[tab name=’Feature’]
The group stages for the Euro 2012 tournament are starting to draw to a close, with things set to heat up in a few days when the quarter finals start.
At the moment we have to suffer with the ordeal of choosing between two games each night, both of which take place at the same time (7:45) but on different channels. Footy fans are left with either flicking between channels or sticking with one and checking the other game’s progress online.
It’s possible to use your smartphone as a second screen and stream the other game, with the right knowledge. This is the way we like to do things, making sure we’ve got everything covered. The same goes for those who can’t get to a TV or PC to watch the game live – if you’ve got a smartphone and a Wi-Fi or 3G connection, you can still get stuck into the action! Here are our top apps for watching Euro 2012 games on your Android smartphone.
TVCatchup Beta – FREE
Far and away our favourite app for streaming TV in general is TVCatchup. It’s still in beta, which means it’s constantly being updated and isn’t available on the Android Market just yet. To get it you’ll need to head to www.tvcatchup.com/android.html on your Android device and click the download link. Find your downloads and open the TVCb32.apk file to install it onto your device.
The app has just been updated to support the latest range of devices running Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) and works very well. You can stream many of the Freeview channels, including the necessary BBC and ITV channels for Euro 2012 games, via Wi-Fi or 3G. Quality is the best we’ve seen on a video streaming app, even over 3G, putting TVCatchup at the top of our list for must-have apps to watch the Euro matches.
BBC iPlayer – FREE (Requires Android 2.2+ and Adobe Flash Player)
iPlayer is a classic, and we’re sure many of you out there already use it. It’s a free app, and provided you have Android 2.2 and the latest version of flash player, it should work smoothly. Picture quality can dip depending on the quality of your connection, but get it right and you should experience a stutter-free stream that’s of a decent quality.
The Beeb has recently updated the app to allow streaming over 3G, which means that you can tune in wherever you are. While the app allows you to catch up with Match of the Day, it also gives you Live TV for BBC One and Two.
myPlayer Pro – £2.00
This excellent app provides you with live streams of most Freeview channels, including HD ones, although these are unlikely to work well when streaming over 3G and on lower-powered devices.
Nevertheless, the app allows you to stream from BBC1 and 2 along with ITV1, ITV 1 HD, ITV2, ITV3 and IT4, which should cover all games shown during the tournament. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi or use 3G if that’s all you have, and you’ll be able to stream content live and advert free. You may be prompted to install the arcMedia player to compliment the app, which helps play back video content. This app works a treat on our Samsung Galaxy SIII.
Ustream – FREE (Requires Android 2.1+ and Adobe Flash Player)
With all games from the tournament split between the BBC and ITV, we’re left with a selection of games broadcast by ITV that we can’t watch on our mobiles due to limitations with the ITV Player app. It’s no problem though, as an app such as Ustream allows you to find a stream of the game.
Again, you’ll need flash player for this app to work, and at least Android 2.1 which shouldn’t pose a problem for most. This app allows you to view almost anything that other Ustream users broadcast, which usually includes Euro 2012 games. Some streams can be low quality, but by filtering your search to sports you should be able to locate a decent quality stream. Both Wi-Fi and 3G streaming are supported too.
There are, of course, less kosher methods of streaming the game. A google search for the game you’re looking for followed by ‘stream’ should come up with the goods, but you’ll need to be very cautious. We recommend using our suggested apps over this method every time!
Loving one of our app suggestions or do you know of something better? Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.
[/tab]
[end_tabset]