PlayOn

Download Now(24.06MB)

Tested spyware free 

• CNET editors' rating:3.0stars
• Average user rating:3.0starsout of 31 votes
  See all user reviews

• QUICK SPECS
• VERSION: 3.3.6
• DATE ADDED: May 06, 2011
• PRICE: Free to try; Annual subscription; $39.99 to buy (Buy it now)
• OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 2003/Vista/7/XP SP 2
• TOTAL DOWNLOADS: 10,974
• DOWNLOADS LAST WEEK: 286
• PRODUCT RANKING: #16 in Miscellaneous Home Software
• See full specifications

• CNET COMMUNITY

• Want it
 
• Got it
 
• Had it

CNET EDITORS' REVIEW

Reviewed by: CNET staff on July 21, 2010

If you have a PC, router, and game console, you can watch Internet-sourced video on the TV your console is hooked up to with PlayOn from MediaMall Technologies. It's software that you install on your PC; there's no need to buy any new gizmo or hook anything else up. It relays on-demand streaming content from your PC to your TV, entertainment center, or other compatible device via your Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or other compatible game console, allowing you to enjoy old episodes of "Gilligan's Island" in true couch potato fashion, remote in one hand, refreshing beverage in the other.

Speaking of sofa spuds, PlayOn is designed to be easy to install and set up, even for those lacking the nerd gene. To use PlayOn, you need a broadband Internet connection in addition to the gear. The developer strongly recommends wired connections (such as Ethernet) to avoid streaming interruptions, but home networks are getting faster and more reliable all the time, so it's an option. You'll also need to make sure your antivirus and other security software is set up to allow PlayOn to function. And function it does. Using your console's familiar interface, PlayOn finds all accessible devices and content and displays it in an easy-to-use menu. As you might guess, watching Net video on your TV is fun.

The Internet is now a primary source for content, thanks to video-streaming sites like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix that offer movies, TV shows, and more, often for free. To access much of that free online content via PlayOn, though, you'll have to subscribe to the monthly PlayOn Premium service. With cable TV bills climbing ever higher, it may still be an affordable option for on-demand video, especially if your PC and TV lack the necessary connectors and capabilities to link up directly, such as an HDMI cable.

Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of PlayOn 2.59.3848. The trial version is limited to 14 days.

PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION

From MediaMall Technologies:

PlayOn unlocks the power of your Wii, Xbox 360, or PlayStation 3 to watch your favorite movies, shows and videos from Hulu, CBS, Netflix, YouTube, CNN, ESPN, and more streamed right to your TV. It is wireless. And, there is no need to purchase a new device, connect messy cables, or worry about your cable bill. PlayOn also enables you to stream your personal videos, photos, and music from your PC to your Home Entertainment Center.