While you maintain one qualifying Magenta Max line in good standing. Only one offer per account. Registration in Apple TV app req’d. See plan for details. See full terms
Receive Apple TV+ (up to $4.99/mo. value) while you maintain one qualifying Magenta Max line in good standing. Valid only for Apple TV+ in the United States. Complete registration with Apple in the Apple TV app; requires iTunes/Apple Media Services account. Terms and Apple Privacy Policy apply; see the applicable terms at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/us/terms.html. Must be 13+. Only one offer per account; may take 1-2 bill cycles. Apple TV+ is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Apple is not a sponsor of this promotion. Like all plans, features may change or be discontinued at any time; see T-Mobile Terms and Conditions at T-Mobile. com for details.
Registration in Apple TV app req’d. MAX: While you maintain one qualifying Magenta Max line in good standing. Only one offer per account. See plan for details. Magenta: Limited-time offer; subject to change. Only one offer per account. Qualifying credit & service required. After free trial, plan automatically renews at $4.99/month until cancelled. See full terms
MAX: Receive Apple TV+ (up to $4.99/mo. value) while you maintain one qualifying Magenta Max line in good standing.
Valid only for Apple TV+ in the United States. Complete registration with Apple in the Apple TV app; requires iTunes/Apple Media Services account. Terms and Apple Privacy Policy apply; see the applicable terms at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/us/terms.html. Must be 13+. Only one offer per account; may take 1-2 bill cycles. Apple TV+ is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Apple is not a sponsor of this promotion. Like all plans, features may change or be discontinued at any time; see T-Mobile Terms and Conditions at T-Mobile.com for details. Magenta: Limited-time offer; subject to change. Valid only for Apple TV+ in the United States. Complete registration with Apple in the Apple TV app; requires iTunes/Apple Media Services account. Terms and Apple Privacy Policy apply; see the applicable terms at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/us/terms.html. Must be 13+. Only one offer per account. Qualifying credit & service required. After free trial, plan automatically renews at $4.
99/month until cancelled. Apple TV+ is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. Apple is not a sponsor of this promotion. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts (e.g. other T-Mobile Apple TV+ trial offers).
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From bold dramas and comedy series to riveting films, groundbreaking documentaries, and imaginative kids’ entertainment, Apple TV+ is the exclusive home to Apple Originals. Share your subscription with up to five family members. Always ad-free and on demand, enjoy new premieres every month.
Our Magenta MAX plan is the first unlimited smartphone plan that won't slow you down based on how much data you use–so you can watch Apple Originals virtually anywhere with unlimited premium data on America's largest and fastest 5G network.
Capable device required; coverage not available In some areas. some uses may require certain plan or feature; see plan for details. Fastest: based on median, overall combined 5G speeds according to analysis by Ookta• of Speedtest Intelligence• data 5G download speeds for Q4 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
Magenta Max: Activate up to 4K UHD streaming on capable device, or video typically streams at SD. See full terms
Our Magenta MAX plan is the first unlimited smartphone plan that won't slow you down based on how much data you use–so you can watch Apple Originals virtually anywhere with unlimited premium data on America's largest and fastest 5G network.
While 5G access won’t require a certain plan or feature, some uses/services might. See Coverage details, Terms and Conditions, and Open Internet information for network management details (like video optimization).
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Contact us before cancelling service to continue remaining bill credits, or credits stop & balance on required finance agreement is due (e.g., $799.99 – iPhone 14 128GB). Tax on pre-credit price due at sale. Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, service, & trade-in (e.g., $800: Apple iPhone XS) required. If you have cancelled lines in past 90 days, you may need to reactivate them first. $35 assisted support, upgrade support, or device connection charge due at sale. Up to $800 via bill credits; must be active and in good standing to receive credits; allow 2 bill cycles. Max 4 discounted devices/account. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts.
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Table of contents
01What is Apple TV Plus?02Is it worth it?03Where is it available?04How much does it cost?05How to sign up06Compatible devices07Apple TV Plus shows and movies08Major League Baseball on Apple TV Plus09Apple TV Channels10Best alternatives11Other FAQ12Polls
Apple helped to launch the personal computer revolution in the 1980s with its Mac PCs. It revolutionized the music industry in the 2000s with the iPod and iTunes. It jump-started the smartphone business with the iPhone in the late 2000s. It also led the tablet and smartwatch markets with the iPad and Apple Watch. More recently, CEO Tim Cook and the team at Cupertino went after one of the biggest tech success stories of all time: Netflix. They made this happen with Apple TV Plus (labelled officially as “Apple TV+”).
Wrapping your head around Apple TV Plus can be slightly confusing because Apple has another product in the market called the Apple TV (no Plus), which is a piece of set-top box hardware — it’s also the name of the app that runs the streamer and can be downloaded onto other smart devices.
Apple TV Plus, on the other hand, is something entirely different with a distinct approach to building a streaming library.
So what is Apple TV Plus and what does it offer? This master guide has the answers to all your Apple TV Plus questions. Want to give Apple TV Plus a try? Get it via the button below!
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus has quickly become a major player in the streaming game since its launch in 2019. Its slate of original programming includes shows like Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Foundation, and For All Mankind as well as movies like The Banker, Greyhound, and Palmer.
$6.99 at Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus is Apple’s premium subscription streaming service that attempts to take on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others. It’s completely ad-free, except for promotions for content and add-on streaming services within Apple TV Plus. The platform features a host of original shows and movies made under the Apple Originals program.
This bolsters Apple’s existing Apple TV, which is a set-top streaming box that also allows you to access other streaming services. The idea is that you can bring all of your streaming services into one place, rather than having to remember multiple accounts and passwords.
Because we know it’s confusing with several services and products under the Apple TV banner, here’s a breakdown of the three:
Whether or not Apple TV Plus is worth it will depend on how much you value fresh and original content. It’s not the platform for people who want to binge-watch The Office for the umpteenth time.
Apple TV Plus features some great original content that could be worth the subscription fee for serious TV junkies, though. They include sci-fi epic Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov’s classic novels; The Morning Show, a drama starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell; See, an epic sci-fi drama starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard; M. Night Shyamalan’s horror series Servant; workplace sci-fi mystery Severance; feel-good comedy Ted Lasso, about an American football coach in England to lead a soccer team; and many others.
Compared to other big hitters in the streaming world, Apple TV Plus won’t offer access to new blockbuster films or fan-favorite classics, but it’s the only service to focus so heavily on big-budget original content.
Apple is reportedly spending billions of dollars to attract top-tier talent and has deep pockets to keep the platform running as time goes on.
Read also: The best movies on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus also has a fairly generous family sharing plan, allowing up to six family members to use the same account. Even better, they can use their own logins, so you don’t need to share your password with anybody.
Another thing to consider is that if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, you may be able to get the service for free.
The general consensus from streaming and media experts was initially that although Apple TV Plus had a solid lineup of original content and fantastic streaming quality, there simply isn’t enough original content (yet).
In our original Apple TV review, we noted that while it wasn’t exactly a runaway success, Apple’s streaming service is a solid contender. And it keeps adding more impressive content all the time.
In addition to a unique three-episode-initial-drop content strategy to get watchers hooked fast, it also features the best streaming bitrate in the business. Plus, at just seven bucks a month, Apple isn’t asking much for access to its content.
That said, in our comparisons with other top streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus (more on this later), the difference in the amount of content is staggering. Although both services cost more than Apple TV Plus, their catalogs are significantly larger and constantly growing.
In fairness to Apple, the company joined the fray late, and with its focus on original content, it can’t help but start slow. It’s going for quality over quantity. Apple invested a lot of money into Apple Originals and many of them are truly worth watching. Disney Plus has The Mandalorian, Hulu has Handmaid’s Tale, and Netflix has Stranger Things and many others.
Apple TV Plus may be behind, but it’s catching up. With shows like The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, For All Mankind, Severance, See, The Afterparty, and more, it’s a contender, certainly.
And on the film side, Apple’s CODA won best picture at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Apple has licensed some third-party content. So far, that’s been limited to original seasons of Fraggle Rock and Charlie Brown holiday specials, so only titles Apple was already invested in as a producer of new seasons and specials. It will probably never boast the same expansive catalog of shows and movies as its competitors. No one is saying the service is bad, just that it doesn’t offer the same value as other options. This could easily change in the future with one or two massive hit shows or movies.
Antenna
Apple has always kept user numbers close to the chest, so it’s difficult to tell just how successful Apple TV Plus has been with everyday users. Complicating matters further, some current Apple TV Plus subscribers are still on their free year. This means that subscriber numbers could tank as those free trials expire.
Having said that, Apple TV Plus was the fastest-growing streamer in late 2021, according to Antenna.
In May of 2020, we asked our own readers at Android Authority which streaming service they would pick if they could only pick one, and Apple TV Plus captured less than 1% of the vote. Most users commented that the library was simply too small, although it might fare better as a second or third subscription for those who can’t get enough content.
Read also: 2020 reader poll results
There are, of course, other ways to gauge interest in the service. One is Google Trends, which tracks search volume for certain keywords. Apple TV Plus spiked when it was first announced, then again when the service launched. It’s done nothing but stagnate since then, even in the face of a global pandemic when everyone is at home streaming media.
Google Trends
Compared to another service that launched around the same time — Disney Plus — Apple TV Plus is barely a blip on the radar. It’s failed to grab public attention, either due to a lack of compelling material on the platform or a lack of a big marketing push from Apple.
The good thing is that unlike its availability at launch, Apple TV Plus is now supported on Android devices (through Chrome and Firefox browsers), smart TVs, gaming consoles, and popular streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
The service is available in 107 countries around the world. It is not available in every country that supports the Apple TV app. That includes certain high-population countries like South Korea, Romania, Turkey, and others.
However, Apple has promised that each and every Apple Original will be subbed or dubbed (or both) in nearly 40 languages. There will also be closed captions on all titles for viewers who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Here’s a full list of all 107 countries where Apple TV Plus is supported:
Apple TV Plus launched in November 2019 for $4.99 a month in the US, with a seven-day free trial. However, in October 2022, the company raised the price of the service by $2, to $6.
99 a month, or $69.99 for a full year. This fee unlocks all Apple Originals, but you will need to pay for other Apple TV Channel subscriptions separately.
Read more: How much is Apple TV Plus? Here’s the info on its cost
It’s worth noting that there is only one price for the service, and Apple TV streaming includes up to six family members, 4K quality, and media downloads. There are no more expensive plans with extra features — it’s all included in the basic plan.
If you already subscribe to a few other Apple products like Apple Music, it might be worth opting for an Apple One subscription. This includes Apple TV Plus, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud storage for $16.95 a month. There’s also a family plan for $22.95 for up to six family members. The most expensive plan costs $32.95, boosting iCloud storage to 2TB and including Apple News Plus and the new Apple Fitness Plus.
Around the world, other countries have similar costs, but you can find the list of international prices below:
99/month, $69.99/yearIn order to help boost its newcomer streaming service, Apple initially offered a free year of the service to anyone who recently purchased an Apple device. This includes iPhones, iPads, Macs, iPods, and Apple TV set-top boxes.
However, the offer does not stand for new purchases now. Apple stopped offering a free year in July 2021. From now on, you’ll get just three months of no-cost access before you have to consider a paid subscription. Other new users can still get seven days of Apple TV Plus for free. Learn more about how to get Apple TV Plus for free at the link below.
Read more: How to get Apple TV Plus for free
Signing up for Apple TV Plus is easy, and can be done from both the web and the Apple TV app.
In fact, it’s usually the first thing you see when you open the Apple TV app. Just tap Try It Free and confirm your purchase to get started. The first seven days are free, but after that, you will automatically be charged $6.99 a month.
On the web, simply navigate to the Apple TV Plus website, then click Start Your Free Trial. You’ll have to log into your Apple account if you aren’t already logged in, but the entire process takes less than a minute.
No matter how you sign up, you will get a pop-up letting you know if you have a free year or three months to claim due to a recent purchase.
Once your free Apple TV Plus subscription is over, you can also opt for an Apple One subscription if you use other Apple services such as Apple Music, iCloud storage, and Apple Arcade. The bundle will save you some money compared to what you pay for all these services individually.
Apple TV Plus is available in the Apple TV app on all Apple devices.
It’s not quite as accessible as other streaming platforms, but odds are you have several devices in your house that can access Apple TV.
For Apple devices, any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with the latest software update can access Apple TV Plus directly through the app, which should be pre-installed. Apple TV set-top boxes that are third-generation or newer are also compatible.
Read also: The best media streaming devices you can buy
Several other popular streaming devices such as those made by Roku and Amazon are also supported, as are newer smart TVs from some of the most popular brands. On many newer smart TVs, the Apple TV app is already installed, but models from 2018 may need to search for the app and install it manually.
Certain Smart TVs that aren’t compatible with the Apple TV app may still be able to access the service using AirPlay 2. This allows you to share your screen from any Apple device. You can see a list of supported Smart TV model numbers here.
Android devices are notably excluded from the list since the Apple TV Plus app is not available on the Google Play Store. Still, the platform can be accessed on Android devices via the web portal on just about any web browser, just like on Macs and PCs.
Here’s the full list of Apple TV compatible devices:
Apple TV Plus is all about original content under the Apple Originals program.
These include shows, movies, and documentaries starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The company’s deep pockets and relationships with other industries give Apple’s streaming service an advantage over some competitors.
There are many great shows and movies on Apple TV Plus, with new content monthly, and in many cases, you can watch the first episode or two of an Apple Original series for free. This is a great way to see if you are interested in watching more before starting your seven-day free trial.
To help bolster the roster of content, Apple began syndicating older content in May of 2020. As of writing, the only licensed content is the older Fraggle Rock series from the 1980s and Charlie Brown holiday specials. These additions makes sense since Apple TV Plus also has the rights to produce brand new Fraggle Rock episodes and Peanuts content as part of the Apple Originals program.
Apple invested heavily in original shows for the platform, and although not many have managed to completely capture the hearts and minds of the general public (Ted Lasso being the major exception), there are some excellent shows on offer.
We have a full list of the best Apple TV Plus shows with trailers and full descriptions, but here’s a quick list of some of our favorites.
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus doesn’t have as many movies as its competitors, but it does have a respectable selection of original films to stream right away, with more upcoming exclusive titles from big names to look forward to. Check out our list of the best Apple TV Plus movies for trailers and more, but here’s a brief list of what you can expect on the platform:
It stars Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie.
The service launched its first live streaming programming in 2022. It let users watch two live Major League Baseball games on Friday nights until the end of the 2022 season, with live pre-and-post game content as well. The games were available in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South Korea.
In addition to the live games, Apple TV Plus had a 24/7 “channel” that will feature MLB news, highlights, game replays, classic games, and more. It also had on-demand MLB programming on the service as well.
Although they’re not technically part of the Apple TV Plus program, Apple TV Channels are a great way to get more out of your experience with the Apple TV app while waiting for more original content.
It turns the service into something more like traditional cable TV, but without all the bloat.
The Apple TV Channels program is essentially an à la carte selection of TV channels and streaming services that you can subscribe to within the Apple TV app. This allows you to consolidate most (if not all) of your streaming services into one place, with Apple getting a cut of every Apple TV subscription.
It’s easy and convenient to subscribe with your Apple account from within the app, but your existing subscriptions outside of the app cannot be transferred over. You will need to cancel them and resubscribe through Apple TV.
However, there are a few other potential benefits to subscribing via Apple TV Channels, such as higher bitrate streams and media downloads. It also makes it easier to manage your Apple TV subscriptions from one place. Many subscriptions can also be shared with up to six family members, just like Apple TV Plus.
Here’s a full list of confirmed Apple TV Channels:
Apple TV subscription fees will vary by channel but typically hover around $5 or more.
Apple TV Channel availability may vary by region, and HBO Now is no longer accepting new subscribers after the launch of HBO Max in 2020.
In addition to Apple TV Channels, the Apple TV app also integrates a few other major streaming services. They will be listed alongside other channels in the app, but launching them will open a third-party app to stream the media itself. Before you ask, no, Netflix is not included.
Here’s a list of external streaming services supported within Apple TV:
Finally, the new Apple TV app will support a number of cable and satellite mobile apps, along with internet-based TV cable services. These include:
Apple TV Plus is part of an increasingly crowded online streaming landscape.
This includes the leader in the industry, Netflix, which has the advantage of having years of experience and an impressive catalog of both original and licensed content on offer.
While the service can’t compare to Netflix on the sheer volume of content, it is significantly cheaper. The $6.99 subscription includes 4K and up to six simultaneous streams, while you’ll have to pay a full $19.99 a month for 4K content and four simultaneous streams on Netflix.
Read the full comparison: Netflix vs Apple TV Plus
Amazon Prime Video is also a major Apple TV Plus competitor. It has worldwide reach as well, along with lots of great original shows that have won several Emmy awards. It’s also typically bundled with Amazon Prime, which is an incredibly popular service for online shoppers. It even offers 4K streaming for supported content, making it a solid alternative to Apple TV Plus.
For American users, Hulu can also be a solid alternative to fill your streaming needs.
The base plan is slightly more expensive at $7.99 a month, but it includes ads. You’ll have to bump that all the way up to $14.99 to get ad-free streams. One of the biggest advantages of Hulu is that it’s frequently bundled with other services, like the very attractive Disney Plus-Hulu (with ads)-ESPN Plus bundle at $12.99 a month.
Finally, there’s Disney Plus, which launched less than two weeks after Apple TV Plus. Disney Plus is not available in nearly as many countries as Apple TV Plus, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video, but it has a huge collection of popular content. Most of the Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars movies, as well as Disney classics, helped the service to sign up over 50 million users in its first six months after launching.
Read the full comparison: Disney Plus vs Apple TV Plus
The value of Apple TV Plus will come down to how much you want to watch new and original shows. It carries titles like Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, but isn’t the place if you want to rewatch The Office again.
There are a few different ways to get Apple TV Plus for free: You can get a free seven-day trial at any time, the Apple One service comes with one free month, or you can get three months free with the purchase of any Apple device.
You and up to five family members can enjoy access to Apple TV original shows and movies, which is a total of six profiles.
Apple TV Plus offers access to a strong library of original movies and shows, including Ted Lasso, The Problem With Jon Stewart, and Stillwater.
Yes, Apple TV Plus allows you to create as many as six profiles so that you and your family can watch shows together or independently.
Yes, all Apple TV Plus shows and movies are available to stream or download in 4K.
No, Apple TV Plus does not have any ads.
Yes, there are parental control options for the Apple TV app, web portal, and set-top box.
Apple TV Plus subscriptions can be shared with up to five other accounts (six total), although officially the program is limited to just family members.
Yes. The app is available on most Roku devices. Find the full list of supported Roku devices here.
Yes. The app is available on most Amazon Fire TV devices. Find the full list of supported Fire TV devices here.
Officially, there is no Chromecast support with Apple TV. However, you can get around this by casting a browser tab with the web app open, with obvious hits to quality and ease of use.
Yes, you can watch Apple TV Plus on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Apple hasn’t made any announcements about adding more syndicated content, but it seems to be at least a part of its growth strategy for the platform.
Have you used Apple TV Plus yet, or are you a current subscriber? If so, make your voice heard in our polls below!
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Android TV now comes with the Google Assistant.
Want to find a new blockbuster, find out the result of an important match, or dim the lights in the room? Stay focused on your favorite programs - press the microphone button on the remote and tell the Assistant what to do.
With Android TV, you don't have to search for your favorite content for long. With a user-friendly interface, you can easily resume watching where you left off or find a new exciting show.
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Google Play has Android TV apps for every taste, from Showtime and YouTube to lots of games.
Cast photos, videos, music and more from your mobile device to your Android TV.
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Asus
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, Ltd.
Bouygues Telecom
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Cosmote GR
D'LIVE
d2h
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ru
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com
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Partner TV
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R
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SONIQ Australia
Sony
nine0008Starhub (SG)
STINGTV
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Stream System
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T-Mobile Polska S.
A.
Tata Sky
TBC
tbroad
TCL
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TESLA
theham
THOMSON
nine0008top MSO
TOSHIBA
TPV (Philips EMEA)
Transvision
TRUE
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TV UP
TVB
UMAX
United Group
United RS
Vectra PL
Vestel (Toshiba EU)
Videostrong
Vodafone - GmbH
Vodafone KDG
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Vu Televisions
nine0008Walton
WIND Hellas
Witooth
XGIMI Technology
Yes
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Chromecast devices are very convenient. By simply connecting this device to the HDMI port on the back of your TV, you can stream content from your computer and mobile devices at any time.
It's also nice that more online streaming services than ever before support casting to Chromecast. The same cannot be said for Roku TV, Amazon Fire Stick and other streaming devices. nine0005
Windows apps, mobile apps, games - EVERYTHING FOR FREE, in our closed telegram channel - Subscribe :)
You don't have to rely on online streaming services either. There are many Microsoft Store apps that allow you to get the most out of your Chromecast device on Windows 10.
Whether you want to mirror your computer screen, play your own video, or just have an alternative way to stream online - content, Chromecast apps from the Microsoft Store will help you. nine0005
This application provides you with a collection of streaming content sources in one place. It supports connection to Smart TV (with DLNA support), Roku TV, Chromecast, Fire TV and Apple TV.
The first time you launch the app, you will see all available content sources on the left navigation bar under the " Online " tab.
If you select the Home tab, you will see a navigation tree that you can use to drill down into content folders on your PC to play videos stored on your hard drive. Use the search box to search for filenames if they don't appear when you select a folder. nine0005
The right pane in the app is basically a built-in web browser that allows you to quickly access and play content from websites.
The real value of this app is that it's a single place to access hundreds of streaming content sources.
Simple casting. Once the content you want to stream is playing on the app, just click the yellow button in the top right corner.
This will show you a list of devices it can stream to on your network. Simply select your Chromecast device and content will immediately start playing on your TV. nine0005
If you spend a lot of time listening to music, you'll love the fact that the Spotify app for Windows has a Chromecast feature.
After you select a Chromecast device to stream music to, a green bar will appear at the bottom. This indicates which Chromecast device you are casting to.
You can use all controls in the desktop application to select different music, pause and play music, and adjust the volume. nine0005
Yes, you can also just stream to this Chromecast from your Spotify phone app, but if you don't have your phone handy, it's much more convenient to just stream music from your computer.
If you have a YouTube TV account, you can cast content to your Chromecast device in several ways. You can use the YouTube TV mobile app, stream YouTube TV videos in your browser, or use the built-in channels of streaming devices like Roku TV or Amazon Fire Stick. nine0005
But if you install the YouTube TV app, you can start and stream TV to your Chromecast directly from your desktop PC.
This desktop application includes all the same features as YouTube TV online, including the ability to view and play live TV stations, as well as recorded shows or movies.
Whenever you start a video from within the application, you will see the broadcast icon in the upper right corner of the video window. Just select it to open a list of available streaming devices. nine0005
The video will be streamed to your Chromecast. As with the Spotify app, you can control everything from the desktop app itself.
Playcast is another Microsoft Store app.
It's not free (it costs $4.99 for the premium version, which includes the casting feature), but you can try the free trial to see if you like it. It's worth the money given that it works with a variety of streaming devices such as Apple TV, Miracast, Roku TV, and Chromecast. nine0005
What is a playcast? This is a really good media player that allows you to play videos from your local computer, from cloud drives, or from a DLNA drive.
When you play a video on Playcast, you can select the small arrow icon with three curved lines to the right. This will open a list of devices on your network that you can stream to.
Select the name of your Chromecast device and the Playcast media player will start streaming to that device. nine0005
Although this application does not have access to online content streaming services, it is much more useful than other applications. This is because it allows you to store your videos anywhere and use the same app to play them.
You will need to provide your credentials to access your Google Drive or OneDrive account. But once you enter it once, you won't have to do it again.
The Plex desktop player is the best of both worlds. It works like a full featured media player if you have installed Plex Media Server on your PC or anywhere else on the same network. Think of Plex Player as a kind of client for the media library you have stored on your Plex media server.
In addition, however, you will have access to a wide range of movies, shows and podcasts downloaded from various online streaming services. Some of them include Crackle, Popcornflix and others. nine0005
And if you want to watch live TV, Plex has got you covered. Simply select Live TV from the navigation bar and you can search for live (or previously recorded) content that is streaming from the various TV network content sources that Plex draws from.
To access the media server, select Your Media .
You will see a " Get Plex Media Server " button. This will take you through a wizard to set up a Plex server or access one you've already installed elsewhere on your network. nine0005
You'll notice in the photos above that the Chromecast icon is always available in the top right corner of the screen. This will glow white whenever you are streaming content. Just select the icon to cast your Plex content to your Chromecast device.
If you only have one Chromecast-enabled media player installed on your computer, you can't go wrong with Plex. And if you want more features, like the ability to record live TV with Plex DVR, sign up for a Plex Pass. nine0005
If all you want is a simple media player for your PC that can stream to your Chromecast, VLC Player is your best bet.
Once installed, you are ready to start playing any video files you have stored on your PC or even on a network media server. Once you start your video, in order to cast it to your Chromecast, just select " Playback " from the menu.
Then select the broadcast device you want to stream to. nine0005
VLC is installed by default with the required Chromecast plugins, so all Chromecast devices on your network should be listed here.
While playing the movie, you will see the VLC player switch back to file browsing mode. At the bottom, you'll see all the controls you need to pause, scan, or adjust audio for a movie that's playing on your TV.
Navigate to all the places where you can get media using the navigation bar on the left. You can search locations on your computer, any inserted DVDs (if you have a DVD player), or network locations, including compatible media servers. nine0005
VLC Player can receive some content from the Internet, but this is limited to a few podcast sources, Jamendo music or Icecast Radio.
There are many VLC add-ons that will allow you to get more content from the Internet, but you need to install them separately. You can get them from the VLC Add-on Library website.
