Catch Phil on BBC TV at Google I/O!

By Richard Devine
published

Wandering the halls of the Moscone Center in San Francisco last week for Google I/O were many folks from many different countries all around the world, including press from all corners of the globe, too. Two continents met in those halls when our very own Editor-in-Chief, Mr Phil Nickinson, bumped into the folks from BBC Television. You know, the British guys. And so, Phil ended up making a cameo appearance on the BBC and its dedicated tech show, Click!

The BBC shows Click usually on its news channel, but if you can access the iPlayer – remember, it's region restricted, that's just how it is – hit the link below and scrub forward to around the 17:30 mark to see Phil making his appearance. Hopefully now he doesn't go all Hollywood on us!

Phil on BBC TV

Richard Devine
Richard Devine
56 Comments
  • UK Only... :(
  • Now doesn't THAT make a change! Posted via Android Central App
  • Same here. Looks like I'm out of luck. Posted via AC App from my S4 mini WITH an LED CrackLight ;-)
  • You're not missing much, the BBC's coverage of the I/O was laughable. Posted on my shiny new Nexus 5
  • The BBCs coverage of most things tech related is appalling... Posted via Android Central App
  • Wanted to watch but no can do.. :( Posted via Android Central App from my Awesome Note 3
  • I think you have way too much reverence for the bbc. n5
  • I think that's an American thing. I always find myself thinking that British = cultured, for some reason. Plus the BBC has so much cachet.
  • I realise they have a reputation abroad, but ultimately they are a state funded propaganda machine. n5
  • Well, they have to win the war some way, right?
  • The BBC isn't state funded, they receive funding from television licences which cost £145.50, per household. Posted via Android Central App
  • Yes. I have to pay it. It's worse than a tax as it's effectively funding a profit making corporation. A true anachronism. n5
  • Totally agree, I'm hopeful that it won't be too much longer before this view becomes the norm in the UK. It's as though the last 10 years of technological change haven't happened. Posted via Android Central App
  • The bbc produces some of the very best tv programs in the world, definitely the best for any dramas, soaps, documentaries and crime. It's the epicentre of all that is good about the UK. The licence also only applies if the tv is hooked up to an aerial, receiving the bbc channels. Posted via Android Central App
  • +1 and because of the rules around the license fee they're pushing technology at the majority of the time Posted via Android Central App
  • Agree! same here in Denmark, we have to pay a license (around 400 US dollars per year) for the national channel, no matter if you watch it or not. It's appaling and horrible.
  • Is that a one-time charge when a new household is hooked up to receive TV, or is it an annual charge? Posted via Android Central App
  • Annual Posted via Android Central App
  • Annual charge. Rocking On Nexus 7 WiFi - 2013
  • State funded the same way a kickstarter project is state funded... The BBC are definitely far from perfect. But as big mainstream news agencies go, they're relatively good. Compare fox, sky, CNN etc Posted via Android Central App
  • Kickstarter is voluntary. The BBC is mandatory and upheld and enforced legally. Sounds like a tax to me n5
  • I know a few people who don't have TV licenses. You only need one if you want to watch broadcast television. Any service provider can seek legal recourse if you use their service without paying, not just the BBC. Posted via Android Central App
  • I don't use the BBC ever yet I still have to pay it so that argument doesn't hold up.
    They're trying to close the loophole that enables people to avoid paying the license. That's the real reason bbc three went to iplayer only. They can posit broadcast television only requires an Internet connection. Eventually anyone with a home broadband connection will be liable to pay the BBC tax.
    n5
  • I didn't say you need it to watch the BBC, I said you need it to watch broadcast television. If you don't watch broadcast TV, you don't need a license. If you don't watch the BBC, but watch let's say E4, you do. I actually agree with you about the BBC three iPlayer thing, and I'll be right there shouting beside you if that should come to pass. Because it would be wrong. It would be an aging old media company attempting to adapt the world to fit itself, rather than adapting itself to fit into the new era. But what may happen in the future is irrelevant to your being wrong in the present. :p Posted via Android Central App
  • At least we can agree on something! n5
  • Was going to comment but really can not be bothered with AC no more...its like a relationship where its just here and I happpen to go on it...no love no more...AC is making tech dull and boring...time to look for other app... fair well bum lickers
  • Here in Denmark they found a loophole: now you have to pay the license if you own a device capable of streaming >=256kbit, nomatter if you own a tv or not. This means everybody with a smartphone is eligable to pay the license. It's state robbery
  • No it's not, at the very worst it's a tax. You're paying for a public service that you might not like or use, just as I'm paying taxes for things that I don't agree with or use. Posted via Android Central App
  • But you won Eurovision in 2013 so there's that.
  • Erm says who? It's not enforceable as they aren't permitted to enter the property, and only applies if the TV is connected to an aerial receiving bbc channels. In fact seajenkins, all of your comments are wrong. Posted via Android Central App
  • Imagine what TV / News in the UK would be without them though, we would be left with ITV or Sky. *shudders*
  • Exactly, you only have to look at the shit other channels vomit up! Fox, CNN etc are laughable. Posted via Android Central App
  • Sky rocks! :)
  • I actually watched this when it was broadcast in what some consider the "wee hours" yesterday. It was a little odd, but well done Phil! Posted via Android Central App
  • Click is terrible. Also the BBC as a whole are terrible in my opinion.
  • bbc is no worse than some of the ones in the USA Posted via Android Central App
  • And much better than most... Posted via Android Central App
  • Yeah. Like the cancer that is Fox News. ಠ益ಠ
  • To be fair some of their programmes and coverage are alright, but in general I prefer American T.V. programmes -- I've very rarely watch British shows. From what I've seen CNN is just as good as the BBC for news coverage, but I'd argue there are better sources of news than huge corporations like that. Some of their coverage is terrible though, Click being one example. Their coverage of E3 was horrible as well, with a writer who clearly didn't know what he was talking about: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27827696
  • US Cable News, one of the worst inventions of our time. Posted via Android Central App
  • I series link click. I find that in its coverage of more mainstream tech it can be a bit hit and miss but when it comes to some the more unique stuff it is good. What's your problem with the BBC though? Posted via Android Central App
  • Exactly! I like Click as it's not for hardcore tech-heads and gamers, but for the overwhelming majority of people who don't spend their time on technology blogs. It's like complaining about Top Of The Pops for not featuring some Icelandic thrash metal band that few people have heard of. Posted via Android Central App
  • So what does he say? We can't watch it but can we at least have a synopsis?
  • He said that he's sick and tired of Android and we should all switch to Windows Phone. Posted via Android Central App
  • THAT'S IT I'M DONE! ಠ益ಠ
  • I tried firing up Expat Shield to watch it, but it seems ES doesent work with the BBC IPlayer anymore.
  • If you have Chrome, then install ZenMate https://www.androidcentral.com/e?link=https2F2F... You can then change location to UK and watch it.
  • This worked. I wonder if this would work with MLB TV to get local games? Posted via Android Central App
  • I can't see why not.
  • Why don't you guys in the UK just do some civil disobedience like we did in New Zealand about 15 years ago and refused to pay the license. After the courts got clogged up it was canceled. Now no license. Posted via my Motorola Startac
  • Thatcher put an end to that sort of thing! Posted via Android Central App
  • And then we would only have bleeding awful commercial stations that are affected by their sponsors and would have essentially lost a uniquely great and historical service as it would not be able to carry on in the same way without that funding. People would very much notice if it went as it's not just a TV station and we'd never be able to get it back.
    I for one hope that never happens.
  • As if there wasn't already too much Phil in my life!
  • Good on ya, Phil :) Really don't get all this anti BBC bs in the comments though, the beeb are an incredibly important and historical organisation, not just in the UK but the world as well and deserve far better than the short shrift and venom given by some. here. They have consistently innovated and lead the way in broadcasting and technology as well as many forms of programming and much of their content is world beating. The UK and the world would be a far worse place without them quite frankly.
  • They're just whining Daily Mail readers. The BBC are so far ahead of all the other media corporations when it comes to their websites, apps, and especially iPlayer. The apps, and on demand offerings from ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 are laughable. Posted via Android Central App
  • You're right about the On Demand offerings from ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5. They are terrible.