Hi I am looking to buy something cheap to add to my TV so I can get access to Netflix and other steaming apps. What sort of device would be good to buy? Also at the moment the only means of using the Internet I have is my iPhone. If I was to subscribe to Netflix is there any way that I can change the region say to US using just an iPhone or would I need to have a PC? I have broadband but no PC
Need some Netflix advice
As you have an iPhone I would suggest an Apple TV. It's not the cheapest device but you can get them online for just over £80. You can also use Airplay to play most videos from your iphone on the ATV, and the ATV itself has a Netflix app so you don't need to use the iPhone when you just want to use Netflix.
As you have broadband I'm assuming that means you have a wifi router. ATV can connect to that wirelessly.
Another option is the Roku LT, this is £50 but only supports HD at 720p and of course no Airplay. But it does have some apps the ATV does not, such as BBC iplayer which is only possible from the ATV if you stream it from your iPhone.
On ATV you can change the Netflix region but you'll need to subscribe to something like Unblock Us which will cost a few pounds a month and involve changing settings on either the ATV or router. You can probably also do this with others such as the Roku.
As you have broadband I'm assuming that means you have a wifi router. ATV can connect to that wirelessly.
Another option is the Roku LT, this is £50 but only supports HD at 720p and of course no Airplay. But it does have some apps the ATV does not, such as BBC iplayer which is only possible from the ATV if you stream it from your iPhone.
On ATV you can change the Netflix region but you'll need to subscribe to something like Unblock Us which will cost a few pounds a month and involve changing settings on either the ATV or router. You can probably also do this with others such as the Roku.
^ Couldn't have put it better myself. Just check that your iPhone is recent enough to have Airplay properly. I think the 3GS or later should do the trick, if you like, I can test it later.
I've Airplayed perfectly on my iPad but that is a later model.
On your iPhone, you can also add the BBC iPlayer, and ITV Player apps to your iPhone and they can Airplay, but I think you may need an iPhone4 or later for that (since ITV requires mirroring). Demand5 also allows mirroring but not at full screen.
Oh, the ATV is only with HDMI, so this means your TV has to be a relatively recent one.
I've Airplayed perfectly on my iPad but that is a later model.
On your iPhone, you can also add the BBC iPlayer, and ITV Player apps to your iPhone and they can Airplay, but I think you may need an iPhone4 or later for that (since ITV requires mirroring). Demand5 also allows mirroring but not at full screen.
Oh, the ATV is only with HDMI, so this means your TV has to be a relatively recent one.
I have an iPhone 4S with TalkTalk unlimited broadband but I guess it comes down to how much I want access to Netflix as I have Sky HD full package plus I am having YouView put in next Tuesday. I dunno what to do...,.
Do you have enough time to watch everything? 
I only have Netflix and BBC iPlayer, ITV and Demand5, yet I never have anywhere near enough time to watch what I could... and there I am trying to get 4oD as well onto our main TV.
(well, ok, a bit of iView from Australia and TVNZ as well)
I only have Netflix and BBC iPlayer, ITV and Demand5, yet I never have anywhere near enough time to watch what I could... and there I am trying to get 4oD as well onto our main TV.
(well, ok, a bit of iView from Australia and TVNZ as well)
Originally Posted by ovbg:
“Do you have enough time to watch everything?
I only have Netflix and BBC iPlayer, ITV and Demand5, yet I never have anywhere near enough time to watch what I could... and there I am trying to get 4oD as well onto our main TV.
(well, ok, a bit of iView from Australia and TVNZ as well)”
“Do you have enough time to watch everything?
I only have Netflix and BBC iPlayer, ITV and Demand5, yet I never have anywhere near enough time to watch what I could... and there I am trying to get 4oD as well onto our main TV.
(well, ok, a bit of iView from Australia and TVNZ as well)”
You have a valid point there as I record stuff on my Sky HD box and let it all build up
I like Netflix mainly for the TV series they are good in that area but I have yet to see YouView so dunno whether to wait until next week before I decide.
I personally think Netflix is great. It is a budget service, and with a SmartDNS you can access all the different libraries. But the films are not as recent as Sky offers - that said, you pay a lot less.
In my case, it's not really a problem, as what Netflix doesn't have, I can easily rent from a pay-per-view source such as iTunes or Blinkbox - and it will still come out a lot cheaper than any cable or satellite service with a premier movie subscription.
Some people cover more ground by subscribing to both Netflix and Lovefilm, then top up (if ever needed) with the odd PPV video - combine with your YouView, you may have all the content you could need and get rid of the Sky package.
But then again, if sport is important, you would have to source that somehow.
In my case, it's not really a problem, as what Netflix doesn't have, I can easily rent from a pay-per-view source such as iTunes or Blinkbox - and it will still come out a lot cheaper than any cable or satellite service with a premier movie subscription.
Some people cover more ground by subscribing to both Netflix and Lovefilm, then top up (if ever needed) with the odd PPV video - combine with your YouView, you may have all the content you could need and get rid of the Sky package.
But then again, if sport is important, you would have to source that somehow.
Originally Posted by cooltv:
“You have a valid point there as I record stuff on my Sky HD box and let it all build up
I like Netflix mainly for the TV series they are good in that area but I have yet to see YouView so dunno whether to wait until next week before I decide.”
“You have a valid point there as I record stuff on my Sky HD box and let it all build up
I like Netflix mainly for the TV series they are good in that area but I have yet to see YouView so dunno whether to wait until next week before I decide.”
Hasn't Netflix been rumoured to arrive on Youview at some point ?
I have an apple TV and it is great. Setup the DNS so you get access to the US movies and you've got a great selection. The UK selection is pretty poor though, so I can see where the negative impression comes from. IMO they shouldn't have opened their UK market until they had a better selection of movies. They've done their brand a good deal of harm over here, but the US service is top notch.
