Who needs Netflix?

If you read our report on the long-awaited arrival of Netflix in this country, on pages 36 and 37 (if not, go back and do so; I'll wait for you here), you may well be excited at finally getting to share in the televisual goodies that many other developed countries have already enjoyed for some time now. Most people seem to agree that we are experiencing a golden age of TV series, with more quality programmes than the time to consume them in. In that sense, Netflix couldn't have arrived at a better moment.

However, while the online video provider will no doubt be a raging success here, as it has in other countries, and may even help to mitigate Spain's endemic piracy problems, it is never a bad thing to keep your options open. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to translate an article for another publication that gave details about an app that could make Netflix -at least for a time- unnecessary. What's more, if you live in an area that has limited internet cover, as I do, you may not even be able to see Netflix at all, due to a lack of enough bandwidth. Whatever the case, the alternative I refer to is an app called Popcorn Time.

Now, bear in mind I still haven't tried Popcorn Time, so this is not a recommendation; I'm just passing on some information that could be useful to some people. From what I understand, Popcorn Time is an app available for Android, iOS, Linux and Windows that allows you to watch new films and series completely for free. There does appear to be a few limitations, such as the fact that the films and series it has in its catalogue are all in original version, albeit with the option of subtitles in different languages. If the original language is English, which is probably the case most of the time, then all the better for us. Apart from which, which of us do not need to brush up our French or Swahili?

From what I understand, after downloading and installing the app, you can select the product you want to watch from a list or make a manual search. The service then allows you to watch your chosen content in HD (720p) or FullHD (1080p) formats. The system behind Popcorn Time is peer-to-peer technology, which means you access the programmes from the hard drive of another app user. After you join, people will then also be able to draw on whichever of the programmes from Popcorn Time you have on your hard drive.

As I said, I still haven't tried the app out, and for all I know it could be a waste of time. That's where you come in; if you have anything to say, why not write in and let us know.