Do you ever wish you’d waited to watch Lost? Do you wish you’d let the seasons pile up, so you could sit and watch at your leisure? I do. Right now I feel like I’m in a long distance relationship. If only I’d nipped it in the bud and recognized that it wasn’t going to work out if the basic infrastructure of the relationship stood. I should’ve said “When you have time to be with me, I’ll be here, but I’m not going to wait with baited breath for these eight week trysts!” If only. So, by way of finding my center, I’m going to give you a few sites to visit for shows with full streaming seasons. The three used often enough to make it onto my bookmarks bar, in descending order:

1. Project- Free TV : Not a pretty site by any means, this is still the easiest to use, and most comprehensive of the bunch. Once you click into the “Tv-Shows” section, you’re greeted with a list of Upcoming New Episodes and Recently Aired new Episodes. If you keep up with certain shows on the network sites, a number of these will be useless, but for shows like Dexter, Weeds, Entourage, and Californication, this site is great. Once you click into a show you get a list of source links with a “Speed” rating that is pretty accurate. Most of the fast links go to a Megavideo user site, and the caching time is VERY good.

2.   tvshack: A little prettier than Project-FreeTv, and a little less user friendly, TV shack gives you a little bit of the old lists and ranking type stuff, with a list of top searches, top videos of the day, recommended content, and a list of top “Link Hunters”. Clearly a little more socially orients, it doesn’t really offer anything FreeTv doesn’t, and it’s more distracting.

3. TV-Links.cc: Super stripped down, very easy to use, very very ugly. It’s got annoying ads, once you open a link it’s got a very simple page with a synopsis, genre, and actors list. Right below that is a list of links to sources. I don’t even look at this page unless the other two are down.

Clearly the top two are the best, and all of them serve up something in that they require no download. I’ve got two full seasons of Weeds to go, and a few shows in the docket suggested by good friends, hopefully these links and a little patience will tide me over until Lost comes and rears it’s pretty seductive head. 

Let’s face it, many of us keep a pretty busy schedule and don’t always have the time or inclination to catch our favorite shows when we want to watch them. Instead we increasingly turn to DVR services to record whatever we’d like to watch so that we can get back to them when we have time time. Listed below are 4 places that DVR services are available.

Dish Network:
Dish Network is a popular place for acquiring DVR solutions. Their DVR advantage plan runs at about $49.95 per month, and the newest iteration of their dvr hardware, the ViP722™ DVR, can store up to 350 hours of standard-definition programming. It also includes up to 55 hours of high-definition if you’re HD capable.

Tivo:
Rather than lumping in your DVR service with your television provider, you also have the option of going with Tivo. The upfront cost of their service runs a bit higher, with about $149.99 for the basic model, which stores 80 hours worth of standard programming. Their monthly service is fairly inexpensive, however, clocking in at $8.31 a month on the low-end.

Direct TV:
This satellite provider is looking to provide some muscle to the dvr sector as well and provides a number of hardware options depending on what you’ll need in terms of high definition and storage. In addition they give you a channel guide with a 3 and a half day advanced notice, so you’ll know exactly what’s going to be on and when. Their service runs about $5.99 per month, which is included for 4 months if you sign up for their “premier” package.

Comcast DVR: The cable juggernaut has some dvr services of it’s own. Their single tuner basic DVR package includes enough for about 40 hours of standard definition programming and 80 GB of storage. Unlike other dvr service their most basic hardware can also handle high definition tv, albeit at a much smaller clip of 10 hours worth. For my particular area, DVR service was $13.95 per month

Verdict: The best legal way to watch movies online is with Netflix. Netflix has thousands of movies and TV shows available to watch instantly on your PC or Mac. You can sign up for a 2 week free trial of Netflix here.

It’s Friday night, and movie lovers across the land are feeling the same panic. There’s the tightening of the chest, the rush to the car after work, the hurried attempt to get to the video store in time. Alas, as the moviegoer makes it to the video store and peruses the shelves, all of the favorites have already been checked out. With sagging shoulders, the beaten down DVD lover leaves the video store, resigned to watching another night of Masterpiece Theater in bed.

It doesn’t have to be that way. As the demand for movie rentals grow, so does the enterprise that distributes them. Now, movie lovers don’t need to go to the video store and pick up their third or fourth choice. Instead, there are many places online to legally download movies and watch them at home, without ever having to leave the house.

Netlix

Netflix has over 8,000 movies available for download right now. While it is different than the previously mentioned retailers, it does have its perks. Netflix is a subscription service. Therefore, consumers cannot simply go to the Netflix website and start downloading. Still, a subscription to Netflix would be well worth it for the frequent movie watcher. For $16.99 a month, customers can download as many movies out of the database they want in a months’ time. Since the going rate is $3.99 a movie at most sites, consumers that watch more than four movies a month would be wise to sign on for the Netflix subscription service.

iTunes

No one has capitalized on the entertainment needs of people as much as Apple’s iTunes Store. Music wasn’t enough, nor was television shows. Now iTunes is making a name for itself as one of the industries leaders in online movie rentals. With downloadable movie rentals priced from $2.99 to $3.99, consumers are guaranteed a safe, legal movie download. Movies can be downloaded and played on an ipod, computer, or television. There is no contract or obligation. iTunes offers consumers the ability to rent the movies they want, when they want.

Movie Link

Movie Link offers the same ease of use as iTunes, and also allows movie watchers the ability to rent movies without signing a contract. Movie Link has a wide selection of movies, from new and old, that consumers can download and watch. There is no catch or hassle. While new releases run $3.99 for a download, old movies can be found for as little as $1.99. The site offers a great deal of movies that are sure to fit everyone’s needs.

With all of the tools out there, there is no need to stand in the lines at the video store and then come home disappointed. Choices are at all of our fingertips; we just have to know where to look. Movie downloading is fast, secure, and legal as long as the videos come from a reputable source and are purchased. It is the best way to rent all of the movies that you want without having to worry about titles being in stock.

Sometimes, you can’t be home to watch your favorite programs when they’re broadcast. In the past, you were forced to record your programs on your VCR, a task that confused even the most tech-savvy consumers. Today, the availability of services such as Tivo and DVR (Digital Video Recording) make the chore of recording programs nearly effortless. A job that used to involve reading a manual now only requires a couple of button clicks.

Dish Network has been providing its customers with DVR service for years. They combine the traditional DVR service with their satellite receivers to deliver an interactive and uniquely-flexible recording and playback experience. Below, you’ll learn about the benefits of DVR, how it works and how you can take advantage of the service.

Benefits Of Dish Network’s DVR

The main benefit of DVR is the ability to easily record programs that you’re unable to watch during the original broadcast. Instead, you can watch your programs when you’re available. DVR also allows you to pause a program or skip past the commercials that aired during the broadcast, saving you time and frustration.

Beyond the basic service, the Dish Network’s DVR provides a host of additional benefits. Their satellite receivers are typically rated highly by both critics (such as pcmag.com and cnet.com) and customers. Their receivers offer a high level of capacity and functionality with the ease of a simple interface. Features include recording multiple programs simultaneously and an image quality that surpasses that of most other networks.

How To Save And Record Programs

The Dish Network DVR receivers work similarly to your PC’s hard drive. The programs you choose to save are stored onto the storage drive of your DVR receiver. When you access your programs, the data is retrieved and played on your TV. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide for using the Dish Network’s DVR service to record your favorite shows:

Step 1 - On your remote control, press the “Guide” button. Navigate to the program you want to record and press the “Select” button (alternatively, you can choose the “Record” button).

Step 2 - You’ll be taken to a screen that shows a “Create Timer” selection. Choose that option. The DVR system may take a few seconds to find your program.

Step 3 - After your DVR has identified the program you want to record, the “Create Timer” screen will disappear. In its place, you’ll see a notification (usually in a small colored icon) that confirms your program is either being recorded (if it is being broadcast) or is scheduled to be recorded.

Step 4 - To verify that you’ve set the DVR properly, navigate to the “My Daily Schedule” section and find your program.

If you’ve ever recorded a program using a VCR, you’ll appreciate the ease of recording programs on the Dish Network’s DVR system.

Watching Programs On Your Schedule

Enjoying your favorite television programs shouldn’t mean being held captive to a network’s scheduling. Nor should it require having to study a VCR manual. The DVR service from Dish Network makes recording and playing back programs quick and painless. The receivers that are available through the Dish Network continue to impress critics and customers while offering a storage capacity unmatched by other providers. Once you’ve used the Dish’s DVR service, you’ll likely wonder how you lived without it.

Gone are the days of watching television on a set with some aluminum foil strapped to the rabbit ears. Now watching television does not even have to involve an actual television. In a technological advancement that is almost as dramatic as the replacement of the analog signal, cell phone companies are once again reinventing themselves. Not only are cell phones an instrument to make phone calls. Now they are also a device for consumers to use to watch television.

AT&T Wireless Introduces MediaFLO

In an effort to keep up with the competition, AT&T Wireless has just thrown its hat into the ring of cell phone television streaming. This Sunday marked the beginning of AT&T’s launch of its partnership with MediaFLO technology. MediaFLO allows AT&T customers to get ten channels of live television streamed directly onto their cell phones for $15 a month. MediaFLO is the brainchild of Qualcomm Inc. and allows users to actually watch live television instead of clips and videos. As it has just started up with MediaFLO, AT&T currently only offers two cell phones that are compatible with this technology. However, the company expects to have more phones available soon that will be MediaFLO enabled.

Verizon Wireless and V Cast

MediaFLO is not only used on AT&T Wireless phones. Verizon Wireless also takes advantage of the Qualcomm Inc. technology on a selection of their phones. Verizon Wireless customers are offered the same perks as AT&T customers at the same price. With both cell phone carriers, current shows, news, and weather can be watched in real time on the cell phone. Also, both offer broadband type speeds with the service, making it similar to watching television on the home computer. Currently, there are four phones that Verizon Wireless offers that are MediaFLO enabled. However, like AT&T, more devices are expected in the near future.

Sprint PCS Power Vision with MobiTV

Sprint has been credited as being the pioneer of this technological up-swing. Sprint not only offers more channels than its competitors, but it also offers a different kind of technology. While AT&T and Verizon partnered with MediaFLO, Sprint joined forces with MobiTV to bring television into the next millennium. Sprint customers can choose from packages of seven channels to twenty-eight channels, with prices ranging from $15 to $25. MobiTV offers a wide variety of viewing choices. All of the news options are there, as well as a vast amount of premium channels, such as Comedy Central and E!. The twenty-eight channels offer something for every type of viewer, and should be a great draw to the cellular company. Sprint also has the best variety of phones that are television enabled. Sprint has seventeen different television enabled phones that differ in price.

As technology grows, so does the place of the cellular company. Cell phones are not just for calling anymore. Cell phone companies have created a precedent for staying ahead of the times. They have proven that cell phones can have many uses and cell phone companies are an evolving business.

YouTube has pushed past the herd to become the leading video archival and distribution website. Its competitors (including MySpace, DailyMotion, MetaCafe and even Google Video) lack the reach of its distribution and breadth of its content. Millions of websites and blogs syndicate videos that originate from YouTube’s inventory. But, downloading and saving YouTube videos presents a problem. The default format of their videos are often incompatible with today’s popular media and video players. But, there is a way you can download, save and play videos from YouTube. Here’s a quick guide to your options…

Recommended: Video Piggy

I recommend downloading and saving videos from YouTube with Video Piggy. It is by far the easiest way out there to download and organize videos from YouTube. Video Piggy also allows you to convert YouTube videos you download into multiple different video formats such as AVI, WMV, MPEG, MP4, MOV and 3GP. You can then put YouTube videos on DVD’s or even your video iPod or iPhone.

Video Piggy also allows you to extract the audio from a YouTube video and convert it to MP3 format so you can listen to it on your MP3 player or in iTunes.

Download Video Piggy Here

Other Options:

Option #1: Using Websites

There are dozens of websites that allow you to download YouTube videos to your PC. Some of these resources are more reliable than others. The best of the lot will let you choose which format to download the videos (AVI, MP4, MOV, etc.). This saves you the hassle of having to download, convert and encode the videos to watch them with your media player. Here are 2 websites that make this process simple:

idesktop.tv – This site not only converts the videos you want while downloading them, but also allows you to download them in a zipped file. This site works similar to Google’s Picassa application. The interface is intuitive with features such as a zoom slider, list of favorites and icons for managing videos that you’re downloading. Also, though you’re not on YouTube’s website, you can view all of the information that accompanies each video.

vixy.net – Vixy works a little differently than idesktop. Rather than searching for videos directly on the site, you’re required to enter the URL (i.e. website address) of the YouTube video that you want to download. After entering the URL of the video, you can select from several formats in which to download it. Though the process isn’t as seamless or fluid as idesktop, vixy does provide an easy way to download and save your YouTube videos.

Option #2: Using Software

If you don’t want to use third-party websites to download, convert and save videos from YouTube, you can use software hosted on your PC. After downloading the software, you would download and convert the videos locally (on your PC). Here are 2 popular applications for doing this.

Video DownloadHelper – If you’re using the Firefox browser, you can grab this add-on for free. This add-on allows you to easily download YouTube videos directly to a file system on your PC. However, once downloaded, you’ll need to use a tool such as WinAVI FLV Converter to convert the videos to AVI format.

Free FLV Downloader – This is a freeware solution that’s actually more robust than Firefox’s Video DownloadHelper. The Free FLV Downloader downloads, saves and then converts YouTube videos to a number of formats that are compatible with your chosen media player.

Watching YouTube Videos On Your PC

Whether you want to watch debates, corporate presentations, movie excerpts, music videos, or funny clips, downloading them onto your PC allows you to enjoy them as often as you wish. There are a number of ways to download the videos and convert them to the proper format for your media player. Third-party websites and software applications provide an easy, low-maintenance solution. Because YouTube’s growth and distribution have literally changed how we consume entertainment, these solutions have become a common way to enjoy online video content.

Before cable television was available, people were limited to watching a few select channels on their TVs. When cable companies began to distribute their content across hundreds of premium channels, the public quickly subscribed. Today, millions of people pay monthly fees to have the option of watching hundreds of programs on their televisions. But, another shift in the landscape has recently happened. Software has emerged that allows you to watch and record live TV streams on your computer. Below, you’ll discover why more and more people are using this software, how it saves you money and how you can get started watching your favorite programs on your PC.

Popular Software For Recording TV

There are a few different ways to watch and record television programs on your PC. The easiest way involves software that eliminates the need for extra hardware. For example, an application called MyNewSatellite TV works by downloading broadcast streams from the internet. By simply downloading the software and connecting online through your normal internet connection, MyNewSatellite TV provides access to over 2,500 different channels around the world.

Satellite TV For PC: 2008 Elite Edition is another software package that provides the same service. One simple download launches you onto a platform from which you can record and watch live TV shows on thousands of channels from over 100 countries.

Why Watch TV On Your PC?

Recording and watching TV on your PC provides several benefits. First, you’ll have access to an unprecedented level of content. You’ll have the opportunity to view live TV programs from other countries. Second, you’ll be able to watch cable television shows that would normally require a costly subscription. Many people pay nearly $100 each month to access their cable TV programs. “TV on your PC” software allows you to watch your favorite programs while eliminating the monthly fees.

Third, watching TV on your PC provides a level of mobility that is otherwise impossible. You can record live TV on your laptop and watch your TV shows wherever you happen to be. Lastly, having access to an expansive menu of programs from around the world provides a deeper understanding of cultures in other nations. From sports and religion to politics and music, you’ll be able to see firsthand how others live.

Benefits Of Using Software

Without software such as MyNewSatellite TV and Satellite TV For PC, you would need to install a TV tuner card inside your computer. But, doing so is high-maintenance. Plus, many people aren’t comfortable opening their computer to install components. Downloading “TV on your PC” software eliminates the need for a TV tuner card. You won’t need to open the case of your PC to install any additional equipment.

Recording TV Onto Your PC

Tradition implies that you should continue paying large monthly fees for cable access. It also encourages people to remain captive to the schedule of a limited menu of shows to which you have access. In reality, you can have much more for less. “TV on your PC” software catapults you into an environment from which you can record and watch live TV shows from thousands of sources. Plus, you can do so without paying a monthly fee or having to install hardware into your computer. One simple download can expand your television choices a hundredfold.

With so many movies to choose from, making a decision can be difficult. Instead of just closing your eyes and picking, take some time online and watch some movie previews. There are plenty of places online that have movie previews for both current movies and upcoming movies.

1. Moviefone
Moviefone is a great place to access movie previews online. Moviefone is a comprehensive site, with movie previews of films already in theaters, upcoming movies, and movies that are on DVD. The moviegoer can simplify the movie watching process by weeding out the films that don’t suit their tastes. Also, while many sites offer only one preview per movie, Moviefone offers multiple trailers for many of the movies in its database. It also allows you to see what movies are playing near you, and view those movie previews exclusively. It narrows down the decision making process for you.

2. Apple Movie Trailers
If Moviefone doesn’t suit your needs, check out Apple Movie Trailers. All that you need is a QuickTime Player to get in on the movie preview watching experience. If you don’t have QuickTime, the download is free, so there is no reason you should miss out. Apple Movie Trailers has every movie trailer you could possibly want to see. The format is incredibly well laid out and easy to use.

3. Yahoo Movies
If you are boycotting Apple because you have an allegiance to Bill Gates, do not despair. There are still more choices out there. Many people don’t realize what a great site Yahoo! Movies is. Not only can you look up show times at your favorite theater, you can also watch the preview of the movie you want to see. Click on the theater near you, see what movies are playing there, and then start watching the previews. If there aren’t any movie trailers that grab your eye, go to another nearby theater and try it again.

4. The Movie Box
If you are only interested in movies that are coming soon to theaters, then take a look at The Movie Box. The Movie Box offers a wide selection of films that are about to hit the box office. The site is easy to navigate, with the movie previews listed on one page.

5. ComingSoon.net
If none of these appeals to you, then there is one more you can try. Coming Soonis another site that offers a wide variety of movie previews to suit every filmgoers needs. Coming Soon has an amazing amount of movie trailers to watch. It would be impossible to sit down and watch all of the previews you would want to see. Bookmark it and come back. The point is to go out and see the movies, after all.

Movies come and go faster than the public can keep up. Instead of wasting money by donating to awful movies, study the trailers. The best part of it is that it’s free and you don’t have to leave the house to do it. You can save money and be lazy, which are great American qualities to possess.

Watching videos on your computer is nothing new. People have been doing it for years. But, until a few years ago, your options for viewing those videos were limited to only a few video players. Since then, the selection of reliable video players has expanded. There are now dozens of players that each offer unique sets of features. Many of them can be downloaded for free online and allow you to play videos in a variety of formats. Below, we’ll provide a quick overview of 5 of the most popular video players for your PC.

#1 – WinDVD

WinDVD is a robust video playback application that is capable of playing Blue-ray discs and traditional DVDs (including HD DVDs). You can also watch home movies that have been recorded on the latest multimedia devices. It supports videos and movies in formats such as RealPlayer, AVI, QuickTime and Windows Media. It’s not free, but at under $100, WinDVD is one of the best-regarded and flexible video players on the market.

#2 – VLC Media Player

By contrast to WinDVD, the VLC Media Player is an open source video streaming application. It’s free and can be downloaded from http://www.videolan.org/. The player supports many formats including MPEG-4, DivX, AVI and Flash and can be used on a variety of platforms such as Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.

#3 – PowerDVD

Offered by Cyberlink, PowerDVD is a powerful video player that includes playback of high-definition Blue-ray Disc movies. It supports many popular formats such as AVCHD, H.264 and AVI while providing a host of tools and utilities that offers an interactive experience. You can remix movies, give ratings to videos you’ve watched and check how your movie selections rate with other PowerDVD users. There are several versions of this player available ranging in price from $29.95 to $99.95.

#4 – Windows Media Player

The Windows Media Player by Microsoft is one of the oldest and most widely-distributed video players available. In many ways, the latest version is similar to Apple’s iTunes interface. That is, it offers a streamlined library from which you can access your videos as well as audio files, recorded TV shows, etc. It’s available free from Microsoft’s website.

#5 – iTunes

Any discussion of video players for your computer would be incomplete without a mention of Apple’s iTunes. Arguably one of the most popular video players today, iTunes provides a generous level of functionality with a smooth and graceful interface. It can be used not only to watch videos, TV shows and movies but to organize your audio, video and image files. The most recent version of iTunes supports a variety of formats including the common MPEG-4 format and can be downloaded from Apple.com for free.

Watching Videos On Your Computer

Computers have become an integral piece of our daily lives. While watching a video used to mean loading a DVD (or VHS tape) into a player and watching it on TV, people are more likely to use their computers to watch movies, video clips and even their favorite television shows. During the last 10 years, dozens of video players have been created to offer people an easy way to do that. Though there are many capable players available, the 5 mentioned above are among the most reliable and well-regarded. If you’re not currently using a video player on your PC, take a few minutes to explore those mentioned above. Any of them is likely to suit your needs perfectly.

Our lives are getting busier each year. We have less time to do the things we want. Unfortunately, that often means not being able to watch our favorite network television shows as they’re broadcast. In the past, that meant taking the time to record the shows (if you remembered to program the recorder) and catching up when you could find the time. Today, things have changed dramatically. You can watch most of your favorite TV shows online.

Major TV networks such as NBC, ABC and FOX provide platforms from which you can view your shows online on your schedule. They’ve realized that a growing portion of their audience feels just as (if not more) comfortable sitting in front of a computer screen as sitting on a couch watching a TV. As a result, they’ve begun to distribute their content on their websites. In this article, we’ll explain how you can enjoy your favorite TV shows from the major networks on your computer.

NBC

NBC provides most of its content from their website at NBC.com. Popular shows such as “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Scrubs” can be streamed directly to your computer. Most of their Primetime shows become available for streaming on their website the same day they’re broadcast on TV. Late night programs are typically available the following day. While full episodes are currently only available in the U.S., it’s likely NBC will expand its international viewership soon.

CBS

CBS also provides most its popular series on their website. Unlike NBC, they only provide streaming of full episodes for a few of their shows. For example, while you can watch the latest few episodes of “Survivor,” “CSI” and “How I Met Your Mother,” other shows such as “Ghost Whisperer” and “Criminal Minds” are only available as short clips.

ABC

ABC has also been making the transition to streaming its content on its website. Currently, they don’t provide all of their shows online. But, they do allow streaming of recent full episodes of their most-watched series such as “Dancing With The Stars,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost.”

Fox

Fox offers one of the most expansive online inventories of online television shows of all the network stations. From the Fox Website, you can watch popular shows like “Bones,” “House” and “Hell’s Kitchen.” To do so, Fox requires that you download their video player. The player allows you to watch some of your favorite episodes without any stalling or buffering wait times.

CW

The CW network offers a limited number of full episodes. Television shows like “Supernatural,” “Farmer Wants A Wife” and “Beauty And The Geek” are available for streaming. However, you’ll need to download the CW’s video player to view them. Full episodes are rotated out of circulation quickly. So, if you want to watch them on the CW website, make sure you don’t fall too far behind.

Enjoying The Archives

While the major TV networks haven’t archived all of their series in their online inventory, they do offer much of their content online. Some networks (like Fox) currently offer a larger inventory of full episodes than others (like the CW). That said, it’s likely that the networks will continue to deliver larger portions of their content on their websites. Within a couple of years, we may be watching all of our favorite TV shows online and wonder why we still own that clunky television.