Thursday, 3 November 2016

Video Review: Facebook Smartphone App



Here it is, our final review on one of the largest smartphone applications in the world: Facebook! Watch to see 4 key aspects of the application reviewed in depth by each of App.reciation's members! We hope you have enjoyed the reviews, until next time!

'Fade by Alan Walker is licensed under Creative Commons available here:
https://soundcloud.com/alanwalker/alan-walker-fade

Thursday, 20 October 2016

Tenplay Smartphone App Review


About

Tenplay is an app that allows you to stream TV shows, news and sport from your device at any time. It is Network Ten’s multi-platform catch up TV and video portal that includes all TEN, ONE and ELEVEN shows; plus news, sport and Channel Ten’s TV guide in the one destination. 




Features 

Think of shows like modern family, the Project, Glee, Masterchef, Bondi Rescue and more! All of these are available to watch any time. The home screen on the app presents the most popular shows that are airing at the current time. All the user needs to do is click and stream, it’s as easy as that!





- Catch up on or relive your favourite shows: with episodes on tenplay straight after they’ve been on TV, missing out is a thing of the past. 



- Watch live news and sport: entertainment as it happens, real-time viewing is all part of the tenplay package. 



- Create personalised playlists: line up your TV picks and watch whatever you’re in the mood for, whenever you want it.



- Track your top TV: with latest video alerts, and reminders for when your show is on TV and the app, tenplay connects you to what’s new. 



- Access a complete TV guide: featuring full free-to-air and Foxtel listings, “with tenplay you’ll always see the big picture.”







Download Links

Tenplay is available for download on iTunes for iPhone users GooglePlay for Android users.


The Verdict


Tenplay is great for anyone who wants to catch up on all their favourite TV shows anywhere at any time! The convenience of the app is why it is so successful and it takes away the stress of missing your favourite show when you’re not home. The only downfall of the app is the constant advertisements that occur throughout a show when viewing. But of course, the app needs to make its revenue somehow! Sacrificing 2 minutes really isn’t the end of the world. 


★★★★☆
Reviewed by Grace


Wednesday, 19 October 2016

9Now Smartphone App Review

About
The 9Now app is the Nine Network’s dedicated on demand, catch-up and streaming television service, which replaces the Jump-in and FIXPlay services before it. The 9Now app and website launched simultaneously on 27 January 2016 with the ability to stream Channel 9 programmes and, during May 2016, live streams for 9Go!, 9Gem and 9Life were made available.


Features
The 9Now app is primarily an on-demand service and performs very well in that respect. Viewers have the ability to choose from over 150 programmes spanning 12 genres from “Comedy” to “News and Current Affairs”. Loading times are extremely quick, even when utilising mobile data, so the viewer never has to wait long if they want to watch the latest episode of The Big Bang Theory. The app does an excellent job in providing viewers with a diverse range of programming, however, each show only has about three episodes available for viewing and it would be nice to see this number increase in the near future. 



Although the streaming service takes a backseat it’s no lacklustre. Viewers are able to watch any of the four channels live, allowing access to free-to-air television in any location with a stable internet connection. There are minimal buffering times and practically no lag in framerate. Understandably, picture quality depends on internet speed but overall images are clear enough for viewers to comfortably enjoy the content.


                           

However, 9Now falls slightly behind competitors PLUS7 and TENplay, as the service requires users to create a My9 account before they are allowed to access on-demand content and live streaming, although Facebook login is available making this process a lot less tedious.

Download Links
9Now is available to download on both the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store

The Verdict
I am surprisingly impressed with the quality of service that the Nine Network has provided. Its interface is clean and easy to use by all viewers, there is a large collection of content and loading times are extremely quick. With slight tweaks being made to address accessibility and availability of content, the 9Now app has the potential to be the leading network dedicated on-demand and live television streaming service in Australia.

Reviewed by Ryan
★★★★☆

Netflix Smartphone App Review

About

An American multinational entertainment company, Netflix specializes in streaming media and video by demand online. Founded in 1997, Netflix started as a DVD by mail business across the United States before the expansion to an online streaming service in 2007. 29 years on and Netflix has cemented itself as one of the most internationally used streaming services with over 83 million paid subscribers worldwide.

Netflix has an expansive library of content ranging from TV shows, to movies, to documentaries as well as ‘Netflix Original’ content (content that is produced, co-produced or distributed by Netflix exclusively), providing users with the future of entertainment consumption.

Features

Netflix has been known for its affordability, and has a variety of packages available depending on the situation of the potential user. Firstly, Netflix offers a 30-day free trial allowing the user to gain an understanding of the service whilst familiarizing themselves with the library on offer. From there it is a pay by month feature starting from:
- Standard Definition Plan- One simultaneous stream at a time for $8.99 per month
- High Definition Plan- Two simultaneous streams at a time for $11.99 per month
- Ultra-High Definition Plan- Up to four simultaneous streams at a time with the option of 4K quality for $14.99 per month



Netflix maintains an extensive personalized video recommendation system with curated lists depending on genre, what’s trending, top picks and even a user created list called ‘My List’ which enables the user to favourite items to come back to at a later date. The level of ease in which the user is able to cycle through content makes searching for the perfect movie that much more difficult as you are always finding something worth coming back to.

Playable on just about every device, Netflix’ compatibility separates it from its competitors. Supported devices include: 
- Gaming consoles like PS4, Xbox One
- Smartphones
- Apple TV
- Smart TV set top boxes
- Desktop computers and laptops 

Download Link
Netflix is available for download on the iTunes store and Google Play

The Verdict
Gone are the days of DVD stacks, losing discs and having to venture to the store to be able to watch your favourite flicks. Netflix successfully breaks down everything tedious that used to come with wanting to watch your favourite shows and movies. Not only is Netflix one of the most affordable video streaming services on the market but paired with great streaming quality, it’s every movie buffs perfect match. 

Reviewed by Jackson
★★★★★