4 Must Have Apps for New Internet TV Owners

So, you went out and bought an Internet TV. There it is, sitting in your living room, but you find yourself still sitting around and watching the same old programs. This was supposed to change everything, right? If you've found yourself with a new Google TV, Roku, Boxee, or just plain Internet-enabled television set, here are some apps you might consider checking out in your search for non-linear, cable-cutting, Internet TV content. If you don't have one (or all) of these apps, then you're missing out. They're the one-stop-shop for everything current and big-name in television and on the big screen.
Netflix
Netflix offers a streaming-only subscription plan for $8 a month and its recommendation engine helps with the "what next?" part of Internet TV. If you're still one to enjoy the occasional DVD, you can even pay a buck more each month to get one DVD emailed to you at a time. Netflix has been around for a while, of course, but its streaming-only option means there's no more waiting for that DVD to arrive in the mail. Now, you can browse the directory right on your TV and instantly watch whatever you want. Of course, the catalog is large but there are still things missing. Luckily, there are other services for that.


Hulu Plus
Hulu Plus, also $8 a month, offers a vast selection of streaming content. Hulu, however, focuses more on current and recently released TV shows. You'll find a lot more recent content on Hulu Plus than on Netflix (such as last night's episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report). Hulu Plus with Netflix is a killer combination for those of you who don't want to pay for cable anymore, but you can still be lacking something between the two â€" just released movies. Thankfully, Amazon is here for that.


Amazon Video On Demand
Amazon's Video On Demand is an a la carte version of these two all-you-can-eat offerings that has everything from blockbuster hits to your typical Tuesday night sitcom. The big lure with Amazon VOD, compared to the other two services, is that there is absolutely no subscription, which means no obligation. Each has its strength - whether it's Netflix's recommendation service, Hulu Plus' backlog of current TV shows or Amazon's non-committal a la carte ordering - and depends on your Internet TV surfing style. But how do you find what to watch? Do you really want to go to each of these apps in hopes that you pick the right one for the content you're seeking?


Clicker "The Internet Television Guide"
Clicker, the self-dubbed "Internet Television Guide" is the go-to spot for finding content on your Internet TV. It's like that interactive channel guide that you might have seen if you have a fancier brand of cable, but actually useful. And it takes all three of the content-delivery apps above and really brings them together. Instead of just showing you what's on TV in a linear fashion, Clicker shows you TV, movie, Web and music content according to time, relevance, and other factors. Clicker also shows you content according to what's trending (or popular). More so, if you aren't sure what to watch, make sure to enable Clicker's Facebook integration to see what shows your friends are watching. And if you still have cable, Clicker even looks at what content is available through Comcast.





This is just a scratch on the surface of all the ways to approach television on the Internet (and vice-versa). We didn't mention Chow, the Food Network of the Internet, or Vevo, the early-1990s MTV equivalent, because there are just too many to choose from. Pick a topic and there is a website, Google TV app and Roku channel awaiting your click. If you're looking for a place to start, though, these are a great beginning - but we're always looking for more. What did we miss? What's your favorite way to approach Internet TV content? Let us know in the comments below.

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ReadWriteWeb is one of the most popular technology blogs in the world, known for offering insightful analysis about each day's Internet industry news. Founded on April 20, 2003 by Richard MacManus, ReadWriteWeb and is now one of the most widely read and respected blogs in the world. Our readers are smart, tech savvy, engaged, decision makers. Mike Melanson is a writer for ReadWriteWeb, a technomad and an ex-Austinite living in San Francisco.You can follow him at @rwwmike.