Any equivalents of Hulu or streaming Netflix?

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
21
Is it legal to use Torrents in Switzerland (downloading but not sharing), anyone knows?

22
Has anyone any experience of using UK company SkyTVGlobal's services (it is not a dept. of SkyTV)?

They are offering a Slingbox-based service and claim you only need a Boxee/Slingcatcher/Android/GoogleTV box to watch their /streamed) service. Works with any number of modem/router/TV units you have but you can only watch one at any one time (good if you have a holiday home with a web connection). Hardwire your web connection (PC or laptop not needed) and off you go. It sounds a bit like Roku or Apple TV if you know what I'm on about.

fredsl

23
As far as I know it is legal in CH. A recent study conducted by the CH government has shown no convincing evidence that pirating hurts the industry in CH, therefore they are not willing to make it unlawful (or given how laws work in CH, propose to put it up for review to be possibly mentioned as a voting idea for 2025 )

I will look for the article and edit this post.

http://www.neowin.net/news/piracy-is...overnment-says

http://www.disinfo.com/2011/12/swiss...efits-artists/

24
I don't think it is technically possible to just download via P2P. You will always also upload at least a small percentage while downloading. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

25
I've never had much luck with free VPN's either. I generally use streaming sites, www.1channel.ch has some good tv programmes

26
You can disable the upload feature, but that's (a) not very polite to other members of the swarm, and (b) many BitTorrent programs will refuse to send you more data if you don't upload to others.

That said, I use StrongVPN to access Netflix and have had no trouble with it at all. As the VPN pipes all of your traffic through their server in the US, it works regardless of content or service you're using (e.g. you can use Netflix, Hulu, Boxee, etc.). It's also handy when traveling and using untrusted networks (coffeeshop Wi-Fi connections, hotel networks, etc.) as the connection between you and the VPN is secure.

Another interesting pair of services are http://www.unblock-us.com/ and http://www.unotelly.com/ -- VPNs have *all* your data going through the VPN provider, and this can result in a bit of a performance penalty. Many devices (like a Wii) don't have the ability to connect to a VPN (though some home routers can connect to the VPN and have traffic from systems like a Wii on the home network go through the VPN). These two services, however, are much easier to use: you configure your devices (or router, as this is easier) to use their DNS servers. All normal traffic is handled in the regular way (that is, it does not go through their systems), however when they detect that you're accessing Netflix, Hulu, etc., then they transparently redirect that traffic through their systems in the US.

They're slightly cheaper than a VPN service, and can be set up on individual devices (e.g. you could set up your Wii to use Unblock-US, but not your laptop) and devices that don't support VPN connections.

27
I use foxy VPN for 5.95/mo and can access Netflix.

By the way, Cablecom was fully capping Megavideo.

I upgraded and noticed no change in speed (and of course when you call them they just direct you to a speed test and tell you it's all in your head cause your speed is just fine).

As soon I got connected the VPN, it was streaming at the speed it should be.

Too bad now Megavideo has been taken down-

doesn't the US have bigger problems to tackle?

28

Then why did Switzerland sign ACTA?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Co...rade_Agreement

29
It is good to remember that ACTA applies to counterfeiting (in the name). In Switzerland downloading for personal use is not illegal, but making copies, burning disks and distributing these (counterfeit) goods is.

For comparison sake, think about owning a gun. The government agrees that you may fire a gun, but will sign an agreement that killing with guns is not allowed.

30
It's been mentioned above, but as a US citizen -- or access to someone with a US mailing address + credit card for billing -- you can view all US programming online via Hulu Plus and/or Netflix. You just need to: a) get access to a VPN (Virtual Private Network); and then b) set-up accounts with Netflix and Hulu Plus with the usual US resident restrictions in mind.

I have set-up my Home Theater here as I had in the States, plus added Apple TV (version 2). Purchased a VPN account via StrongVPN.com ($60/year which is the best, from my research) and an additional $150 Router* pre-configured for their service (this is optional, but nice) and I can now stream all that content to the big screen, without SwissCom or CableCom TV service.

*Note about that 2nd Router Option: the additional router allows me to stream this same content to all of my digital devices in the house. The default CableCom router allows me to access the web without the VPN service, so that I can take advantage of the 75-100 Mbps download speeds for non-US media services on the Internet. Going through a VPN service will drop your Internet download speeds to under 2-10 Mbps, but it's feasible for HD streaming. The best of both worlds, if you ask me

Also mentioned above, IF you had access to someone in the States, you could configure a Slingbox on their home's internet/network, and actually stream their Cable service directly. You'd need a computer hooked up to your TV system to view it on the big screen, but without a little ingenuity that would be the way to truly get US Cable access over here.

31
My neighbour, who is not American and doesn't have a US address or credit card, showed me that she has a US Netflix account running through a VPN. She told me they don't check the address that you use and don't check the address against the credit card. I wouldn't have believed it but she has it working. I haven't gotten around to trying it myself yet.

32
Netflix definitely caught on when my billing address zip code didn't match with what was on file with the credit card company. Maybe she is just using a fake American address - the "shipping" address doesn't need to match the billing address, and maybe you can use a non-US credit card, afterall?

33
There is also fastpasstvdotms (the dot is a period).

34
Try this link....

http://www.nationphone.com/USATVAbroad.html

This is what we plan on doing when we move over in June. Hopefully we won't have any problems because I MUST HAVE MY SHOWS!!! :-)

35
I just signed up to US Netflix with a UK credit card and everything works fine. The form asks for your name, card number, security code and expiry date but no address. It does ask for a Zip Code and as long as you use a valid US zip Code it works. So they don't check the Zip Code against the billing address. I just finished watching the last couple of episodes of Weeds Season 6 on my iPad with the Netflix app and a US VPN.

This link also explains it.

I also have a UK Lovefilm account on a "3 months for the price of 1" deal and it is nowhere near as good as Netflix. I'll be sure to cancel that one before they take another payment.

36
Another lovely VPN service is Tunnel Bear - cool thing is you can switch between UK and US VPN.

And btw- as long as you don't need the added services, you can watch stuff free on HuluPlus.

37
hulu and pandora can be accessed using a simple plugin for firefox/chrome.

Takes like 5 seconds to install. Watching hulu now for the first time every, and access to my pandora account I haven't seen in a half decade :P

http://mediahint.com/

38
Excellent. That's fantastic. I'm using it now and can confirm that it works for Pandora and Netflix.