Streaming Video in the Palm of Your Hand Pt. 2

We have looked at iPhone third party apps that allow streaming video.  Now let’s look at other sources.  The first way is extremely easy.  It just requires Apple’s very own built-in iTunes app.  There’s absolutely nothing to download.  Just open the application, select Podcasts from the bottom bar, and look for content to watch.  If you already have a favorite podcast, below you can choose Search, and type in your desired podcast.

The second way is also super easy.  Another built-in app to the rescue.  YouTube enables you to watch TV shows in several parts, due to the maximum length of video that may be uploaded (10 minutes).  There are mostly kid or teen full episodes available in several parts.  Adults will find mostly clips of their preferred shows.

The third way is easy, with just a little work involved.  CBS has content on the app TV.com, but until Hulu’s app has been developed and approved, I have the next best thing to share with you.  ABC.com and NBC.com automatically detects that you are using an iPhone or iPod Touch when you visit them via Safari, and direct you to their mobile sites.  These sites scale everything down for your device for easier reading.  If you tap on Video, it takes you to their TV shows.  m.NBC  offers full episodes of their top sitcoms and dramas, while ABC.go.com/iPhone extends more clips to viewers..  You can easily bookmark these two for quick access, but a faster approach is to add an icon to the home screen.  To do this, once you’re on the site at the video page, select the plus sign on the bar at the bottom.  A menu will pop up, and you should pick Add to Home Screen.  The icon is shown with the name, which may be modified (I delete the .com).  Tap on the Add button on the top right, and it will add the icon to the next availble spot on your screen as a shortcut to the  site.  This can also be done with cwtv.com .  Happy streaming!

Streaming Video in the Palm of Your Hand

I am a bit of an iPhone appaholic.  I usually have all 9 pages filled with apps, and I’m always looking for the next greatest app to make my life easier or more entertaining.  I discovered Air Video and Air Video Free ($2.99/$0) a couple of weeks ago. They allow you to stream video off a Mac, PC, or connected hard drive and onto an iPhone or iPod Touch via wi-fi.  This frees up space for memory hungry music, photos and stored movies for travel.  After downloading the app onto your device and the server from their website onto your computer and install it (free, and necessary to stream and convert), you can begin streaming all videos.  If you have content not in the proper format, you can convert it using your iPhone/iPod Touch for viewing.   My enthusiasm wore off a little when I realized I would mostly use this app in bed before going to sleep. Hope was restored when I found the apps Off and Off Free ($0.99/$0) yesterday.  These enable you to turn off your Mac/PC, put it in sleep mode, restart it or lock it.  A free download of their server is required, and is easy to do.  This dynamic duo affords you the ability to watch a streaming movie in bed, and then shut down your computer for the night.

Another great streaming option is the free app Joost.  There is no server to download.  You can stream movies, music videos and TV shows directly to your handy little gadget.  The catch is, with the exception of the music videos, most content is not current.  That’s not always a bad thing.  I have viewed episodes of ‘Friends’, ‘The O.C.’, ‘Star Trek’ (the Original Series), and the films ‘The Fifth Element’ and ‘Men in Black’.  Many  shows are full episodes.

TV.com offers strictly TV shows mostly from CBS (which also presents current hits and many of those in syndication), but also from The CW, Showtime, Chow and CNET TV.  The former offers many full episodes, and the CW provides clips often one to two minutes in length, and I’ve found Showtime clips up to seven minutes long.

ABC News is just that, Top News, WABC 7, and clips of the shows ‘Good Morning America’, ‘World News Tonight’, ’20/20′, ‘Nightline’, and ‘This Week’.

There are other apps which allow streaming video like vSnax and Truveo, but these are just clips of shows.  I must say, vSnax at least offers a more unique mix of channels, i.e. Animal Planet, G4TV, Discovery, AMC, Style Network, Comedy Central, and VH1.  A Hulu app is what everyone is anticipating.  Hopefully that comes out by the end of the summer!

Music Tuesday

In the world of Twitter #MusicMonday is the day to discuss harmonious sounds.  I find Tuesday the time of the week for me to delve into the melody oriented topic based on a couple of sources.  Every Tuesday, iTunes offers a new small selection of free content to all with an account.  The songs available are from an eclectic mix of genres, and there is a gratis music video.  Other giveaways include TV episodes or clips, movie featurettes, and spoken word excerpts, but let’s stick to the music.  There’s a catch.  The music store is not handing out the latest and greatest tunes; however, you might enjoy some of the selections, so they are worth the listen.  The Single of the Week is often an up and coming artist or one who isn’t mainstream.  I download it 85% of the time, so I have to like it or find potential in it to add it to my hard drive.  The Discovery Download is where they mix things up, by providing a different category of music weekly.  I’ve seen rock, hip-hop, gospel, comedy, audiobooks and more offered here.  Then there is Canción de la Semana, which features the Latin single of the week.  The music videos are unique, because they occasionally offer a top 40 song.  I have downloaded Coldplay’s ‘Lovers in Japan’, The Veronica’s ‘Untouched’, and Delta Goodrem’s ‘In this Life’ all courtesy of iTunes.

Let’s move on to a different source of music.  Josh Schwartz (The O.C., Gossip Girl, Chuck) has created an on-line series called ‘Rockville CA‘, which takes place in the fictional club Rockville in Los Angeles that provides live performances by indie rock bands.  A group of twentysomethings hang out in the club to hear the latest up and coming bands, while the main characters date other people, but have a special chemistry with each other.  The first five to six minute episodes debuted on March 17, 2009 on the WB.com, and new shows are offered every Tuesday.  Some of the featured bands are: Nico Stai, Kaiser Chiefs, Lykke Li, Phantom Planet and White Lies.  All episodes are still accessible on the site for viewing, and available on iTunes for download at $0.99 each.