If you’re slightly lazy like us, the chances are that you consider the biggest benefit of smartphones to be not the Sat-Nav, the e-books and the ability to work from home but simply the fact that it’s now possible to stream South Park whilst sat in the bath. In a tribute to that level of sloth, we’re going to take a look at what we think are the very best TV and Movie streaming apps currently available on the Android market. These should work on everything from a Windows-based system to a tablet PC by Lenovo.
Netflix
Oh, god bless it. At less than a tenner a month, Netflix offers the ability to stream an unholy (and unlimited) amount of different content right to your phone or tablet (as well as to your Xbox or Laptop). There are literally hundreds of shows and movies available to watch immediately. What is available will depend on whereabouts you are – Netflix is region specific, so the UK area has access to a number of classic British comedies, with the US having exclusive rights to some of their own standout shows. The only thing worth noting is that Netflix doesn’t always update straight away – other streaming devices might get the latest shows more quickly.
Flixter
Originally, Flixter wasn’t actually a streaming app – it was purely based around information, operating in much the same way as IMDB does. However, it now also streams movies purchased through Ultraviolet. Ultraviolet itself is actually a bit fiddly to sign up for (it’s certainly more time-consuming than singing up for Netflix, say), but once that’s sorted it’s a very enjoyable app. It’s worth observing here, though, that there are some devices that it won’t work on – it’s a good idea to double check before handing over any cash, possibly using the free movie that they give you when you sign up.
HBO GO
This app’s popularity will be primarily based around two things. First, whether or not you’re in the good ol’ US of A. Secondly, whether you actually like HBO! This app – as you might have guessed – is based solely around the US channel and can only be used by those that have a cable service that already has HBO included. Those complexities aside, for those that do like HBO (and given that the channel has produced Game of Thrones, the Wire, Boardwalk Empire and the Sopranos amongst others, everyone really should like it) the app is a must-have.
Sky GO
Just as HBO is for the Americans out there, so Sky Go is for the British. Unlike HBO Go, though, Sky’s app can actually be paid for with a separate subscription, meaning that you can sign up for it on a per month basis and end the contract whenever you like. As well as showing a large amount of comedies and dramas (not to mention the standard channels) Sky Go offers two main things: sport and movies. Both genres have four different channels each, all of them filled to the brim with everything from cricket to baseball and from everything from Harry Potter to the Human Centipede (not that anyone would want to watch that). For sports and movie fans, the Brits need look no further.