Google Play Music has always sort of been available on iOS through your favorite HTML 5-enabled browser app.
First Google Play Books made its way to iOS. Then Google Play Music undertook the pilgrimage. So, it should be little surprise that today Google Play Movies and TV has finally made the jump. This is significant not just because it brings Google's formidable library of content to iOS, but because of the capabilities it finally bestows upon iPhone-using Chromecasters.
See, up until now, iPhone users who also had Chromecast
could watch Netflix and Hulu Plus, but they didn't really have a way to
access more recent movie content. Enter Play Movies and TV. With a
catalog comparable to Amazon Video On Demand or Apple's iTunes, Google
Play Movies and TV brings in rentable and purchasable streaming movies
to iOS, and often for cheaper. This can then be streamed directly to the
TV via Chromecast.
Now, there are a few limitations. For starters, you can't buy any
content through the app itself. This it due to Apple's App Store
restrictions. Instead, you'll have to buy the movies/TV shows through
the web client, and then play them with the app. Another
bummer: Video will only play in standard definition (SD) when viewing on
the phone, but happily you'll get the full HD experience if you play
through Chromecast. You also will be limited to streaming over Wi-Fi and
you won't be able to save content for later, off-line viewing. At least
not initially. Lastly, the new version lacks the "info cards" that pop
up when you pause the movie. Hold the frame on William H. Macy, say, and
you'l get a whole profile on the guy.
While
the lack of these things is a bit of a bummer, remember that
traditionally, when Google products have made their way to iOS, they've
been a bit limited out of the gate, but later achieved parity. For
example, Google Music launched on iOS without "I'm Feeling Lucky radio,"
but added it shortly after. This is what we expect to happen here, too.
Google
Play should now be available to download in the iOS App Store, and if
you've been looking for a means to purchase and watch movies and TV
shows, it's definitely worth looking at. Especially if you use
Chromecast.
