If you see anything that is missing please let me know.

Not interested in the Apple TV? Check out our ultimate streaming app list for all platforms:

Apple TV video streaming apps

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Basketball season is just around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited. There are tonnes of different ways to get your favourite games, but which online service should you subscribe to this year so you can follow your favourite NBA team? NBA League Pass or Ballstreams? Here are the major factors that come into play when considering these services:

Local blackouts

The issue with NBA League Pass and services like it are the local game blackouts.  In other words, if you’re in Chicago and want to watch the Bulls game, you may find yourself looking at a blank screen saying something like “Sorry, access to this game is not available due to local blackout restrictions.” It hurts, and it also severely limits the usefulness of services like NBA League Pass due to the fact that most people want to watch their home team.

NBA League Pass also enforces national blackouts within the US. This means that if a game is on ABC, ESPN, TNT or NBA TV then you’re probably out of luck getting it on NBA League Pass in the US.

Ballstreams.com does not have any blackouts whatsoever. Also, international users of NBA League Pass actually get a much better experience and it is much more worth their while due to lack of blackouts. It looks like a lot of international (not North American) users of NBA League Pass are quite happy with the service.

Use a VPN like Private Internet Access

The most foolproof way of avoiding local blackouts right now is using a VPN service like Private Internet Access.  Basically this service allows you to appear to be in any number of locations (including many in the US) to skirt around blackouts. It works and it is also a great tool to protect your privacy online.

Use a DNS masker like UnblockUs

You can completely bypass blackout restrictions on NBA League Pass by using a service called UnblockUs. It is actually a really painless process to set it up on your individual device or even at your router. If you want to learn more, we also wrote a post going into the details about UnblockUs and avoiding blackouts here.

What devices are you using?

The biggest factor in choosing a service is obviously whether you can watch it on your favourite device. Watching the big game is fine on your laptop, but often you will want it on the big screen.

Here is a breakdown of what devices each service works on.

NBA League Pass VS Ballstreams.com by the numbers:

So, this looks like it is sort of a tie on the app front. Depending on your technical skill, you should be able to get Ballstreams up and running on any device on the market. Both Plex and Serviio also have channels for Ballstreams which expand its compatibility to game consoles.

Quality

NBA League Pass claims to be “HD Quality” on their website which I will assume means that it approximates a 720p resolution. Ballstreams also claims to go “up to” 720p resolution but also says that the stream can be transferred at a full 60 frames per second. In either case, this will really depend on your connection. It is worth noting that there are some complaints online about specific game feeds on Ballstreams being of low quality.

Lag

Lag can be a major consideration for any online streaming service. NBA League Pass can have up to a 90 second delay whereas Ballstreams.com has a much shorter 1-3 second lag. I know that I like to look at social media while watching the game, so having a shorter delay can guard against major spoilers.

Access to games

Ballstreams is the hands down winner in this category. It gives you access not just to regular season NBA games, but a wealth of other streams including: NBA summer league, NBA pre-season, NBA playoffs, the NBA draft, NCAA final four games, Live Olympic games, and a tonne of archived games available on demand.

NBA League Pass has tiered plans, the highest of which adds on home/away announcers and the video vault. It also includes an archive for on-demand access (past 3 seasons), NBA summer games, and playoff games. NBA League Pass also has what they call their “NBA Team Pass” which gives full access to live and on demand access to games for one team.  Not bad.

Cost

Ok, so this is what you’ve been waiting for.

Ballstreams.com:  $89.99 for a year

NBA League Pass:  $189.99 per year (early bird)

Legality

This is key. Ballstreams is indeed an “illegal” service. Their servers are located in Europe and could be shut down at any time due to the NBA taking them to court. It hasn’t happened yet, but this service is definitely grey market. If you’re at all concerned about legal issues, stick with NBA League Pass which is the official app.

NBA League Pass VS Ballstreams wrap up

By the numbers Ballstreams beats out NBA League Pass handily. They are on par in terms of device support but I know for a fact that someone that is less technical may have issues getting Ballstreams up and running on their TV streaming box or game console. If you’re just watching on your laptop or desktop PC then you are good to go on either.

To avoid the local and national blackouts on NBA League Pass, which virtually cripple the service in North America, then I highly recommend using a service like UnblockUs. This will unblock all of the blackouts and make NBA League Pass much more useful.

Happy cord cutting!

Disclaimer:  Ballstreams.com is not a legal service. Their servers are located in Europe so there is a chance that the service could be shut down anytime. Cord Breaker does not condone illegal activity in any way. When in doubt, go with the legal option, which is NBA League Pass.

The post NBA League Pass VS Ballstreams head to head appeared first on Cord Breaker.

Not interested in Xbox One?  Check out our ultimate streaming app list for all platforms:

Xbox One video streaming apps

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My favourite time of year is coming around again.  Hockey season! But what is the best service to subscribe to this year to get your NHL fix, NHL Gamecenter Live or Hockeystreams.com?

The answer is not as simple as you may think.  Here are the factors you need to think about:

Local blackouts

The biggest knock against NHL Gamecenter is that it has those pesky local blackouts of games.  This means that if you live in Winnipeg, then more often than not, you actually won’t be able to watch the Jets play on Gamecenter. Now, if you like a team that is not locally in your city, you will likely be able to avoid local blackouts much more often.

Hockeystreams.com does not have any local blackouts to deal with.

Use a VPN like Private Internet Access

The most foolproof way of avoiding local blackouts right now is using a VPN service like Private Internet Access.  Basically this service allows you to appear to be in any number of locations (including many in the US) to skirt around blackouts. It works and it is also a great tool to protect your privacy online.

Use a DNS masker like UnblockUs

I have been using Gamecenter Live for many seasons now without local blackouts because I use a service called UnblockUs.  It is super simple to setup on individual devices or even at your router.  Check out this post that talks all about how to avoid local blackouts.

What devices are you using?

Here is a breakdown of what devices each service works natively on.  Natively meaning that there is an actual app that exists on the platform and it doesn’t require any funky tweaks to get working.

NHL Gamecenter VS Hockeystreams.com by the numbers:

At the end of the day, this one sort of depends on how technical you are.  If you’re keeping everything above board so to say, then NHL Gamcenter Live is your best bet. It is also worth noting that you can stream Hockeystreams via the Plex and Serviio app on both Xbox and Playstation.

Quality

There is a bit of controversy on this one. I personally love the quality of NHL Gamecenter on my Xbox One. On a good connection it looks just like 720p HDTV. Hockeystreams claims that it can go up to 720p at 60 frames per second while NHL Gamecenter is just 30 frames per second. But a few searches online and you quickly see a lot of posts by people complaining about the quality of some streams on Hockeystreams.com.

Lag

A major issue for live sports is the lag that the service introduces to the feed. I know for a fact that the NHL Gamecenter feed is usually off by a good 30 seconds.  Hockeystreams.com claims to only have a 3 second lag. This is really handy for folks that follow along with the games on social media as they happen and don’t want spoilers.

Access to games

A year subscription to Hockeystreams is actually a full calendar year, whereas the NHL Gamecenter one is just for the NHL season. Additionally, Hockeystreams gives access to other hockey leagues such as OHL, WHL and AHL if that’s your thing.

Cost

Here is the deciding factor for a lot of people.

Hockeystreams.com:  $99.99 for a full calendar year

NHL Gamecenter Live:  $149.99 for the regular NHL season ($179.99 Canadian)

Are you a Rogers internet customer in Canada?

Then NHL Gamecenter Live might be free! Check your internet package to see if it qualifies.

Legality

Keep in mind that NHL Gamecenter Live is the official video streaming app for the NHL. Hockeystreams.com on the other hand has…  let’s just say dubious legality. If you’re concerned about getting in any legal issues or losing the service due to the NHL cracking down on services like Hockeystreams, go with NHL Gamecenter Live.

NHL Gamecenter VS Hockeystreams wrap up

By pure numbers Hockeystreams.com wins out easily. However, the service is a little bit less “official” if you know what I mean.  It also doesn’t have as many official apps which makes the experience less smooth than if you are using Gamecenter Live on a streaming box. For those that are just utilizing a laptop then either one is great.

I highly recommend going with a service like UnblockUs if you are going the NHL Gamecenter Live route as it will unlock all of your local games.

Happy cord cutting!

Edit: I have updated the article based on some great individuals over on the /r/hockey subreddit.

Disclaimer:  Hockeystreams.com is not a legal service. Their servers are located in Europe so there is a chance that the service could be shut down anytime. Cord Breaker does not condone illegal activity in any way. When in doubt, go with the legal option, which is NHL Gamecenter Live. It really is a decent service for a fair price.

The post NHL Gamecenter VS Hockeystreams head to head appeared first on Cord Breaker.

So without further ado, here are my picks for some of the very best cord cutting apps that you can use on both Android and iOS. I’m going to focus on products that are solely used to access online content (not your own local content) so we’ll save Plex and Kodi for a later post.

The very best internet TV apps

Pluto TV

Pluto TV has been around for a little while now, but only recently has it begun cracking people’s top lists for video streaming apps. The idea is genius:  mimic the live TV experience but only use free online video services. I love this idea. For me, when I cut the cord I was really worried about being able to plop myself on my couch and then just throw something on in the background while I veg out. Vegging out is one of my main pastimes… Pluto TV really makes this a possibility.

• Bloomberg TV
• Tech News
• Sports Highlights
• Soccer
• Baseball
• Hockey Fights (seriously)
• Viral Videos
• Documentaries
• Movie Trailers
• Joss Whedon Shows
• Conan O’Brien (my favourite)
• and a lot more…

I am truly impressed at how much free content Pluto TV has curated into a functional platform.  Speaking of function:  It has Chromecast support!  Both on the web interface and the Android/iOS app, Pluto TV can be cast to your TV setup with Google’s awesome streaming device.

Mobdro

Mobdro has been out on Android for over a year now. It is sort of the scrappier, less refined cousin of Pluto TV.  And it is only available on Android at the moment. The interface is much clunkier, but in the end it accesses some of the same free content from Pluto TV.

The channels available right now for free tend to be quite UK-oriented:

• Sky Sports,
• Sky Movies,
• BBC,
• BT sports,
• Disney Channel

The interface is useable, but it is a bit hard to navigate when there are so many content sources to pick from. Lastly, the app doesn’t have a web version, meaning that you have to use an Android phone to access it. The Chromecast support is welcome but the fact that you can’t access it and the app is full of ads without shelling out for the premium version is a bit of a concern.

Just Watch

Just Watch is less about actually accessing the video content than it is about giving you a good overview of what is available on the many app stores across the web. Ever wonder where you can rent the latest Hunger Games online? Just Watch is a service that tries to give you a good overview of where you can find movies and TV shows online.

Here is what the web interface looks like on the Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 screen

The current selection of services supported include:

• Netflix
• HBO NOW
• Amazon Prime Instant Video
• Hulu
• Crackle
• iTunes
• Vudu
• Xbox Video
• Playstation
• Mubi
• Realeyz
• Fandor

Rotten Tomatoes ratings, trailers, a price drop function, and a “watchlist” round out the features for Just Watch, which make it really convenient to use.

While the selection of services in Just Watch is pretty comprehensive, I think there is room to add more. Especially when it comes to free services.

Wrap up

This is absolutely not a comprehensive list of apps that can help you watch and find internet TV content. But it is in my opinion three of the more thought out and unique apps out there right now. Next up will be a similar deep dive into apps that can help you access your local video content so stay tuned to Cord Breaker over the next couple weeks.

Happy cord cutting!

The post The very best internet TV apps: From Android 6.0 Marshmallow to iOS9 appeared first on Cord Breaker.

The top seven best media streamers

Obviously these aren’t the only choices out there.  There are actually several Android TV devices to choose from. There are several levels of Roku boxes, but I just included their flagship.

Really, it comes down to three questions:

1. Am I already invested in an app ecosystem? (Apple, Amazon, Google)
2. Do I want to watch local TV through an antenna? (Xbox One is your best bet for this)
3. Do I want a physical remote? (rule out Chromecast if that’s the case)

Answering these three questions should get you most of the way to figuring out which media streamer is your best bet.

I personally own an Xbox One as my main streaming device and have used the Chromecast, Roku 3, Apple TV, and Nexus Player a lot. You really can’t go wrong with any of those.

Please note that the links to the devices above are Amazon affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase one, I get a small commission at no cost to you. I’d appreciate it if you do click on them if you are considering buying anyway.

Happy cord cutting!

The post The top seven best media streamers / internet TV boxes out now appeared first on Cord Breaker.

If you are interested in one specific device you can click on the top row to sort the table by just that device (it will bring the compatible services to the top).

I’d appreciate it if you share this table widely because I don’t think there are any other resources like this online. If you re-publish this list anywhere please give me credit and link back here (it was a lot of work).

I will be updating this page regularly. Subscribe to our RSS feed for updates.

The post The ultimate online video streaming service list appeared first on Cord Breaker.

Chromecast guide:

What is a Chromecast?

A Chromecast is a small HDMI dongle that plugs into a port on your TV or home theatre receiver. It is powered by a small USB adapter that uses micro USB to connect to the device (much like an Android phone or Blackberry). That’s it for the hardware! The Chromecast sits on your WIFI network and is then controlled by one of several different types of devices on your network as a sort of remote: mobile phones, tablets, and computers can all control it. This is where the magic happens…

How does it work?

The Chromecast is interesting because it sort of flips the idea of video streaming on it’s head. Normally a piece of hardware at the TV (a streaming box) will actually be fed video content from another device like a computer over your home network. So you have two steps.  The video is served from the internet to the computer, then the computer streams the video to the receiver device. The Chromecast doesn’t generally do this. Let’s say I go on my Android phone, open the Netflix app, find the show I want, and then click this “Google Cast” button:

What then happens is the Chromecast itself goes online and finds that video that you selected and streams it directly from the internet.  In this sense, you are just pointing the Chromecast to whatever content you want to watch and it does the rest. It also means that you need to use your smartphone, tablet or computer as a remote for the Chromecast. One advantage of this is that it is much easier to type in names of videos on your phone than on some clunky TV-based streaming box. Have you ever tried to surf Youtube on an Xbox?  Ugh… This is probably the number one thing I use my Chromecast for, surfing Youtube.

What can Chromecast access?

When the device was first released the number of apps on Google Play and the Apple App Store that were Chromecast compatible were few and far between. Now, just a couple years later, it is an exception to the rule if a major streaming service does not support the Chromecast. Just this August HBO Now launched their Chromecast feature on their app.

Google maintins a pretty good list of compatible apps here. Pretty much every major sport is represented in there except for the nagging exclusion of the NHL Gamcenter app…  I’m waiting! I use my Chromecast to listen to music, play podcasts, stream photos to my TV, and of course watch videos.

Advanced use of the Chromecast

One really great feature is that you can send any browser screen from a computer screen running Chrome to the Chromecast. It is technically a “beta” feature but generally works as advertised. It is a more traditional approach to streaming though. Your computer is literally streaming its screen over your network this time so there is sometimes some lag. But I have used it several times to stream NHL games from the NHL Gamecenter app or from a major television network website. Just because there isn’t a supported app for something, doesn’t mean the Chromecast can’t tackle it with this handy feature.

How much is it?

I always tell people that the Chromecast is a no brainer. In Canada it is $39.99. It is absolutely the biggest steal in the cord cutting game. It provides tonnes of value and at that price it is almost worth buying one for every TV in the home so you have access to Netflix, HBO, Plex and any other service you use. Seriously, I use this thing everyday.

This is just skimming the surface of what you can do with this little workhorse but it gives you a good idea of why the Chromecast should probably be your first purchase for your cord cutting arsenal. Stay tuned for some more in-depth Chromecast tips and tricks. Happy casting!

The post Chromecast guide: A cord cutter’s best friend appeared first on Cord Breaker.