TED App Comes to the iPhone

NEW YORK, November 29, 2011 -

- Award-winning free iOS app now available on iPhone and iPod touch, debuts TED Radio and other audio features, joins acclaimed iPad app

Today TED, the nonprofit devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading,” launches its free TED app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Adapted from its award-winning iPad app, the new TED iPhone app allows users to browse and watch TEDTalks, videos ranging from 3 minutes to 18 minutes in length. TEDTalks feature great ideas from speakers on everything from genetics and geopolitics to sculpture and creativity.

The TED iPhone app experience is tailored to mobile phone users who use their devices when on the move.  For instance, users at the gym or out walking the dog now have the option to simply listen to TEDTalks audio. With the iPhone app, TED introduces TED Radio, which streams curated audio TEDTalks 24/7 — click the button and start listening immediately. The app plays audio in the background, allowing listeners to multitask, using other apps like Safari or Mail simultaneously.

“Mobile users are often just that — mobile.  They’re on the go, out walking around,” said Chris Anderson, TED’s curator. “We’ve designed an entirely new experience just for them that lets them listen to TEDTalks on headphones, right from their pockets.” 

Also new to the iPhone app is Bookmarks, a user-requested feature, which allows users to flag and save talks they don’t have time to watch at the moment. They simply tap the Bookmark button, then access talks later from the My Talks tab — with no obligation to wait for a video download.

Many popular features of the TED iPad app can be found in the new iPhone version:

• Browse + share: Users can see the latest TEDTalks videos as soon as they’re published. Browse the TED library by theme, tag or rating. Search for a talk or speaker by name, topic or popularity. Share a talk over Facebook, Twitter or email. And download videos directly to the device for offline viewing.
• Discover new ideas: Using the “Inspire Me” feature, users can tell the app what kind of talks they want to see (Inspiring? Funny? Jaw-dropping?), dial in how much time they have, and let the TED app build a custom playlist to fit their schedule — for viewing immediately or watching later.
• AirPlay: Built-in AirPlay support on the iPhone app allows users to play TEDTalks on any Apple TV-enabled television.

TED requires an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 4.3 or later. The iPad app requires an iPad with iOS 4.3 or later. Audio works great over 3G and WiFi. Video streaming works over 3G, and still better over WiFi. Downloads require WiFi. The apps are available today for free in the App Store. Like the iPad version, the iPhone app was created with support from Rolex.

The app can be downloaded here: itunes.apple.com/us/app/ted/id376183339?mt=8.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Long Beach, California, along with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world; the upcoming TED-Ed initiative; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TED

Contact: Margaret Sullivan, TED@groupsjr.com, +1-646-833-0205

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