BBC Sounds App Updated With Apple CarPlay Support

The BBC Sounds mobile app has been updated with CarPlay support, meaning users can now listen to the broadcaster's extensive library of live and on-demand radio, music, and podcasts from their in-car infotainment systems and dashboards.

As noted by Pocket-lint.com, CarPlay and Android Auto support was originally available for iPlayer Radio, which the Sounds app replaced, but this version has extra options and an improved in-car experience.

From the BBC Sounds website:

Here's what you'll see in the new car-friendly view of the BBC Sounds app:
Browse: Have a look through our simplified Podcasts, Music Mixes and Recommended for You menus

Stations: Listen live to all of the BBC’s national and local radio stations across the UK

My Sounds: Easy access to all of the radio programmes, podcasts and music mixes you're subscribed to or added to your Bookmarks

Downloads: Offline playback of programmes you've downloaded onto the app BBC Sounds was launched in June last year to introduce a more personalized listening experience and bring a new look and feel to the site.

BBC Sounds was launched in June last year to introduce a more personalized listening experience and bring a new look and feel to the site.

The BBC app is designed to learn from the user's listening habits and introduce them to shows and podcasts that they might not otherwise know about.

BBC Sounds is available to download on iPhone and iPad for free from Apple's regional U.K. App Store. [Direct Link]

Tags: United Kingdom, BBC iPlayer

Top Rated Comments

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BODYBUILDERPAUL

1 week ago

I’ve been using it for a few days now.

It’s a huge improvement over BBC iPlayer Radio in terms of stream stability.

Now using it on my BMW CarPlay which is lovely...

It's one of the first (apart from BEATS 1) to use Apple's HLS AAC streaming. Hence, it's INCREDIBLY stable and is perfect for on the move AND it's 320kbps AAC!!! The closest that you'll get to studio output! (10 years working in radio and I can honestly say that this way to stream is excellent and very 2019+).

Rating: 8 Votes

sirozha

1 week ago

Too bad it isn’t available in the US!

BBC operational expenses are paid for by the British taxpayers. Hence, no access to content for those who are not paying for it.

Rating: 3 Votes

beanbaguk

1 week ago

I’ve been using it for a few days now.

It’s a huge improvement over BBC iPlayer Radio in terms of stream stability.

Now using it on my BMW CarPlay which is lovely...

Rating: 3 Votes

Brenster

1 week ago

Good to know. I’ve been keeping with iPlayer Radio for Pick of the Pops and Radio 3 catch up in the car. If Sounds now has CarPlay then its time to switch across fully. (I’ve had Sounds on my iPhone for a while and my BBC login has carried over all of my show preferences)

Rating: 2 Votes

punitnaker

1 week ago

I think it’s a not, but as a person that resides in both countries, possible to have two App Store accounts? Apps from either country?

I used to live in the UK (US now) and I was able to download with my UK Apple ID. You also have to register an account which asks for a UK post code. Once you get past all that then the app worked great on CarPlay!

Rating: 2 Votes

BODYBUILDERPAUL

1 week ago

That's actually very interesting. I had no idea, and perhaps that explains the delay in launching CarPlay. I just wish they were a little more up-front about it.

They've been using it since iPlayer days. I still use iPlayer on my iPhone and it's incredible when i'm cycling around the cities - no drop outs, just the ovcassional time when I can hear it drop to 128kbps for a second or two whilst it buffers the next batch. Read here all about it - all explained. I just wish that every radio station would us Apple's HLS AAC but UNFORTUNATELY there's a fee for every device that uses it... https://media.info/radio/review/bbc-iplayer-radio-app-v2-sets-the-standard
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Different for BBC Sounds but when it was the iPlayer, it checked that your household had a TV licence upon registering. With BBC Sounds App it's available to listen worldwide BUT you can't download radio shows to your device outside of the UK.
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BBC Sounds running on CarPlay in a BMW.

Very nice - got to love the Apple way of design with UI. So beautiful. Wish I'd studied things like this way back at Art School when I studied graphic design!

Rating: 2 Votes

punitnaker

1 week ago

BBC operational expenses are paid for by the British taxpayers. Hence, no access to content for those who are not paying for it.

Well the BBC iPlayer Radio app is available in the US and this is basically the same thing in terms of content. However I would happily pay for a subscription service for the BBC if it was available.

Rating: 1 Votes

beanbaguk

1 week ago

I'll try to post some screenshots tonight. Very simple, easy app to use and long overdue. I previously gave the beeb a low rating for not including CarPlay in the first place. This is when this app is used most often.

Rating: 1 Votes

BODYBUILDERPAUL

1 week ago

Are downloads the same bitrate?

Yes they are indeed if you select the highest quality setting with is 320AAC
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I’ve found it disappointing that the BBC has never repeated the experiment of streaming The Proms on R3 in 16/48 FLAC. The sound was superb.

HLS AAC is the way forward for broadcasting. This is 100% the most reliable way to broadcast/stream. There is not a better medium. It's exceptional and is the envy of all commercial radio stations throughout the world. It just works... very very well!

Rating: 1 Votes

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