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YouView app records from your iPhone or iPad, but not Android

A new free free YouView App lets you record TV from your iPhone or iPad, but there's no Android app yet.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
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Richard Trenholm
2 min read

You've just set off on your Christmas holidays when disaster strikes: you suddenly realise you haven't set your YouView to record Snog Marry Avoid while you're away. Not to worry: a new free YouView App lets you record no matter where you are -- if you have an Apple device, that is.

The app works on the iPhone 5, iPad and iPod touch. Got an Android phone? Then you'll have to wait until next year, although YouView couldn't give me any more precise information about when in the year we can expect the Android app. 

With the app, you can record your favourite television programmes to the memory of your YouView set-top box from anywhere in the world. Just connect to the Web on your phone or tablet, browse the TV guide and hit record, and your show will be waiting for you when you get home.

You can download the app now from iTunes, for the princely sum of no pounds and no pence.

Virgin Media recently introduced a similar app, Virgin TV Anywhere, which lets you record to your TiVo box. Sky also has a lineup of apps for Sky+ boxes, as well as the Sky Go app to actually watch Sky movies and TV.

The Sky Go app has also proved controversial because of the time it's taken to arrive on Android devices. This week Sky announced the app would finally work on the Samsung Galaxy S3, Nexus 4 and Jelly Bean devices. 

YouView is a set-top box that turns your telly into a smart TV. You can go back in time in the TV guide to catch up on shows you've missed on BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD and Demand 5, or watch other films and TV on-demand. Championed by Lord Sugar, a YouView box is available free with a broadband contract from BT or TalkTalk, or you can buy the box on its own if you have a spare £300 kicking about.

Have you got a YouView box? Has it changed your life? And has Android been cheated once again? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.