Two-thirds of Americans own high-definition televisions, Internet-connected computers and smartphones, reports Nielsen. These options help put more choices for media viewing in the consumers’ hands. Watching a movie on your smartphone or tablet once meant looking up show times and purchasing tickets in advance, but today we have endless video streaming apps and options for watching our favorite movies and shows without turning on the television.
DirecTV
Start your media streaming journey by watching movies and shows on your phone through your local cable provider. Most big industry players offer mobile apps to sync up your phone directly to your account so you can enjoy your shows on your TV, tablet or smartphone. For example, DirectTV offers apps for both iPhone and Android devices anywhere you have an Internet connection.
Netflix
Access all your favorite movies on your phone directly from your Netflix account. Their monthly membership price allows for unlimited streaming. You also can start watching a show on your smartphone and then resume on your tablet or television when you’re ready without much interruption. Plus, you can rate your shows and movies so that Netflix can give you better recommendations.
Hubi
If you struggle with getting your phone up to date with the latest Adobe Flash technology, try Hubi. This cross-platform application directly streams videos from YouTube, NowVideo and beyond on its integrated video player. It also keeps track of what you’ve already watched in case you want to revisit favorite movies.
Crackle
Grab your Android device, and watch your favorite media right from Crackle. Over 25 million people use this free app without worrying about signing up or fees. Movies and TV shows are free, including blockbusters and Emmy-winning shows. Although their media collection isn’t as extensive as a competitor like Netflix, they do have hundreds of full-length feature movies and TV shows to choose from.
Show Box
Stream or download shows and movies with Show Box to watch later for offline viewing. Advertisements are common when using Showbox, but watching the content is free and can save a bundle on cable bills. Some users report a battery drain with the app, so plug your phone in or charge your battery before downloading a particularly long movie. As with any mobile streaming app, brush up on the legalities of watching and downloading content to your phone before you start.
YouTube
Even devoted users might overlook the wealth of legally uploaded movies and content to choose from on YouTube. Sony released the controversial comedy, “The Interview” on YouTube to rent for $5.99 or $14.99 to own. The platform also features blockbusters like “Frozen†and “The Godfather.†The only downside to YouTube movies is that they are not free, but most of your choices come at a low price.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime’s annual paid subscription service gets you access to free movies and shows with the option to rent or buy. Renting an individual movie can cost just a few bucks or owning an entire season of your favorite HBO show might hover around $20. To date, there are over 150,000 movies and shows to choose from. Plus, you can store up to 5 GB of free photos on the Amazon cloud drive.
Leave a Reply