Watching movies on Android devices isn’t as easy as it is on the iPhone, especially since the Android Market doesn’t have an iTunes App Store or anything remotely resembling it (at least as far as movies are concerned).
But there are still some useful Android apps out there that can improve your movie-viewing experience, both on the Android device itself and elsewhere.
Watching Movies on an Android phone
YouTube is known for its user-generated content, but the video service also offers full-length films. Using the free YouTube Android app, you can access full-length films and stream them directly from your phone. Simple, but convenient, for those times when you’re able to remain connected to your 3G or Wi-Fi network while viewing a movie.
Cinema is a free Android app for viewing movies on your phone. Like a phone-specific player, Cinema lets you save spots, search clips and pause the video. While Cinema isn’t a hub for finding films to watch, it can help you manage the film-viewing experience for any video content you already have on your device.
Watching Movies Elsewhere
Sometimes a Redbox can seem like a DVD oasis in the middle of the grocery store. If you have a hankering for renting a new release quick and cheap, the 99-cent Redboxer Android app helps you find the nearest Redbox location. With the Android app, you can also search films, create a queue, as well as bookmark movies and Redbox kiosks around town.
For those that enjoy films on a regular basis, the IMDB Top 250 Android app can help keep tabs on their viewing behavior. The free Android app tracks IMDB’s top 250 films, with regular updates for the latest charts. Customize the list and manage it as you watch films. YouTube and Netflix integration offers additional search, information and viewing options.
Manage your DirecTV account from your Android phone with the satellite company’s free DirecTV Android app. Set your home DVR from your phone, and search for the programs you’d like to see at a later date. To use the Android app, you’ll need a DirecTV account first.
If you have a TiVo, you may want to check out the TivoRemote app. At 99 cents, the Android app lets you control your TiVo Series3 and a few other set top boxes, all from your phone. The Android app is rather specific and requires a Wi-Fi connection, so hard core users will be the ones to find the best use out of the premium Android app.
For a more universal remote control Android app, RemoteDroid turns your Android phone into a mouse and keyboard. You’ll need Wi-Fi to connect your phone with your PC. The free Android app can then be used to access the movies you already have on your computer. Great for those who have their computers hooked up to their TVs for the best home-movie experience.
As Boxee continues to expand its presence and feature set, it wouldn’t hurt to have the Boxee Wi-Fi Remote on your phone. Free for Android users, the Boxee remote works for the set top boxes, if you already have one. With Boxee’s continued growth and increasing points of access, Boxee apps will become standard for a lot of mobile users.
Location-based Movie Android Apps
Though you can’t watch movies with the Location Scout Android app, it will offer some context to film buffs on the go. Location Scout lets you view movie information based on your location, alerting you to filming spots across the world. For each location on the map, the free Android app will give additional information and redirect you to IMDB as well.
For film students and independent filmmakers, the Film Utility Android app may be of interest. As a basic timer, the $1.99 Android app helps to convert frames, feet and timecode in order to view the results simultaneously. Though basic, its timer capabilities could be of some use, particularly in a pinch.
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