Last month PlayOn got tired of waiting for Apple to launch a native iOS app for its streaming audio and video service, so the company introduced a web-based version using HTML5. But Apple has since decided to relax some of its App Store rules, and now there’s an official PlayOn app available for download. It’s free, and it’s kind of awesome.
First, here’s a little explanation of how PlayOn works. The app doesn’t stream content straight from the internet to your mobile device. Instead you need to install a server app on a PC running on your home network. The PC actually grabs the media from the internet and transcodes it on the fly for delivery to other devices. PlayOn works with video game consoles like the Nintendo Wii, Playstation3, and now also with mobile devices including the iPhone and iPod touch.
It’s a little clunky, requires a reasonably fast server PC, and a good home wireless network. But the upshot is you can use PlayOn to watch video from Hulu, CBS, Comedy Central, MLB, NHL, ESPN, CNN, PBS, MTV, and Amazon VOD on your iPhone, just to name a few of the available channels. Some are available for free users, while others (including ComedyCentral) require you to upgrade to a PlayOn premium account.
I wonder what kind of luck folks have piping content BEYOND their home networks. Hm…
PlayOn did add 3G support for the iPad using the HTML5 app recently, but I’ve only got an iPod touch so I haven’t been able to test it out on the new iOS app.
But you could take your Touch to another wireless network. I’m wondering how well they pipe that stuff back out the house. I assume they use simple port forwarding? I took a quick look at their site before commenting, but didn’t find the info…
It’s weird, once you set up the app on your phone from the wifi network it works on 3G. But there’s no way to connect to the server from the 3G network only. I messed this up when I deleted the bookmark after installing the app.
Also, I don’t understand why they are leaving the iPad out in the cold. People want to watch this stuff on a bigger screen. Hopefully the app will support the VGA adapter too.
The ipad workson the html5 web based system. I wonder if you only have playon basic will it still stream mobile? I just upgraded for $5
Article is somewhat misleading. The free version only includes playing your own videos and Pandora. ALL of the internet video sites require the paid version of PlayOn.
Have no use for this inside my house myself, I already have a Tivo that can handle most of the transcoding I need there. For outside the house, especially on 3G (thank God I’m grandfather in to the unlimited plan on AT&T) PlayOn might be useful, especially given the lack of Flash support on the iPhone (still waiting for SkyFire to get approved–one month and counting…). Might try the free 14-day trial just to see how well it works there…
@Glenn: Hulu, CBS, Amazon, and several other video sites are available to users that don’t require a subscription just a one time fee.