix and 4od are the first apps I've ever used on an HDTV that don't suffer from the stutter problem that most video does when shown through a browswer.
What Microsoft seems to be doing, and terribly well I would say, is create a one-size-fits-all look for all devices. And for those who would like to keep their desktops running like desktops, you can spend £2 to get back your start menu-- but the underlying architecture is still way faster than any previous version of windows.
Without Microsoft pushing forward, we wouldn't have any of the new gesture hardware (like the Leap) coming to our desktops because there would be no demand for it.
All reviewers have ever done is complain that whenever a windows laptop uses a touch interface as a secondary option that it fails miserably. Microsoft has listened.
And, you know what, 4 advertisements? Who cares? Go to the bathroom then. All you're doing by having those ads is generating the revenue that pays those of us who CREATE the content for you to watch.
anonymous 19 January, 2013 18:54
I just get the error. The video failed to play. All other content on my system works. I have a i7 Processor with 16GB memory and EAH6770 video card.
From what others are saying it looks like they have a big problem. If it was me, I would take it down, fix the problems and put it back up. I am unlikely to install it again.
anonymous 21 February, 2013 17:46
Well the 4OD website and youtube access are awful, every time you pause or rewind they force you to replay the adverts (the same 4-6 adverts every time) before often eventually breaking with a black screen and forcing you to refresh the page and watch the same set of adverts once or twice again. I'd welcome a solution to this problem, although I expect the Win8 app for it probably has the same stupid issues. I don't use 4OD often because of this. Fortunately, from what I've seen of ch4's content, I don't think I'm missing much...