How to Watch TV and Movies on Your PC - From the Internet

Software to Watch Cable TV On PC

2011-10-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Looking for the best software to watch cable TV on PC? There are some pros and cons to using software as your main cable-viewing method, and here we'll outline them.

Pros:

1. Ease of use

It's terribly easy to set up software that will let you watch cable tv on your computer; all you need to do is download it and install it.

2. Good selection

If you go with a good company like Satellite Direct, you'll get access to a ton of videos and TV shows, as well as streaming channels to your PC.

3. Trial period

Most TV to PC software programs have a trial period to let you test out the software before they make you commit to keeping it. So this way, you can check it out and decide whether or not you like it. With something like DirectTV, on the other hand, you've got to get the service and get it installed, and if you don't like it, you're screwed.

Cons:

1. May not have everything you're looking for.

As with all TV viewing services, you're not necessarily going to get every single channel you want. If there is a specific channel you want, you should just subscribe to it independently.

2. Have to install the software.

Obviously, you have to set up and install the software to watch cable tv on pc before you can actually use it. This means taking the time to enable it and tweak the settings, which will involve a bit of work.

You also need to have an internet connection to make sure that your PC will be able to stream programs and movies.

3. Need to make sure it's compatible.

Not all computers will be able to run software for watching tv programs on your PC, so be sure that you meet the minimum system requirements before you buy/download it. This way you won't end up finding that your computer isn't able to run the software.

Of course, as long as you go with Satellite Direct, you won't have to worry about that because of the 60-day refund policy this company has. They're the most reputable, customer-service friendly, and easy to navigate software program when you want to watch cable tv on your pc, or movies, or whatever you're interested in. I highly recommend them.

Check out Satellite Direct

Review of Anime Downloads Online

2009-12-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

One of the most successful online retailers of downloadable anime to come into the scene recently is Anime Downloads Online. This site is one of the many paid anime download sites that allows you to download as much anime as you want after a flat payment of $37. This one-time payment gets you access to all the downloads they have available on their site.

Selection

Probably the best thing about Anime Downloads Online is its sheer amount of hosting space - which means a very dense selection. Its archive site boasts a capacity over 5000 gigabytes, over 950 anime series, 500 manga, and 400 drama video downloads. It has some of the more popular anime series like Gundam and Cowboy Bebop, but also more obscure titles.

A bonus is the availability of anime soundtracks as well, which you can download once you're a member.

Selection rating: 5/5

Download speed

This is the other major asset of Anime Downloads Online. Their download speeds are upwards of 1500 kbps within the US alone, and probably equally good in other countries (though I can't say for sure since my only downloads were done within the US.) You can download as much as you want in a month, though you are limited to five actual downloads at a time. As fast as the downloads go, you could easily download 10 or 15 movies per day, or an entire seasons' worth of series.

Download speed rating: 5/5

Customer service

Unfortunately, this is where Anime Downloads Online starts to fail. The customer service is strictly online; there's no phone support - at least that I could find. On top of that, it took the email support over a day to get back to me concerning a faulty download. I think the rep was not a native English speaker, as the reply I got was confusing and hard to understand. I finally did manage to get a decipherable response, however, which fixed the problem.

Customer service: 3/5

Bottom line

For its flat fee of $37 for lifetime anime downloads, Anime Downloads Online is hard to beat. If you are willing to sacrifice easy access to customer service and just be content with a wide selection and great download speeds, this is a good site to sign up with. You probably won't find a better paid site for anime downloads, since that's what these guys specialize in.

Visit Anime Downloads Online

A New and Better Movie Downloading Site: Review of Express Movie Downloads

2009-11-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season just a month away, I've been looking for new sites that will make media downloading and burning even easier. I do still like SatelliteSoft, but I've found their selection to be fairly limited, and the downloading speeds are not really as great as I would like.

So I've turned to P2P downloading programs, which network with the main program itself that you download movies from, and also from other users, meaning you get even faster download times after subscribing.

My current favorite is Express Movie Downloads. This program is fantastic. Not only are the download speeds rocket fast, but also, the site provides extensive instructions for how to download and burn DVDs. Their tutorials are probably the most thorough I've seen on any P2P downloading site.

Visit Express Movie Downloads

Now, the one problem I had was the search feature. I think their code for the search engine is fairly rudimentary, as I had a hard time getting it to find the movies I was looking for without having to tweak specific keywords.

They also have music, game, and TV show downloads, though they really have the most selection for their movie content.

Bottom line and rating:

A good, solid P2P movie downloading program. Quick to setup, requires no software to download, and gets you ready to burn movies to your DVDs quickly. 4/5 stars.

Click here to subscribe to Express Movie Downloads

Watching TV on your computer: a few reasons to ditch the TV set entirely

2009-10-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, many cable companies involved in the monopoly over their communities of subscribers are oblivious to the fact that people are using their computers for all their home TV viewing. Subscribers are forced to pay, on average, $100 per month for cable bills. It is true that cable companies offer packages that combine internet, TV, and phone, but you still end up paying $50 for cable alone, even if all you want is the most basic channels.

A friend of mine called her cable provider yesterday, hoping to change her service so she would only have to pay for basic, local TV stations. She was told by the company that she had no choice but to get ALL the channels in their most basic package, which costs $40+ for about 300 channels, most of which she never watches. "That's just the way the system's set up," the rep said.

That doesn't have to be the case anymore. Cable companies should realize what's going on over the internet and wisen up if they want to keep their subscribers. There IS competition - just not among the cable companies themselves.

The reason I recommend SatelliteSoft, Streaming Online Movies, and other software packages on this website for viewing TV/movies on the computer is solely to make your life easier when trying to get set up with your PC as a TV. The truth is, you can even find several good free TV websites such as Hulu.com, Sling.com, and TVChannelsFree.com.

My advice? Ditch the cable subscription, use somewhere else for your internet and/or phone if you have a landline phone. Save money by just using the PC for your TV and movie viewing.

How to Build Your Own Home Theater PC

2009-09-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

In the last few posts, we've been talking about specific satellite to PC software. Now I want to talk about something equally important: how to build a good home media PC.

If you've never built your own computer before, this can seem intimidating, but in reality it's not that bad. There are actually many computer retailers like iBuypower that give you enough customization options that you are essentially building your own PC. You don't have to get together all the bits and pieces and hardwire it yourself; you just need to know exactly what you want to go into it.

A few important things to know when you start building a home media PC:

-What kind of CPU and memory you want

-What graphics card is best

-What monitor gives you the best picture

-How to network it for internet and TV reception

-Processor speed

-Speakers

So before you go out and invest in all the latest hardware on the market, be sure you research your specs and know exactly what you want. It helps to consult an expert or find a good how-to guide; the one I personally used was Ed Tittel's Build the Ultimate Home Theater PC. A good place to start getting your hands dirty, and it has simply, clear instructions that work well even for newbies.

How does TV to PC software really work?

2009-09-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

For anyone who's new to TV to PC software, it might sound too good to be true. Software that lets you watch premium channels on your computer anywhere without monthly fees - yeah, it does sound too good to be true. So how does it actually work, and why is it so inexpensive?

The way it works is that the software providers themselves, like Satellite Direct and SatelliteSoft, pay royalty fees to networks in order to host their content. Then, they create software that gives viewers access to these channels. You pay a one time fee, then download the software, install it, and you're good to go. It's basically the same format you'd get with a cable subscriber for regular TV, where you can choose channels by category, name, title, etc.

Even if you're not a computer expert, this software is simple to use. If you can click a button, you can use SatelliteSoft or Satellite Direct - or any other TV to PC software in existence.

SatelliteSoft Review

2009-09-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

SatelliteSoft is one of the oldest satellite TV on PC programs available. It is downloadable, just as the other programs reviewed on this site. It has three different editions, and the only differences between them are the number of stations you get access to.

So how does SatelliteSoft rank up to other, newer programs?

The short answer is that SatelliteSoft is still a very good program for watching satellite TV on your PC and maintains its reputation because it has delivered quality satellite stations to computers for years.

Just as with other satellite TV on PC software programs, SatelliteSoft hosts their content by paying different providers who own the content. This way they can provide quality satellite stations to anyone who downloads the software. So you do get "real" channels with software like this.

The program works with all versions of Windows, but is not yet available to Macs. You only need to download the software to get it up and running - no extra cables or hardware (unless you want to hook your PC up to your TV to watch from your TV screen).

Read more about SatelliteSoft

Author's pick: Warpia Wireless PC to TV/Projector Display Converter Kit

2009-09-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

I recently bought the Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter set to enable a PC to TV connection. I didn't want to deal with the hassle of a wired connector, which I'd had before, and was a pain. This adapter can be used for laptop or PC hookup. It can also be used for work purposes if you need to display PC content on a projector.

Features of the Warpia Wireless USB Adapter:

Wireless High Definition (720p) connectivity from notebook/PC to projectors, flat TVs and monitors
Full room coverage with line of site and non-line of site
Pre-associated (paired) adapters
VGA & HDMI connectivity (DVI with additional adapter)
32-bit True Color depth for high quality images
Supports up to SXGA+ (1400x1050) resolution
Fully standard solution (Wireless USB from the USB-IF)
Worldwide Regulations compliance
Windows Vista/XP compatible
128-bit AES security

Pros:

-Very easy to set up

-No cables or wires involved

-Great display and quality

Cons:

-Receiver sometimes has a hard time finding signal

This is a very easy-to-set up adapter for anyone who wants to enable a fast PC to TV connection. It's also very affordable, being priced at $130. I really have no bad things to say about it because it worked so well.

Stream Online Movies.com Review

2009-09-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

More and more people are starting to use their computers as televisions. Because of streaming video technology, online television is one of the easiest, fastest, and most convenient ways to get access to movies and TV shows. Instead of dealing with cable companies and movie stores, it’s much easier to just go online, fill in a quick signup form, and start watching whatever you want.

Streaming video is a technique that lets you watch real-time content just by click on a link. Your computer downloads the background files while you’re watching, so you don’t have to wait at all.

Stream Online Movies.com is a unique provider who offers unlimited access to your favorite movies and TV shows at all times. Because you pay a one-time fee, you can basically watch everything you want, whenever you want, continuously. Stream Online Movies also offers software that lets you watch movies right through your home television, or even burn them to CD/DVD.

I gave Stream Online Movies a try and was impressed with their customer service and quick download time. The movies themselves are high quality and everything is very easy to use. As someone who wants access to my favorite movies through my PC, this was a great investment. I’ve cut back on my movie rental bills, at any rate.

The downside to Stream Online Movies is that it’s a new company and there are a few minor hiccups, though most of them have been ironed out from what I can tell. Their staff is definitely on the ball; I contacted customer service to test out their support, and since it’s online, it’s very easy to get a response. They also have a money-back guarantee if you’re waffling.

I think it’s safe to say that streaming online movies is the way of the future, just as Stream Online Movies says in their slogan. With the economy like it is and people looking to save money everywhere, streaming movies offer a quick solution.

Click here to visit Stream Online Movies website

Satellite Direct Lets You Watch Local TV and Your Favorite Shows Right from Your PC

2009-09-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

If you’re like me, chances are that you’ve wanted to be able to eliminate your cable TV service entirely and just use your PC as a TV - especially considering that you can frequently get a better picture and higher sound quality with your PC anyway. Given the fact that you can use your PC for everything these days – news, shopping, sports, entertainment, gaming, work, etc. – it makes sense to use it for TV, too.

At least, that was my thinking. I spend most of my time between my desktop and my laptop because my job requires constant PC access. So I looked for a way to eliminate my monthly cable bill and just watch local TV on my PC.

So after a little research, I found a few programs out there, most of which were subscription-based which was NOT something I wanted to deal with. I wanted a one-time fee to get all my favorite channels right away. I finally found one that delivered: Satellite Direct.

With Satellite Direct, you get several benefits:

• 24/7 unlimited access to over 3,500 channels
• Hard to find international channels, as well as all the best movies, sports and news shows- at no additional cost
• No hardware to install
• No bandwidth limits
• No subscription or installation fees
• Automatic channel updates

My favorite part about Satellite Direct, though, is that I’m able to have full-time access to my favorite channels like Shotime and HBO, which I was paying A LOT more through my Charter cable service. As someone who uses his PC for every task imaginable, this was great for me. I’m on my computer several hours of the day and want to be able to just flip open MSNBC in a new window to check the stock market; Satellite Direct lets me do this.

Here's what the main page of Satellite Direct will look like:

And when you actually download it:

On top of those benefits, you never have to worry about hardware issues with this service, because all you need to install it is your PC and the software you purchase. It costs about $50 to download the software, and it took me less than 10 minutes to get it installed. I have a Windows Media PC, so I’m now getting better quality than I ever did with my old TV. I’m also saving a lot of money, which is obviously important in this economic climate.
I’m also saving money on movie rentals, because now I’m just watching all my favorite movies through this service.

Satellite Direct also offers great customer service, though the only time I ever had to contact them was about a week after my initial setup when I had some questions about channel access. The rep got back to me right away and was friendly and helpful.
It’s also great when traveling, because I can still have the same access to any channel I want through my laptop. Forget hotel HBO!

I highly recommend Satellite Direct to anyone who wants to watch local (or premium) TV right on your PC. It’s quick, cheap, easy to install, and very user-friendly.

Read more about Satellite Direct on their homepage or order Satellite Direct here