There have been a number of threads that mention streaming video, usually in the context of replacing pay-for TV.
I have visited many websites that cover the subject, but even in Wiki, find that much of the discussion begins halfway through the subject, skipping the basics, and getting into technical stuff I don't need to know.
I don't pretend to be an expert on this... just passing along my own thoughts as a result of playing around with some online websites.
First of all, the term "streaming". While the common belief is that streaming means transmitting material to be seen, listened to, or read, without waiting for the full content to be downloaded, in practice, even many video sites, require downloading, before the content is played.
Availability through: Phones, Tablets, Computers, Media Players, and many newer TV's. For personal viewing, almost any compatible equipment works, but for group, or large TV viewing, unless the TV itself has internet capabilities, the input would normally come from a "media player" (examples- ROKU, SONY, XBOX and other "players" or a computer that can send the signal to the larger TV screen.. I have been able to play through some older computers (512 RAM) using an SVideo Cable and sound. Am not sure whether newer computers have HDMI connectors.
For whatever technical reason, streaming video to a television screen from the computer, hasn't been very successful for me. I suppose a problem of resolution.
In any case I am now using a Sony media player, and it provides a perfect picture.
(aside: one of the downsides of using the media players that I am familiar with, has been the difficulty in using the search capabilities. 'telephone type keyboard'... I recently discovered that I can use a USB keyboard to input the info... tho, not use the mouse.)
Content: Almost unlimited. Free AND Pay-for.
This is a process in transition, and what is true today, will not be true tomorrow. New films, old films, free films, fee films... almost every kind of content imaginable. From UTube to Netflix and at least a few hundred specialty websites in between. Every mainstream TV station has their own content, and this is shared with other accumulator websites. Specialty streaming sites, just for your own favorite college football team, as well as cult movie, and "just bad" movie sites.
The free sites, may be totally free, or in some of the more popular wide content sites, like Crackle, may be filled with commercials. Finding the websites, is a task for google... as in "free TV webites"... but even at that, there are many more that won't show up on the first five pages of results.
As far as TV series are concerned... it's just a matter of searching, and of course for availability from a copyright standpoint. For instance, Downton Abbey season 1 is available on Netflix, but although series 2 is over, it is not yet available online. One positive note... It appears that European TV, which parallels ours with regard to things like detective series, ie. Criminal Minds or CSI... is widely available. ( I have about a year or two of watching these series, some of which have been on British TV for 10 years, and run into hundreds of episodes) . Not seen on US television.
Documentaries, travelogues, How to's, Sports, and even specialty sports, like Hunting, or Skating etc., are all available, usually in specialty websites that bring together the special interest.
Since I'm still a neophyte, this is a learning curve. Based on what I see now, there will be a long period of shakeout, as the Streaming TV Business Model searches for some solid footing. Right now, one of the key "wants" that keeps most people from dropping their "PAY" services is the availability of current information and news, and of course the current entertainment content. There are a few "streaming news" sites, but none that I've found for the major networks. Usually the news is in selected clips... (IMHO, a pain to search and watch). As the business of streaming becomes more sophisticated, the current nuisance of connecting to content will surely be simplified.
So... not ready to give up the pay TV quite yet, and expect that the transition won't provide much in savings, but that this may be the way of the world, as the last mile of internet connectivity becomes a reality.
Thoughts on the subject, and suggestions welcome. How much/often, do you use streaming video?
I have visited many websites that cover the subject, but even in Wiki, find that much of the discussion begins halfway through the subject, skipping the basics, and getting into technical stuff I don't need to know.
I don't pretend to be an expert on this... just passing along my own thoughts as a result of playing around with some online websites.
First of all, the term "streaming". While the common belief is that streaming means transmitting material to be seen, listened to, or read, without waiting for the full content to be downloaded, in practice, even many video sites, require downloading, before the content is played.
Availability through: Phones, Tablets, Computers, Media Players, and many newer TV's. For personal viewing, almost any compatible equipment works, but for group, or large TV viewing, unless the TV itself has internet capabilities, the input would normally come from a "media player" (examples- ROKU, SONY, XBOX and other "players" or a computer that can send the signal to the larger TV screen.. I have been able to play through some older computers (512 RAM) using an SVideo Cable and sound. Am not sure whether newer computers have HDMI connectors.
For whatever technical reason, streaming video to a television screen from the computer, hasn't been very successful for me. I suppose a problem of resolution.
In any case I am now using a Sony media player, and it provides a perfect picture.
(aside: one of the downsides of using the media players that I am familiar with, has been the difficulty in using the search capabilities. 'telephone type keyboard'... I recently discovered that I can use a USB keyboard to input the info... tho, not use the mouse.)
Content: Almost unlimited. Free AND Pay-for.
This is a process in transition, and what is true today, will not be true tomorrow. New films, old films, free films, fee films... almost every kind of content imaginable. From UTube to Netflix and at least a few hundred specialty websites in between. Every mainstream TV station has their own content, and this is shared with other accumulator websites. Specialty streaming sites, just for your own favorite college football team, as well as cult movie, and "just bad" movie sites.
The free sites, may be totally free, or in some of the more popular wide content sites, like Crackle, may be filled with commercials. Finding the websites, is a task for google... as in "free TV webites"... but even at that, there are many more that won't show up on the first five pages of results.
As far as TV series are concerned... it's just a matter of searching, and of course for availability from a copyright standpoint. For instance, Downton Abbey season 1 is available on Netflix, but although series 2 is over, it is not yet available online. One positive note... It appears that European TV, which parallels ours with regard to things like detective series, ie. Criminal Minds or CSI... is widely available. ( I have about a year or two of watching these series, some of which have been on British TV for 10 years, and run into hundreds of episodes) . Not seen on US television.
Documentaries, travelogues, How to's, Sports, and even specialty sports, like Hunting, or Skating etc., are all available, usually in specialty websites that bring together the special interest.
Since I'm still a neophyte, this is a learning curve. Based on what I see now, there will be a long period of shakeout, as the Streaming TV Business Model searches for some solid footing. Right now, one of the key "wants" that keeps most people from dropping their "PAY" services is the availability of current information and news, and of course the current entertainment content. There are a few "streaming news" sites, but none that I've found for the major networks. Usually the news is in selected clips... (IMHO, a pain to search and watch). As the business of streaming becomes more sophisticated, the current nuisance of connecting to content will surely be simplified.
So... not ready to give up the pay TV quite yet, and expect that the transition won't provide much in savings, but that this may be the way of the world, as the last mile of internet connectivity becomes a reality.
Thoughts on the subject, and suggestions welcome. How much/often, do you use streaming video?
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