Hi all, Im thinking of buying a smartphone or tablet but is there anyway, app or software that will allow me to watch a lot of tv mabye 20-30 hours a week without using up loads of 3g data and costing a fortune, I know streaming or downloading via iplayers is very data consuming, Any other way this could be done and is there any network /carrier which is truly all you can eat data or are they all capped any suggestion greatly appreciated thanks billydoc.
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
watch tv via phone or tablet
- Thread starter billydoc
- Start date
Hi and thanks for taking the time to reply to my question, Yes i know the iplayers use a ton of data was just wondering if there was another way to watch tv using an app or some sort of software that would cut down the amount of data needed be a bit more economical with the data consumption if you like, Thanks again for your reply anyway, cheers billydoc.
Use WiFi or find a carrier with unlimited data like Sprint or its ancillaries.
I'm not sure I understand what you want to do. If it is to watch your cable TV in home you can buy and run Slingbox. If it is to watch downloaded video content, you can download over your home wired connection and watch on your tablet/phone to your heart's content.
But if you're thinking of streaming video you'll be subject to 3G data caps or have to pay for 4g access. The only way to get data into your phone is via 3g/4g or WiFi, unless you store it on the phone. That's why so many people seek out WiFi hotspots so much. To save data costs. And why wired internet is still a better option than wireless. Wireless data caps are not conducive to video use.
I'm not sure I understand what you want to do. If it is to watch your cable TV in home you can buy and run Slingbox. If it is to watch downloaded video content, you can download over your home wired connection and watch on your tablet/phone to your heart's content.
But if you're thinking of streaming video you'll be subject to 3G data caps or have to pay for 4g access. The only way to get data into your phone is via 3g/4g or WiFi, unless you store it on the phone. That's why so many people seek out WiFi hotspots so much. To save data costs. And why wired internet is still a better option than wireless. Wireless data caps are not conducive to video use.
First, "iplayer" is for iphone, not android.
Second, again, if you want to stream tv to your phone, it REQUIRES data. You cannot "cut down" on the amount of data it needs.
ninja_reject
Android Enthusiast
Skyfire claims to use less data while watching videos. I am not sure if this is true.
only for flash videos.
Only way to "cut down" on data use is to reduce your stream to a crappier bandwidth. Like when watching YouTube you intentionally select the 320p over higher def feeds.
Sites that stream content automatically tend to set the stream to however good your signal throughput is. Unless you are in Canada where Netflix intentionally reduces the quality of the stream to account for the ridiculously low Canadian data caps.
Data caps are the next big fight in internet equality.
Sites that stream content automatically tend to set the stream to however good your signal throughput is. Unless you are in Canada where Netflix intentionally reduces the quality of the stream to account for the ridiculously low Canadian data caps.
Data caps are the next big fight in internet equality.
yea, sadly, the unlimited plans will eventually all go away, making apps that stream video or music, like ustream, skype, pandora, youtube etc etc and useing sling box will be left out in the cold. enjoy while you can, because it will either be gone or be seriously throttled down to where it cannot be streamed.
devizes18193
Member
I'm in the uk I've used a site called tv catchup with no problems on pay as you go . on a sony x10 mini with 2.1 using opera .Granted the qulaity is better with wifi then 3g .
BiohazardVideo
Member
Go with one of the no contract plans. I'm on metro and download a crapload of torrents and even without wifi its a bit slow, but gets the job done. Skyfire rocks, I use it all the time and though it's not always 100% it's still enough to keep me entertained.