OttoPlay for Chrome: watch online TV like regular TV

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 25, 2015
Google Chrome
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8

I have to admit that I'm not watching a lot of TV. While I do still have a TV sitting around, I mostly use it when I'm ill and need something to watch to avoid dying of boredom and do something that requires little effort.

I'm also not using streaming services that much, mostly because what is being offered in Germany is not really that good. Since I like to watch shows in their original language, it is often a problem even finding the shows that I'm interested in. More often than not, they are not available at all.

Anyway, OttoPlay is a free Chrome extension that users who stream TV often may like. It supports Netflix, Hulu and YouTube currently, but access is limited to the geographical regions the services are offered in.

That's a serious limitation but since the developer is pushing out new versions like crazy, it is likely that this is going to change soon.

So how does it work and what does it do?

All you need to do is click on the Ottoplay button in the Chrome interface after installation. The extension switches to fullscreen mode and starts to load a show right away.

You may receive a "you are not in the right location" warning instead if you are not in the US. a tap on the Esc-key displays the channel selection menu. It is divided into a control unit on the far left and channels such as Comedy, Drama or Kids on the right.

You may select any show right away with a click, scroll down to check out the other channels offered by the extension, or use the controls on the left to pick a show to play.

You may also disable some streaming services from being included in the mix, and click on the random button to watch a random show instead (this is displayed next to each channel and on the left)

The extension plays a random show after you have watched one so that you never end up with a black screen. According to the author, a random show is picked to avoid having to watch multiple episodes of the same show in a row.

Closing Words

OttoPlay is an easy to use extension that brings the fullscreen hands-off TV experience to Google Chrome. The selection of streaming services it supports limits it currently and if you are not living in the US, or want to see other streaming services supported, then you will have to wait until support is added by its author. All in all though it is a promising application.

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Comments

  1. JohnMWhite said on July 25, 2015 at 10:02 pm
    Reply

    This seems like it could be useful once it is a bit more feature-rich. Playlist editing to be able to create our own ‘stations’ so we can fire up whatever we are in the mood for quickly without having to select specific shows or episodes would be nice.

  2. jasray said on July 25, 2015 at 8:31 pm
    Reply

    German Films–

    1. The White Rose
    2. The Edukators
    3. Run, Lola Run

    Could watch German films for a long time . . . .

  3. PAndroid said on July 25, 2015 at 7:23 pm
    Reply

    This is a pointless extension at best. The reason reason behind it is in the name, spelled and pronounced, “Otto”, but it’s intention is, “Auto”… as in auto pilot. Basically it will play a video of your choice then afterwards it will randomly load in another program once that first one is over. Then another and another non-stop. Its what parents discouraged of kids… watching TV non-stop so great now there is an extension to glue them to the TV even more. Way to go. Your parents must be proud of you. @@

    1. JohnMWhite said on July 25, 2015 at 10:00 pm
      Reply

      Well done you, now everyone knows you are smart and above TV watching. You obviously have far more valuable things to do with your time…

      1. dragonduder said on July 26, 2015 at 8:54 pm
        Reply

        IKR? He is so far and beyond us mere mortals!

        What a dick.

  4. ilev said on July 25, 2015 at 7:08 pm
    Reply

    The best service so far of live tv streaming for pcs, tablets and smartphones is cCloud TV.

  5. theMike said on July 25, 2015 at 12:14 pm
    Reply

    I haven’t watched TV for a long time, It’s just not entertaining unless you’re a bored monkey. If you have internet there’s no reason to pay for cable, at least in the U.S. Even netflix is a waste of money. What I do like is documentaries. PBS/Frontline, Top Documentary Films, and Documentary Addict are a few sites I’ll watch. Also, I get 10 movies a month from the library. For free! I can even request a movie and they’ll have it in the next month. I’ll give Ottoplay a try and see if it fits my small entertainment peculiarities.

    1. Rory (the OttoPilot) said on July 28, 2015 at 12:24 am
      Reply

      Check out the Mindbrain channel – it sounds like just what you’re looking for.

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