Brightcove App SDK for iOS Version 2.0.1 with HTTP Streaming and Support for Apple iOS 4.2

We are happy to let you know about the latest release of the Brightcove App SDK for iOS, version 2.0.1. This version of our SDK for iPad and iPhone apps fully supports Apple iOS 4.2 in all three libraries. In addition, we have added a new parameter to the Media API to make it easy to use HTTP Streaming with Brightcove. 

New features in version 2.0.1:

• iOS 4.2 is supported in all three libraries: libBrightcoveMediaAPI.a, libBrightcovePlayerKit.a, libBrightcoveSharingKit.a.
• The new HTTP_IOS media delivery type lets developers specifically request Apple HTTP Streaming URLs in all Media API requests. 

Apple HTTP Live Streaming Support

For the best user experience for long videos on an iPad or iPhone, Apple recommends the videos be served using the HTTP Live Streaming protocol.

Brightcove will soon support transcoding directly to HTTP Live Streaming assets within the Brightcove Media module. In order to support requesting such assets from the Media API, we have added a new Media Delivery Type. 

The BCMoviePlayerController will now look for HTTP Streaming renditions and Variant Playlists stored in the FLVURL property of the BCVideo you want to play. If no playlist file is stored in the FLVURL property, we look through the video's renditions array, looking for a bit-rate in the search threshold. To play your videos in this format, you need to use the BCMediaDeliveryTypeHTTP_IOS media delivery type in your Media API calls with a call to setMediaDeliveryType:

api = [[BCMediaAPI alloc] initWithReadToken:@"XYZZY."];
[api setMediaDeliveryType:BCMediaDeliveryTypeHTTP_IOS];

Once this is set, the videos returned will have their primary URLs set to the address of the variant playlist for the HTTP Live Streaming rendition if such a rendition exists for that particular video.

If you want to use this option with existing videos, you will need to re-transcode them to produce HTTP Live Streaming renditions.

Keep an eye on our blog to hear about more enhancements to our service!