Table Of Content
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playon.tv
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What is PlayOn?
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Why do you need PlayOn?
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History
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Why should you stream on PlayOn?
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Lifetime access
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Wide-range of platforms
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One-click recording
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Smart Recording
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Offline viewing
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How to access PlayOn?
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Design
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Header
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Hero Section
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Body
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Footer
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Inner Pages
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Content
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Desktop/Mobile experience
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Plans & Pricing
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Suggestions I have for PlayOn
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Conclusion
playon.tv
With the increasing number of streaming services, it's only natural that the supporting software, such as DVRs, will be increasing too. One such service is PlayOn, which made a lot of noise in 2008 when it first rolled out its desktop software. Since then the service provider hasn't looked back. Though it isn't as hot as it once was, it still has a massive following.
Since the rise of Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu + Live TV, devices that were formerly considered to be competitive have begun to offer much better DVR capabilities. This has caused PlayOn Desktop and PlayOn Cloud to lose a lot of ground in recent years.
If you haven't heard of PlayOn before, keep reading because you'll learn a lot about the service, including why it's still relevant and can be very useful.
What is PlayOn?
PlayOn is a streaming brand and software suite that allows users to not only view but also record the content provided on various streaming platforms. There are two main products offered by the brand - PlayOn Desktop and PlayOn Cloud. If you're interested in recording content from digital streams, you can do so via PlayOn Cloud using your iOS or Android device. On the other hand, if you want to do so on a desktop, you can use the Windows-based software.
Why do you need PlayOn?
PlayOn is a convenient way to organize and consolidate various streaming media. You can download, record, and store the content on a preferred device. Though a premium service, it offers flexibility and convenience in keeping all your favorite content in one place.
History
PlayOn Desktop was launched in 2008 by MediaMall. It offers users the ability to access the same functionality on streaming services using devices such as game consoles, and other video players.
Why should you stream on PlayOn?
Regardless of what major publications believe, I feel that PlayOn still has a lot to offer. There are plenty of benefits when recording content using a premium service such as PlayOn. Let's check out some of the key benefits.
Lifetime access
Once you create content on PlayOn Cloud, you can access it for a lifetime. There is no time limit attached to the service. You can access premium content or the usual content on the network for life unless you decide to delete it.
Wide-range of platforms
There are two plans available on PlayOn - Desktop and Cloud. The Desktop plan allows you to record on 24 platforms while the Cloud plan allows you to record on 22 platforms. Some of the popular networks that you can record content from are ABC, Amazon Video, AMC, AT&T Now, CBS, Crackle, DC Universe, Fox, HBO GO, Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, NBC, Xfinity, and YouTube.
One-click recording
With PlayOn, you can easily record content from any compatible service. With a single click, you get an organized menu of all the networks you're streaming, so you can begin recording right away. When streaming, you can easily pause and resume recording to get the perfect video clip.
Smart Recording
While premium streaming networks are mostly ad-free, there are still services that have pre-roll ads. That said, with Smart Recording you can pause and resume recording, thereby allowing you to continue recording without breaking the session. This saves a lot of space along with keeping the recording ad-free.
Offline viewing
This is a feature that many people find to be predictable and not so commonly available. Obviously, when you're recording, you're likely to be able to view it offline. But mind you, there are many platforms that don't provide the liberty to do so. However, that's not the case with PlayOn which allows you to watch content at any time and on any device given that you've synced it.
How to access PlayOn?
You can access PlayOn in two ways. You can either search for "PlayOn" in your search engine and you'll likely find the website on the first page of the search result. Alternatively, you can click on the PlayOn screenshot on your left to access the website directly.
Design
PlayOn's website has a modern design but it doesn't stand out too much. It looks like a premium service and that's about it. The blue, white, grey, and black combination looks great, but it isn't out of the box. At the time of writing this review, there is an odd green banner which looks ridiculous. It might be that it is this banner that caught me off guard.
Header
The ?Free Download? option has a green downward arrow in the middle of the light blue background and says, ?Download Now?.
The website's sticky header section features the logo on the left and three options: "On Sale Now?", "Explore Features?", and "Free Download?" towards the right. The options are on a slightly transparent background. Out of the three options, two of them have drop-down menus. Under "On Sale Now?", you have "PlayOn Desktop?", "PlayOn Cloud Plans?", and "PlayOn Cloud Credits." Under Explore features, you have "PlayOn Desktop" and "PlayOn Cloud." The "Free Download?" option has a green downward arrow in the middle of the light blue background and says, "Download Now?".
Hero Section
As of right now, the hero section has a banner for the ?Spring Sale?, but I feel that the static banner for ?Record Streaming Videos? is the usual hero section element. Here, you'll find links for the app on Apple's App Store and Google Play Store.
Body
The website's body section features different features of the PlayOn Desktop and PlayOn Cloud service. There is a comparison section, where you can see the difference between PlayOn Desktop and PlayOn Cloud. Under this, you can see media coverage that the platform has received. Additionally, there is a testimonial section followed by the press & features section.
Footer
The footer section on PlayOn contains a wealth of information. There are four options - PlayOn Desktop, Store, Support, and About Us. In each of these categories, you have several navigation options. For instance, under PlayOn Desktop, you'll find options to pages such as "Features?", "Downloads?", "What's On?", "Compatible Devices?", and "Reviews?"
Inner Pages
When you first land on the website, you can access any of the inner pages by clicking on an option on the homepage. For example, when I first landed on the website, I wanted to learn more about the PlayOn Credits and so I clicked on the footer section, which had an option to navigate towards the Credits page. The inner pages are designed well and they have clean banners that add to the overall layout.
Content
There's a lot more to PlayOn than just a simple recording device. Under the PlayOn Picks channel you'll find free movies, as well as episodes of some of your favorite TV shows. When you subscribe to the service, you're able to watch recent episodes for free. Just head over to the source and start watching!
Although you can't binge-watch on this platform, it follows the Hulu model wherein you can just access the latest episodes. For example, you won't be able to watch an entire season of "The Good Place." They have a lot of content from popular networks, such as NBC, Fox, ABC, Comedy Central, MTV, and VH1, but you don't get the comprehensive experience which is a major drawback.
Desktop/Mobile experience
I didn't enjoy recording an episode using PlayOn on my laptop. It wasn't the best service and the loading time was excruciatingly long. If it continues to operate this way, it won't make the cut in the coming years. Though the company claims that it offers a comprehensive service, I couldn't experience anything like it.
I liked that PlayOn was compatible with many devices and that it worked well with Roku, Firestick, Chromecast, and gaming consoles. However, there is a shortcoming in that even though PlayOn is a premium service it doesn't always allow you to stream content at 1080p. That's disappointing because most TV shows and movies are available in 1080p.
Plans & Pricing
You can choose from three plans - 50GB for $2.99/month with 10 recording credits, 100GB for $4.99/month with 20 recording credits, or 1TB for $19.99/month with 40 recording credits.
Suggestions I have for PlayOn
If the developers donât up their game, they?ll have a hard time surviving in this cut-throat streaming market. The service is substandard and though with certain benefits, it still has a lot to do in order to catch up with the leading services. While I donât have any issues with pricing, the resolution limitation has to be the most discouraging element in this platform.
Conclusion
Despite its affordability, PlayOn doesn't standout as much as the different streaming services that are currently available. It may be lacking in unique features, and as a result it's not a great DVR. However, if 720p is your preference and you're looking for an affordable option, it's worth considering.
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