mobile feeds

[dingo]

if you have a Superpass subscription, you can watch the feeds on your mobile device this year for an additional fee ($9.99 for 3 months if your Superpass bills quarterly, or $4.99 a month if you're billed monthly). If you don't have Superpass yet, you can get a free trial here (http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-2041802-10790761)http://www.tqlkg.com/image-2041802-10790761. If you sign up for both at the same time, the free trial will cover both regular Superpass and mobile.

CHECK YOUR DATA PLAN as streaming video eats it up fast! One hour of live feeds is around 200 MB of data. Some "unlimited" plans really aren't, and extra data fees could really run your bill up.

Android: the app is out - get it from Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.treemolabs.apps.bigbrother&feature=search_result) or search the Market for Big Brother on your device - it's the one by CBS Interactive. The app is free - when you activate it to watch the feeds, it'll ask you to sign in or sign up. You'll need Android 2.2 or higher, and Flash. The Android app is optimized for mobile viewing (and looks great!), and has a lot of CBS BB content as well.

iPad/iPhone: there won't be a dedicated app but you'll be able to watch the feeds with your Safari browser at the regular Superpass BB page (http://superpass.real.com/big-brother) and navigate to/between the feeds the same as you do by computer. The site will know you're on a mobile device and ask you to sign in or sign up. You'll need iOS4 or higher.

If you already added the mobile access option when you signed up for Superpass, billing for the mobile add-on won't begin until July 7. If you already have Superpass and want to add mobile access, please do so by going to www.Hamsterwatch.com on your device and then click the Superpass banner at the top, so I can get credit for it - thanks!

If you have both an Android and an iDevice, you won't need to pay twice - just use the same login info for either (but not at the same time).

I'll do my best to help with questions as they arise, but I'll be pretty busy the first night so please check your op system now and upgrade if necessary to make sure your device is ready, as that'll probably be the biggest hurdle for many.

If you have problems getting the feeds on your device and it meets the above system requirements, you'll have to contact Superpass support for help - they are being very responsive.

Please post any other questions here if I left anything out and I'll add them to this post.

[mamafoxof3]

Verizon customers, please note that as of Thursday, July 7th, they are putting a cap on the amount of data you can use per month.

Please check out this link for specifics:
http://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-to-cap-data-plans-on-july-7-2011-6

AT&T has already quit offering unlimited data plans on new subscribers, and their 'unlimited data' for existing plans isn't truly unlimited.

For Sprint users, I thought they'd put a 5G cap on their 'unlimited' data, but now I'm not sure. I could not find any current information that clearly spells it out. I am a Sprint user, and just upgraded to a 4G phone. With that, I pay an extra $10 a month for the Premium Data plan. It says that I have unlimited data, and I could not find any small print that says it's capped. If it's an issue, I suggest contacting customer service and double checking.

[dingo]

thanks mama!

Verizon customers, please note that as of Thursday, July 7th, they are putting a cap on the amount of data you can use per month.

Please check out this link for specifics:
http://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-to-cap-data-plans-on-july-7-2011-6

I believe the new Verizon cap is for new plans only - if you have an unlimited data plan with Verizon now, it should remain in effect thru your contract.

But don't take my word for it: check with your provider

I switched to Sprint earlier this year with BB feeds specifically in mind, and was told that their unlimited plan truly is unlimited, which does not mean they haven't changed it since.

[dingo]

TO CHECK YOUR OS VERSION:

iPad/iPhone: hit settings icon (gears), then General, then About, look for Version - if it says 4.(whatever) you should be good to go. If it says 3.(whatever) or lower, you will need to upgrade

Android: click settings, then About phone, look for Firmware version - if it says 2.2.(whatever) you should be good to go. If it says 2.1(whatever) or lower, you will need to upgrade.

Android users will also need Flash Player - to check if you have it, go to Settings, then Applications (NOT the apps icon on home screen), then Manage Applications - it'll show as Adobe Flash Player 10.(whatever) if you have it. Get or update if necessary at Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.adobe.flashplayer)

[dingo]

thanks to "Mike" for the iPhone how-to! sorry, wish I knew which Mike

[MarluvsBB]

Thanks for this.... The app itself isn't available for download from the Market until tomorrow, right?

[dingo]

correct, the app will be available sometime on Thursday - we don't yet know the name but I'll post/tweet/facebook when I know it

the name will probably be some combination of CBS/Big Brother/Superpass in Android Market if you want to search

if anyone finds it in there and I haven't posted it yet, please let me know on twitter @hamsterwatch - thanks!

[mamafoxof3]

Dingo, you are a life saver. Thanks for the Flash info. I never would have known I needed it, and that I didn't have it. But all installed and ready to go once they release the app tomorrow.

[LisaNY]

Is anyone else getting an error on their iPhone or iPad when trying to look at the Superpass site?
It keeps telling me to install Adobe Flash player but we cant do that on the iPad or iPhone.

What am I missing?? :confused:

Thanks!

[dingo]

Is anyone else getting an error on their iPhone or iPad when trying to look at the Superpass site?
It keeps telling me to install Adobe Flash player but we cant do that on the iPad or iPhone.

What am I missing?? :confused:

Thanks!

you're fine, that's because Superpass site is not yet recognizing that you're coming in via iPhone - tomorrow night when mobile access goes live at +/- 9pm PT/midnight ET it will know and you'll be fine - iDevices will use built-in Quicktime player

[LisaNY]

you're fine, that's because Superpass site is not yet recognizing that you're coming in via iPhone - tomorrow night when mobile access goes live at +/- 9pm PT/midnight ET it will know and you'll be fine - iDevices will use built-in Quicktime player

AHHHH!! Thank you!! :D

Cant wait!!

[dingo]

UPDATE the Android app won't be released until Friday (hopefully)

Android devices should be able to watch feeds via your device's web browser until then, same as iPhone/iPad

[dingo]

the Android app is out!

Get it from Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.treemolabs.apps.bigbrother&feature=search_result) or search the Market for Big Brother on your device - it's the one by CBS Interactive

feeds look GREAT on it!

[CanadianFan]

Arrggghhhh! Once again "not available to Canadian subscribers". Oh well. Saved me $9.99 and many long hours of being unsociable around my friends.

[dingo]

oh, too bad, CanadianFan! well the app was contracted by CBS, not Superpass, so that would explain that but thanks for letting me know

[dingo]

some Android devices aren't working properly yet but they are aware of the issues and will have a fix soon (I hope)

[abt]

some Android devices aren't working properly yet but they are aware of the issues and will have a fix soon (I hope)

Just would like to save some other #bb13 viewers the frustration of getting/using #bb13 mobile app:

I purchased the Big Brother 13 mobile app for Android in addition to my usual yearly SuperPass subscription.

Nowhere in the SP or CBS purchase description was mentioned that the mobile app will not work with the brand T-Mobile MyTouch Android, even though is upgraded to Froyo 2.2 OS. FLASH will not d/l from the Android Market, as it states is not supported. The phone was purchased in the last year.

The SuperPass rep kept me in live chat for nearly 1/2 an hour waiting for her to type a line that reads "Thank You" "Sorry you're having problems" - only to finally say, "Contact your phone manufacturer for more info".

The T-Mobile rep states that FLASH was never supported on this phone, nor will it be until Gingerbread releases - probably mid-next year and that most phones are not FLASH enabled unless they're only a couple of months old!

Now stuck having to cancel this subscription with Real.com ... a nightmare all in itself, as we all know.

I would have to basically purchase a new phone for $400-$500 a pop + an extended 2yr contract in order to have a phone that supports the bb mobile app, just for this season - or pay a $200 termination fee and get a new carrier.

Bottom Line: Check to make sure your smartphone is FLASH-enabled. If it wasn't released very recently, it may not be.
Now of course, it IS a full moon and I'm significantly pissy after spending hours on this problem. Please forgive the rant :mad:

For those of you that it IS working for .. ^5
I wanna be YOU!

[dingo]

sorry to hear it ABT.. I don't know how much or how little info they've got in the various provider sources, which is why I wrote up the top post - it does say you need Flash

they're still rolling out fixes for phones that should support the app but don't but yea, if you don't or can't have Flash, it won't work :/

I'm sure they'll refund the mobile fee but if not, ask @bigbrolivefeeds how to proceed, she'll get you fixed up

[dingo]

the Android app has an update now available from Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.treemolabs.apps.bigbrother&feature=search_result) or search the Market from your device: Big Brother, it's the one from CBS Interactive

[abt]

sorry to hear it ABT.. I don't know how much or how little info they've got in the various provider sources, which is why I wrote up the top post - it does say you need Flash

they're still rolling out fixes for phones that should support the app but don't but yea, if you don't or can't have Flash, it won't work :/

I'm sure they'll refund the mobile fee but if not, ask @bigbrolivefeeds how to proceed, she'll get you fixed up

Hey Dingo,

You did do a great write-up with info for the mobile-app and that was my first go-to!

Unfortunately (for me and maybe others new to streaming over smartphones), it never occurred to me that a newer smartphone such as mine would not be flash-enabled as a whole. It seems I can use the other features in the #bb13 mobile, but specifically not the feeds (the only reason I wanted the darned thing :rolleyes:) They will refund my subscription cost.

My bad, my HTC phone's bad and SP/CBS's bad for not being more specific as to what devices will be able to stream (or not, as the case may be). SP did state however that they would make their development team aware to update their page with more info. We'll see. Now if they would work on their CSR Chat Interface training ... Holy Hamsters, Batman!!