v4.1 / 4.11 is a critical update, as the BBC have removed many RealPlayer streams. Attempting to use them, as older versions of this widget do, may make your computer become unresponsive.
Get access to every one of the BBC’s 58 radio stations, right from your Dashboard! No need to keep a web browser open or run some memory-hungry application — just convenient listening, whenever you want it. Plus, discover daily schedules right inside the widget, a great Mac look-and-feel, and automatic updating.
Version 4.11 changes:
- Added new RealPlayer streams for national stations, after the BBC apparently changed their minds about removing them.
- Fixed compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4.
- Widget falls back to Flash if RealPlayer is selected but not installed.
- (v4.1) Flash is now default for all stations.
- (v4.1) Multiple copies of the widget can now be opened and operated independently, remembering the station each is set to.
- (v4.1) Added option to open schedules at bbc.co.uk if fetching them fails.
- (v4.1) Added Sussex and Surrey stations, and deleted Southern Counties.
- (v4.1) Updates now shown on front of widget, and updater is now more regular, faster and more reliable.
- Many, many bug fixes and internal changes.
Designed for the Mac...
Small, but fully functional.
The BBC Radio Widget has a simple, clean design, with lots of visual feedback so you know what’s going on. It hides away all the complicated operation and makes connecting to the radio station of your choice as simple as playing a song in iTunes.
Everything is designed to be easy, logical and even pleasurable to use, so you can swap the hassle of hard-to-navigate websites for a tiny widget — one that remembers what station you were listening to, even if you close it.
...and designed for the BBC
Wondering what’s on? We’ve got you covered.
BBC Radio Widget is made solely for the BBC’s radio stations, so you get all kinds of benefits that generic players just can’t provide. Like schedule information for every station, in a handy drawer.
It’ll even show you what’s playing right now — and keep the display updated every minute of every day.
⌥ (option) click the i button to set the streaming format.
The BBC offers a custom Flash streaming solution, unique to them, for UK users. So naturally BBC Radio Widget offers it too! As far as I know, it’s the only widget that lets you listen to the BBC’s high quality AAC streams.
As of BBC Radio Widget v4.1, it’s the default — and, for many stations, only — streaming option, as the BBC have removed many RealPlayer streams.
Look out for WMA support in the future, too!
Mac OS X Tiger v10.4.3 or greater is required. If you’re using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, the widget installer appears. Click Install if you want the widget installed on your Mac. If you’re using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive and open it to show the widget installer.