Our Verdict
In my family room sit several rack full of hundreds of videodisk , typesetter’s case after case of evidence of the moving-picture show and TV show collection lovingly crafted over more than a decennium . But I have n’t lend a disc to my collecting in the past duet years ; Netflix envision to that . And now that Netflix and many other companies offer inst access to moving-picture show and goggle box shows , the whole net is my assemblage . But speculate I want to watch a movie right now — one that I do n’t already own on DVD . How am I suppose to cipher out which service ( or services ) on the net will get me watch that picture ?
The response requires just three syllable : Fanhattan . It ’s a free iPad app that aims to help you find movies and tv set testify from around the Internet — without needing to check each service ’s catalog separately . Fanhattan can find movies from Netflix , Hulu / Hulu Plus , Amazon Instant Video , iTunes , ABC , Crackle , Blockbuster , Best Buy Cinema Now , Vudu , and the Playstation internet . What ’s more , in addition to finding versions usable for instal renting , leverage , or cyclosis , the app can even point you to billet to purchase videodisc and Blu - shaft discs from retailers like Amazon and Blockbuster , too .
The app ’s user interface is pleasant to depend at , smartly designed , and largely intuitive — though I did trip up a few times at first , since I unintentionally force out the tutorial screen before I ’d scan it . ( you could get it back by tapping the question mark icon at the upper right . )
When you launch Fanhatten , you choose between Movies and television receiver Shows . After that , you graze content by swipe through posters at the bottom of the screen . The app declare oneself powerful search and filtering options ; you’re able to shop just for Oscar - winning comedies value PG-13 or R , say . you could also customize which services Fanhattan searches for subject : I do n’t have a Playstation connection subscription , so I do n’t want to be taunt with offerings available only via that service .
Tap on a moving picture or show , and extra details skid in — including a list of the services through which you could watch it . ( you’re able to custom-make which services Fanhattan includes here , too . ) With compatible servicing — like Hulu Plus and Netflix — you may even start play some content like a shot on your iPad : Tap the right button , and ( after a speedy visit via Safari ) , the appropriate app will launch and start playing your selected picture .
Fanhattan also provide one - dab access to trailer , movie details ( including cast and crowd ) , Rotten Tomatoes follow-up , clips , soundtrack tie , relate Amazon and Facebook pages , evaluation , runtime , and similar content .
The total app experience is nice , though still a bit blemished . I encounter a few unexplainable crash . Even more annoying , though , is the app ’s failure to remember that I only want it to show me content available via Netflix , Hulu , and Crackle when I”m browsing ; those filter out options need to be reset when I relaunch the app . And I wanted a way to add motion picture to my Netflix Watch outright waiting line , without actually pressing gaming to depart the movie ; no such option exists .
Those chafe away , Fanhattan still manage to impress , and it fulfills a need I had n’t realize existed . live that a movie ’s usable for free via Hulu , or as part of my Netflix subscription is coolheaded ; get all that information easy , in a individual app , is cooler still .
