Tech Tuesday – Top APPS for Movie Lovers
As we become more connected and mobile it seems that APPS are now a vital part of our life, here are FRC’s Top APPS for Movie Lovers
I am a self-confessed GEEK. I may get freaked out by Cos-Play and Memorabilia but when it comes to an APP I get all aroused and get the Kermode out! Gone are the days when we used to just enjoy a film, now we can share what we are watching, finding out about the film / cast and production and even watching the films on our devices. So to honor that below I share with you all my favourite APPS for getting my geek out when it comes to movie related fun.
RunPee
I don’t know if you are like me, but my bladder is getting smaller and smaller by the year. It is worse when I am watching a film. It seems that as soon as the opening titles go up I need to go, even if I have just been. Enter RunPee. This little APP will let you know the best times to go for a toilet break, and even will let you know what you miss when you are out of the room. There is no excuse and it takes the stress out of the dreaded Bladder Chicken
Today In Movie History
I love a good movie quiz and trivia battle, but it is fair to say I suck at it!! Although I did win the pool side movie quiz on holiday last year!! GET IN!! This APP is great for growing your already great movie knowledge. It is full of births death and interesting facts that will help to break the ice on those tense first Movie Blogger meet ups!!
VLC Direct Pro
I have been a user of VLC on my computer for years. It is the be all end all of media players and never fails to open and play a file. The latest edition lets you stream your collection to any compatible device in your home. Which is where this app comes in. Want to watch your home movies on the loo? Get VLC Direct Pro!!
Get Glue
I have only just got into this. I am very late to the party, and if I am honest I forget more times than I don’t, but CHECKING IN is what all the cool cats are doing. By checking in this app shares what you are watching on FaceBook and Twitter, as well as your thoughts on the movie / tv show. One of the nice things about this app is it hands out virtual stickers if you watch enough of a certain type of film, or a new movie in opening week. Get enough of these and you get the chance to get the real thing!! Real Stickers… YES PLEASE!!
Rock Player Lite
OK let’s face it the stock movie player on ANDROID is a bit pants. It only plays a few file types and can be frustrating at times. Luckily Rock Player is a great alternative. Copy your movies in their native file type to your SD card and bob is your Mothers Brother you can play them, no converting. OK it is not perfect, but it is pretty close.
IMDb
This might be only me here, but more and more lately do I sit at home watching a film and say to Lyn, “What is that guy from? Was it the film about the hit-man, the one with the hair?” . Or something close. It also seems that I use IMDb a lot in these situations. It was always cool to have it on the PC but now it is on my phone you can instantly find out the film said guy was from and everything else you need to know. Essential!!
Netflix
Netflix has only been in UK for a few months, but it is a great addition to the APP world. It is grea tto watch movies instantly at home on your TV or Projector, but on a long car journey, or lunch break? Well now that the APP is here we can watch instantly whatever we want where ever we are… Just make sure you have lots of Bandwidth allowance!!
As you can see there is a great choice in APPS out there, for both Android (yeay!!) and iOS. There is no excuse, go download them NOW!!
About The Author – Scott Lawlor
Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer. Check out his home set up HERE
Are you a fan of APPS? Do you use any that we haven’t mentioned? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
- Related:
- Tech Tuesday
Super stuff Scott. I find the free apps from Sky and the BBC etc are great also for watching films when the TV is completely out of reach (and you have access to Wi-fi).
I think I’ll give Get Glue a go as I haven’t used it previously.
Good Calls! Get Glue is fun, but be warned it is addictive
I also find Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide quite handy. As well as, Total Film and one called Movie Reviews where it gives a vast database of film critics’ reviews.
Hi Mark, thanks for the comment.
I will check out Movie Reviews App, thanks for the heads up!
Good collection of apps. IMDB and Netflix are essentials. Another favorite of mine is from Moviefone, which is what I use to find out what’s playing near me.
Thanks Eric, I haven’t used Moviefone! Maybe I should give it a go!!
That Runpee one is hilarious and brilliant! GetGlue I signed up for for some reason and then never went back. Same with Letterboxd. I don’t really even get apps. I think I can get them on my Blackberry but I never use them unless you count FB and Twitter.
HAHA RunPee is AWESOME!!
LOL
See, there’s a dilemma in using RunPee. Do you start it up before going into the cinema or risk disturbing fellow patrons while watching the film?
GetGlue I’ve started getting addicted to. More the need to HAVE to check in to whatever I’m watching. Even Bargain Hunt….
IMDB is my favourite out of all of these. So quick and handy! Throw in the BBFC app as well, mostly for the hilarity of reading what exactly it is in each film that gives it the rating it gets.
RunPee has a vibrate warning facility to help you go without disturbing the screening
I know how you feel about GetGlue! It is very addictive
Didn’t know about a lot of these. I’d like to mention that the CanIStream.it website has an app. That one is really useful when looking for streaming movies.
I’ll have to try a few of these out.
Ooh I will check that out!! Thanks for the heads up matey
RunPee looks like the best app on that list. I’d use it if bored by a film, to weigh up whether it’s worth scarpering. Is there a RunPoo?
HAHAHAHAH RunPoo is a pretty awesome idea!! I would download that in an instant
Wow, seems like there’s an app for everything. I think my hubby has a couple of these. He’s the tech geek in our household
HAHA indeed there is!! I am trying to code one at the moment and having an original idea is HARD!
Today in Movie History & Runpee sounds great! I’ll check them out later. But before a great anticipated movie, I usually pee first and don’t want to drink too much (yeah that’s my trick haha). Already have Get Glue and IMDB though. There’s also MUBI (don’t know if there’s a mobile app), a lot of people used that too but almost similar like Get Glue, only with star rating.
Thanks Andina! Runpee is a great idea even if it is a little silly!!
Haha I find it amusing how some of these, the top one in particular, encourages people to use their mobile phones inside a theatre; contradicting one of your latest rants about cinema etiquette.
I know matey, but it doesn’t have a vibrate facility so you do not disturb others!!
I love IMDB’s app, although the 1.0 version was pretty atrocious. Thankfully they redesigned the site and also their app, both of them looks and works perfectly on my iPhone. There’s another app callled IntoNow but it’s meant for TV not movies, I think it’s kind of dumb.
IMDb is essential! I use it daily!
I am an IMDB girl all the way.
I also like Fandango (mobile tickets!) – probably limited availability outside the US
The Vanity Fair app is also a good one
Yeay another vote for IMDb!!
shame I cannot use Fandango here
Ooooh, these are great! I’m always looking for good movie apps to go on my iPod (soon to be iPhone if I can get enough money). That RunPee one looks extra fun!
May I suggest MovieCat? It is the AWESOMEST movie trivia app ever. Seriously. It also helps that I love cats.
These are some awesome apps. IMDb and Netflix are the only two I currently have. RunPee is hilarious and strangely handy. This Date in Movie History is tremendous.
The Netflix app comes in extremely handy in airports or on long drives when you aren’t driving. I once got my nephew- 3 years old at the time- through a 2 hour drive with Buster Keaton’s “The General”.
For more details on Today in Movie History, check us out on the web at:
http://moviehistory.jebsapps.com/mhlink.php
it’s an app EVERY movie lover should check out!
Great list Scott! I have an iPad and I am always on the lookout for new Apps, so thanks!