yidio.com
Life was much simpler back when Netflix was the only streaming service we had to worry about. When it came time to figure out whether a TV show or movie was available to watch, all you had to do was go to netflix.com and quickly look through whatever they had available at the time. There was no complicated and frustrating matrix of release and contract cancellation schedules to keep track of. It was just simple. You just logged onto Netflix, chose from the available titles, and watched. Nothing more, nothing less.
Although streaming services have their benefits, it is becoming harder and harder to find content that is consistent across all of them. For example, networks like ABC, CBS, and Fox tend to be limited to streaming on only certain streaming platforms - like ABC on Hulu and CBS All Access, for example. This makes it hard to keep track of which platform will have the show you are interested in. Additionally, content from some streaming services tends to be cycled in and out of availability a lot - meaning that it's hard to find it when you want it.
I find it almost impossible to keep track of which streaming site will have which original series or movie when I find myself wanting to watch a given show or movie. Not only is it difficult to remember which platform puts out what original series or movie, but they also all keep unnecessarily confusing (and sometimes annoyingly short-lasting) schedules of syndicated programming.
I'm sure many of you have figured out by now that Google is not always the most helpful when it comes to figuring this out. For example, trying to figure out if Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video is going to be the best site at the moment if you are trying to watch classic sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother, Friends, or Third Rock from the Sun can be quite difficult with Google's algorithm. But eventually Googling this information will yield an answer. However, it is far from convenient and time-efficient.
It would be nice if there was a site that helped you keep track of streaming service contract schedules, specifically designed to keep you in the loop on which service will help you watch what you want to watch when you want to watch it.
Fortunately, friends, there is no need to fret. Because there are several of these streaming site search engines (or streaming site aggregators, as they are sometimes called) to choose from. However, as is the case with any kind of website, not all of these streaming site search engines (or streaming site aggregators, as they are sometimes called) are equally powerful or effective. Some are better designed than others, some draw from more streaming services than others, some offer more useful features than others. So today we?ll start with a streaming site search engine known as Yidio.
History
Your Internet Video (Yidio) is a aggregator that makes it easier than ever for you to browse what's available across all of your video streaming accounts. And the kicker is that you can do all this from a single and convenient platform, yidio.com.
In January 2008, brothers Adam and Brandon Eatros created Yidio. A little over a year later, in June, Yidio officially launched. Since then, the site has had great success with its novel features and attracted the attention of angel investors Alan Warms, Bill Luby, Jim Collis, Lon Chow, and Jamie Crouthamel. Between these five investors, Yidio was able to raise $350,000 in funding in November 2009.
Yidio, a startup that provides alerts for social media platforms, has experienced success in recent years. In 2011, they added alerts for Facebook and Twitter. Later that year, they released an iPhone app and an Android version of the service. Yidio's app was featured on the Today Show on July 28th of 2013.
Design
I think that you will be pleasantly surprised by the way that Yidio.com is designed. This is one area where sites like this can easily fall short, in my opinion, via sloppy, cluttered, or hard to navigate site design. Luckily, though, that is far from the case with Yidio. This site is equal parts well-designed and familiar.
Anyone who has used Netflix or Hulu will find adapting to Yidio to be a very smooth process. That is because the design of Yidio emulates both these leading streaming platforms. You can quickly browse titles by genre, what?s popular, what?s trending, by platform, by the network, by airdate, etc. Imagine all of your favorite streaming sites rolled into one convenient location and you have a good idea of how Yidio is designed.
You can also search by title or simply browse by movies or TV shows on Yidio. It is one of the simplest (but not sophomoric looking) sites of its kind that I have ever seen. In fact, I would even argue that Yidio is better designed than Hulu - it is less confusing, less cluttered, and easier to browse.
Content
Well, the content of Yidio really depends on what streaming services you are already subscribed to - as that is the content that you will be able to view. If you are a Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO member, well, you can browse everything that those platforms have to offer. But what really makes Yidio stand out is the fact that you can also actually view this content from the site itself. There are several other streaming site search engines out there, many of which do not offer this seemingly basic feature. So, that is a huge win for Yidio in my opinion.
What's more, Yidio also offers free streaming content of its own for users to enjoy. Even if you aren't a member of any of the streaming services out there, in other words, as a Yidio member, you will still be able to view certain movies. At the moment, some of Yidio's titles include Basic Instinct 2, Blitz, Lionheart, Stuart Little, National Security, Hancock, and The Passion of the Christ. This is yet another feature that really sets Yidio apart from its competitors.
If you're looking for a way to enjoy your favorite television networks without having to pay for them, look no further than Yidio. This streaming service offers networks like Horror 24/7, News 24/7, Standup TV, Docu TV, Anime All Day, and Celebrity TV for free. Pretty convincing, huh? If this isn't enough to convince you to sign up for Yidio right away, I don't know what will.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
I mentioned before that I am quite fond of Yidio's desktop browser site. I like how it emulates Netflix and offers an intuitive and familiar user experience. However, to get the most out of the Yidio mobile experience, you should download the app.
The Yidio app offers an easy to navigate and streamlined experience, as well as personalized reminders for when your favorite shows air and a customizable watch list. This is, honestly, on par with the Netflix app in my opinion, and it has an average rating of 4.2 stars on the Apple App Store (from 1.9 thousand individual reviews). Looks like I'm not alone in loving the Yidio app then!
Pricing and Plans
As I mentioned earlier, subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and the rest of them will still cost whatever monthly fee you have with them. However, using Yidio itself is completely free of charge. You may have to put up with occasional ads, but other than that, you don't have to worry about paying Yidio for their services in any way, shape, or form.
Suggestions that I have for Yidio
Honestly, I cannot think of a single way that this site could be made better. Everything that I would want a streaming site aggregator or search engine to do, Yidio does (and then some).
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