iPad owners who like to catch up on their TV on the go will be able to take advantage of 4OD’s new service from today. The team from channel 4 has launched a dedicated on demand app for iPad users that takes on a similar form to their website, albeit a re-jigged version that makes it easier to navigate on the iPad.
The app is free and allows users to browse recommended shows or select from a list of programs using the built in menu, some of which offer a breakdown in an A to Z based list. As mentioned earlier the interface is designed in a similar way to the 4OD website, with dark bold lines and a clutter free layout – so not an airy fairy design but one that gets the job done without any fuss.
There are a few quirks and hoops to jump through before you can view programs; firstly you are forced to watch adverts before the show starts. Thankfully they only last a minute which is less time than the standard ad breaks you may usually be subjected to. Another slight annoyance is the age restriction warning, we can understand why its there but does it really need to appear every time you want to watch a rated show?
To use the app you have to be connected to a decent Wi-Fi signal, there is no option to watch over 3G as it just wouldn’t cope. The standard quality picture is actually pretty decent and looks good on the iPad’s small frame, you can select from the same catalogue of shows as the normal 4OD site too.
Have you downloaded the 4OD iPad app yet, if so what do you think of it?
