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Sony's PS4 has iPlayer app at launch, BBC Sport

Sony's PS4 will have iPlayer on board when it goes on sale on Friday, the BBC has confirmed. That's one over the Xbox One.

Joe Svetlik Reporter
Joe has been writing about consumer tech for nearly seven years now, but his liking for all things shiny goes back to the Gameboy he received aged eight (and that he still plays on at family gatherings, much to the annoyance of his parents). His pride and joy is an Infocus projector, whose 80-inch picture elevates movie nights to a whole new level.
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Joe Svetlik
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Sony's PlayStation 4 will come with the BBC iPlayer app when it goes on sale on Friday. Games site The Sixth Axis posted a screenshot showing the app, and the Beeb has now confirmed to Pocket-Lint -- and I've confirmed the confirmation -- that the catch-up service will be available when the console hits the shop shelves.

The Xbox One -- which went on sale in the UK yesterday -- doesn't have iPlayer, however. At least not yet. A spokesperson from the BBC told Pocket-Lint: "Whilst we are working to bring iPlayer to Xbox One in the future, we have no further details to share at this time."

So what does the Xbox One have in terms of third-party entertainment apps? Microsoft published a list earlier this month. They include 4oD, Lovefilm, Blinkbox, Crackle, Demand 5, Eurosport, Machinima (me neither), Muzu TV, Netflix, Now TV, Ted, Twitch and Wauki.tv. Though earlier this week, Google announced YouTube would be available on the console from launch, too.

As well as iPlayer, the PS4 will have BBC Sport, Demand 5, and the IGN app when it goes on sale. It doesn't have 4oD, Netflix or Lovefilm, though the Xbox One does. This could change before Friday though, so stay tuned for more news.

I've contacted Sony for a full list of third-party PS4 apps at launch, and will update this story if I hear back.

Both consoles have suffered some teething problems. You can't play games on the Xbox One straight out of the box -- first, you have to install an update, which is a pain in the backside. The console has sold out, too. Meanwhile, some PS4 owners have reported their machines don't work -- a condition that's already been christened the Blue Light of Death after the Xbox 360's infamous Red Ring of Death. Sony claims it's due to damage in transit.

How are you getting on with your Xbox One? Or are you holding out for a PS4? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.