Photo by Kelly Sikkema ~
With more than 270 services in the United States, it’s safe to say that we are in the era of online streaming.
Online streaming is generally a better deal than cable for watching your favorite movies and TV shows. Part of the appeal only paying for the channels you watch — not the ones you don’t. In most cases, streaming is a lower-cost alternative to pricey cable subscriptions. And you can view your shows anywhere you have internet access.
However, the online streaming world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There’s a range of inconveniences you may come across, especially when streaming in HD.
Buffering may be one such problem. Streaming requires your TV, computer, or smartphone to download content from the internet and play it almost instantaneously. If there’s an interruption in this process, playback will pause as the device tries to download the rest of the video. This is called “buffering.”
Playback will remain paused until enough data is downloaded to allow the music or video stream to play without lag. The most common form of buffering occurs when your internet connection is too slow to stream a video in real-time.
Another issue may be streaming restrictions that prevent you from watching a particular TV show or movie on a specific service. Streaming services such as Netflix often block access to certain productions across different regions to avoid various copyright and licensing rules.
Different companies have different licensing laws, so it all depends on where you are.
Make Your Streaming Experience More Enjoyable
Buffering, streaming restrictions, and other issues take all the fun out of online streaming. But don’t you worry. Here at fyi50+, we can help you make your online streaming experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Here are some simple methods to adopt. Don’t worry if you’re not tech-savvy. These methods and software are easy to set up and simple to use.
Disconnect Competing Devices
The number of devices you have connected to the internet affects your connection speeds.
More connections on your network slow down your speed.
Before you start streaming, turn off any competing internet devices — such as the ones you’re not using — to help avoid issues such as buffering, stuttering, and low resolutions. Disabling internet sharing may also help.
Clear Cache on Your Browser
Before you start streaming, navigate to your browser settings. There, clear your internet history and delete temporary files to make sure your internet is unrestrained.
Cache files are small files your browser downloads to display web pages. The files weigh down your browser and affect its ability to load and play videos. Make sure that you allow your browser to shut down properly when turning off your computer.
Unblock Streaming Content with VPN
As stated earlier, streaming services often block specific content in some areas due to licensing issues.
Streaming restrictions can be annoying, but, with a virtual private network (VPN), you can access Netflix movies and TV shows from anywhere in the world. Get a VPN for your Netflix subscription to get around those restrictions. You can use a VPN to change your location from the US to anywhere in the world — and back again— to enjoy content previously inaccessible.
Streaming services provide a convenient way to enjoy your favorite movies and TV series at home or on the move. However, challenges such as buffering and streaming restrictions can ruin your streaming experience. Clearing browser cache and disconnecting the devices you are not using can improve your viewing experience. Using a VPN can also help you bypass geo-block restrictions and enjoy streaming content anywhere in the world.
