Save space by shrinking
your files Free hard-drive space running low? Don’t delete your files – just make them smaller
Paid-for services Netflix www.netflix.com What’s on?
All sorts, but that’s what you’d expect of a service that costs £7.49 per month for the standard package (there is a month’s free trial available). You’ll get access to exclusive TV shows, such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, hundreds of films and BBC shows. Netflix also lets you download a limited selection of films and shows on Android, IOS or on Windows 10 (if you have the Netflix app, www.snipca.com/24351). You’ll see a down arrow next to any content that can be downloaded.
Stand-out feature
Netflix offers lots of content, but isn’t great at guiding you through its vast collection. If you use Chrome, you can view Netflix’s categories using the Netflix Categories Chrome add-on ( www.snipca.com/24348). Once installed, go to the Netflix site, log into your account, then click the add-on (see screenshot above right), All Categories, then click on the category you want – these include Action Comedies, Alien Sci-fi and Deep Sea Horror Movies. To include a category in your favourites, click the heart icon to its right.
Amazon Prime Video www.snipca.com/24350 What’s on?
Amazon is Netflix’s main rival in the paid-for TV business. For £7.99 a month you get access to a variety of TV shows and films, plus Amazon Prime’s other benefits such as one-day delivery on goods and Amazon Prime Music. If you’d prefer to save some cash and just subscribe to the videos, that’ll cost you £5.99 a month. Like Netflix, Amazon has exclusive shows, including Preacher and American Gods but it has much less choice than Netflix. Amazon also has the annoying habit of mixing in the Prime content with paid-for videos. Click ‘Included with Prime’ to fix this. To download from Amazon you’ll need the Android or IOS app on your phone or tablet.
Best of the rest Youtube www.youtube.com What’s on?
Youtube has a little bit of everything, including TV shows, documentaries, live shows, music videos and classic films. To find what you want use its search bar and filters. For example, to find classic films, type an actor’s name, such as cary grant, into the search bar, then press Enter. Once the search results appear, click Filters, then Film (see screenshot below).
You’ll see that some videos have a price next to them, but you can still find plenty of free films. Try adding free to your search to prioritise these. You can use as many filters as you want, so try adding ‘View count’ or Rating to find popular ones.
Stand-out feature
Youtube has some great content to keep kids busy. Get the free Youtube Kids app for Android ( www.snipca.com/24353) or IOS ( www.snipca.com/24355).
NASA TV www.snipca.com/24358 What’s on?
Exactly what you’d expect. Free TV direct from NASA, which includes live feeds of Earth from the International Space Station and interviews with the astronauts on board.
Qello Concerts www.qello.com What’s on?
Music documentaries and classic concerts by the likes of David Bowie and Queen. Not everything on Qello is free – an All Access Pass costs $7.99 (around £6.20) per month. But even without that you can watch samples of concerts.