Q. I love Netflix because it’s so convenient to watch at home. But is there any way to download a movie or show and take it with me on the road in case I don’t have access to wireless? — George, Indianapolis, Indiana.
George, that’s a good question, one that gets asked quite often. The answer, unfortunately, is no. While you can watch Netflix streaming on the road via a wireless network or a 3G or 4G network on a mobile device, you can not download a movie onto your computer or mobile.
See today’s top deals on TVs at Amazon.com.
There are a lot of frequent fliers who wish you could. It would be great if you could download a full season of TV shows on a cross-country flight, let’s say.
While Netflix doesn’t offer downloads, there are other services that do. You can download movies from iTunes, for example. And, even better, Amazon Prime Video also offers downloads of selected titles for free if you’re a member of Amazon Prime.
Here’s how it works:
First, the Amazon download feature is available on Fire tablets (except 1st generation); the Fire phone; IOS devices such as iPhones and iPads; and Android phones and tablets.
See the $49 Amazon Fire tablet!
Amazon says the download feature is available on titles where the license holder, the programmer, has granted permission. Recent titles available for download include such popular shows and movies as Amy, the Academy-Award winning documentary about the late singer Amy Winehouse; Interstellar, the critically-acclaimed movie by director Chris Nolan; and Ex Machina, the sci-fi thriller from first-time director Alex Garland.
But there are scores and scores of other selections.
To download a Prime video title on your device, you must:
1. Make sure the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Find the Prime title you want to download and open the video details of the title’s listing.
3. Tap the Download option.
Once the download is completed, a download or ‘check mark’ will appear next to the title. You can also find your downloaded videos by selecting the Downloads option in your Amazon Prime video menu.
How long does it take to download a title?
It depends upon the length of the program, and the speed of your Internet connection. But some shows can be downloaded in less than 30 minutes.
The TV Answer Man web site is supported solely from your purchases from Amazon.com. We urge you to buy something now using this link. Every purchase helps. Many thanks.
If you have a question for the TV Answer Man, send it to: swann@tvpredictions.com
And if you want to see the latest news in TV technology, go to TVPredictions.com
