Are you a firm believer in cord-cutting? Have you fully migrated to streaming platforms? Then you are part of an increasing trend where people are wholesale giving up on traditional viewing platforms. Once you’ve made the leap, it is essential to make sure you are getting the full-scale user experience on streaming platforms.
Doesn’t matter which service you are subscribed to, with these quick and easy steps, you can optimize your viewing experience to the max. So, let’s make the most of our options and get started on these simple but effective tips for configuring your streaming app.
Set Up Subtitles
This feels like a no-brainer. But many people don’t know that you can customize your subtitles options as well. With top streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer curating great multilingual libraries, setting up your subtitles is a crucial part of the viewing experience.
Recently, shows like the K-drama Crash Landing into You or the sci-fi epic 1899, have viewers spoilt for choice when it comes to multi-lingual entertainment. Discovering stories from around the world is a fantastic way to know about different cultures and perspectives on life.
That said, to enjoy the authentic viewing experience, we recommend that you never opt for Dubs but always go for subtitles with the original voices and emotions conveyed by the actors. The authenticity of dialogue in the original language cannot be enjoyed by listening to dubbed lines.
To help foreign viewers, platforms like Hulu, Amazon, Max etc. let you customize the font, size and placement of the subtitle text on your screen. You can also choose to add color blocks for a clearer look at the text. And speaking of where to place the text, the best result is achieved when it is at eye level.
Set Up Your Location
Streaming services have a web of complex regional restrictions to deal with. And that’s why some shows and movies may never end up on your screen. To get the best selection of entertainment, you don’t always have to be satisfied with the content library assigned to your location. There is no need for this obstacle to keep you from riding with the trends.
Some niche shows (like the OA) accumulate dedicated fan bases online. And if we can’t access these shows, reading frenetic fan praise leaves us with a severe case of FOMO. The worst instance, though, is when you are blacked out from a live sporting event which is taking social media by storm.
In times like these, a good VPN is your friend. Running such an app on your smart TV unlocks content you never imagined.
The concept is simple. Let’s take the fact that Eurosport outside UK is not easily accessible. But a pre-installed VPN app solves that problem for you and gives you and your friends the live experience at home. Just select a server location where the content is available and you’re good to go.
Set Up Offline Playback
It used to be that folks would read a book while waiting at the dentist’s office or for the next train. But the picture’s different these days. Nowadays, you see more and more people with necks bent over a screen, watching shows on long commutes or or even on lunch breaks.
These changes are spurred by the blessing of offline playback. If you don’t utilize this service, get on it pronto! All the best paid streaming services including Netflix, Prime, Peacock and Hulu, let you download content for offline viewing. This is not only for outdoors when you don’t want to rack up heavy data charges. It is actually very good for home viewing as well.
Internet connections are unreliable in many locations and even home connections can bring up the dreaded wheel-of-buffering-misery. It’s a most inconvenient sight when you are trying to watch a thrilling story arc. So, save yourself some grief and download all episodes of a season before you start viewing. You’ll thank me later.
Set Up Your Layout
If you, like me, are a fan of dark mode on your phone and laptop, the good news is that you can customize your TV to dark mode too. Even if you don’t have a preference in this regard, there are obvious benefits to this setting.
What are your viewing habits on a day-to-day basis? Do you regularly watch an episode or two of a show after work or school on a weekday? That’s doubtful, unless you are a time traveler from the 90’s.
Most likely, you take the weekend to have a cozy binge-watching session which starts somewhere in the late evening. We get it, we aren’t going to any parties either. In fact, my favorite party is a watch-party on the weekend when a new season of a long-anticipated show is released. Here, dark mode is even more essential for a dimly lit room, or under a night light.
Select dark mode, and do your eyes a favor. Furthermore, adjust the tile size for thumbnails, and font size for the synopses. Setting these up once is enough, and will bring relief to your eyes when you are scanning through Netflix for the next great binge session.
Conclusion
There you have it! After following my tips, your streaming apps shall be optimized perfectly for your needs. With some easily achieved tweaks, you will never miss the nuance of the shows and movies you are watching.
And what’s more, the monotonous drill of searching the content library will not be so punishing on your eyes. Altogether, it will make for an immersive streaming session that will be a feast for your senses.
