WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING TVS
Stream away on your new iPhone by downloading four video apps
Televisions? Where we’re going, we don’t need televisions.
Whatever your feelings might be about Apple — devotee, detractor or ambivalent — the release of a new iPhone is always a pretty big deal.
Two new iPhone models, the iPhone 8 and the larger, beefier iPhone 8 Plus are now available. While the radically different iPhone X comes out in early November, its $1,319 entry-level price tag will likely steer a fair chunk of the Apple faithful to the more obtainable but still powerful iPhone 8 models.
If you’re one of the people about to unbox a new iPhone, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of their super-crisp screens. Especially the iPhone 8 Plus, which boasts a 5.5-inch, full HD (1,920-by-1,080 pixel) display. Granted, you probably don’t want to sit on your couch and binge the new season of Stranger Things on a palm-sized screen, but for onthe-go entertainment, it’s a viable option. Here are four streaming video apps you’re going to want to download right away.
NETFLIX (FREE)
Aside from the iPhone app being very similar in function and features to what you get on your TV-connected device, the Netflix app allows you to download shows right to your device for offline viewing, making it a dream for transit commuters. Only a portion of the Netflix catalogue is download-enabled, but it includes most of the original series, and a decent selection of popular movies.
GOOGLE PLAY MOVIES & TV (FREE)
For Apple folk, iTunes is the obvious go-to for renting and purchasing movies and TV shows to watch on your iOS-powered devices. But Google offers a similar catalogue of shows, and has fewer restrictions on how and where you view your content. The only catch is you have to buy or rent movies on your computer or Android device before you can watch them on the Google Play app. But it’s nice to watch a movie on your phone and then pick it up later on your PC, without having to deal with the tangled thorns of iTunes on Windows.
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO (FREE, SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED)
There are plenty of folks who shell out $79 a year for Amazon Prime to get free delivery on their Amazon purchases, yet don’t even realize it includes a subscription to the company’s ever-improving streaming video service. Aside from being able to watch shows like American Gods and Man in the High Castle on your swanky new phone, Amazon Prime Video has the optional, Kindle-inspired “X-ray” feature that will tell you which actors are in the scene and even point out continuity gaffes.
VLC STREAMER ($3.99)
VLC Streamer is a fantastic app for streaming content from your home computer to your new iPhone, or pretty much any other smartphone or tablet connected to your Wi-Fi network. It’s relatively easy to set up — a small program must be installed on the computer that houses your media library — and after that, it’s a snap to watch movies, TV shows and such on your phone, no matter where you are in the house.