What is Streaming Video?
A common use for tablets and phones is to view videos.
These may be pre-recorded* or streamed.
Streaming video means that the video information is sent continuously by a streaming service as it is watched.
The video is not recorded on the device but is supplied 'on demand'.
These services may provide movies, sport or TV shows.
ABC iView or SBS On Demand are streaming services provided without subscription by TV stations.
Commercial movie providers such as Netflix and Stan provide movie and TV series as a streaming service on a subscription basis.
Mostly these services will use an app and are paid services that are chosen by the device owner.
Unless the ISP provides the video stream as 'unmetered' or they are only viewed on an unlimited internet connection the data use would be very high and possibly very costly. Even with unmetered streaming, the viewer must pay for the streaming service subscription.
The quality of the internet connection will also make a difference to the quality of the video being watched. Some services make adjustments for the type of device in use and the quality of the internet connection.
A lot of information about these services is available from ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority at Please click here
*Pre-recorded Video
Video that is pre-recorded for mobile devices is beyond the scope of this course.
Software is available to re-record existing DVDs into a compressed version for replay on mobile devices.
Care must be taken with copyright requirements when using these techniques.
Live Streaming
You can watch a live-streamed event in much the way that other streaming is done.
Live streaming is effectively a live broadcast to the internet that is done of meetings, events, clubs, churches and the like.
This type of streaming provides for watching live as it happens but also records the event so that it can be watched later.
Anyone can start watching from the beginning at anytime after the event begins.
Stream Content from a Device to a Large Screen
If a mobile device such as mobile phone or tablet has an app for streaming content, the device may be connected to a large screen for viewing in the home. The large screen can be a large computer monitor, a TV or a digital projector.
It is also possible to achieve the same result using a desktop computer or laptop computer.
More detail on connections is provided in the section below but it is important to realise that no single method of connection will provide everything that is available. Probably the most flexible connection uses a computer or a mobile device.
Also very important is that most streaming services require a paid subscription so to see all that is available you may need subscriptions to Netflix, Stan, Disney, Foxtel….etc. You should check if the service you want to use has an app for your device or is available through a web browser.
Connections for Streaming
There are four alternatives for providing streaming video to a TV.
The file below gives a simple picture of the connections and can be downloaded and printed if desired.
Click to download
1. 'Smart' TV
A TV with enough 'smarts' to connect direct to the internet may be able to show streaming video without any other changes.
Often even newer SMART TVs are clumsy to operate for searching and connecting to streaming video content so this method may be tedious to use.
2. Computer connected to TV
A reasonably modern computer can connect to the TV with an HDMI cable.
(older computers may have VGA connectors which do not transfer sound)
The computer can organise and search for video programs to show on the TV.
3. Mobile Devices
An Android tablet or mobile phone can connect to a TV using technology such as Chromecast.
This is a wireless device that plugs into the TV.
Chromecast can also pick up iPhone and iPad streaming from apps that stream to Chromecast. Check these in the App store.
Apple has Apple TV which can work like Chromecast for iphone and ipad.
Mobile devices can also use an adapter which converts to HDMI. This works well for Apple devices but not all Android devices work with HDMI adapters. Try before buying.
4. A TV 'set top box'
These are purpose designed streaming devices which are supplied by a provider such as Apple TV, Optus Fetch, Foxtel etc.
These can be more restrictive than the other options as the subscriptions control what is available to watch.
NOTE:
With any of the connections above, there will need to be a change in the INPUT settings of the TV.
Usually the TV remote will set the INPUT to TV so that normal TV stations can be watched.
To watch programs from other devices the TV remote will have to switch to the desired HDMI input.
These are usually numbered so take note of which one is being used for the streaming device so switching can go to the correct setting.