Getting Your IPhone to Stream Video from Hulu and Netflix

Watching video on your iPhone can be a very convenient experience, but unless you want to pay for videos from the iTunes store, your options are somewhat limited. Many iPhone users have looked for a reliable way to stream video from the two big video-streaming services out there, Hulu and Netflix.

The best program that I've found for this purpose is PlayOn, which works by turning a computer into a server which can broadcast things like Hulu, Netflix, Comedy Centeral and others to your iPhone through a special app. The app's basically just a web portal, so you're kind of streaming through two types of browsers, but it works very well. The video is crisp and clear, and most iPhone users will appreciate PlayOn's simplicity.

Of course, it costs some money. PlayOn will run you $30 or more for their "premium" package, which includes support for various video streaming services. Still, it's a relatively good deal, and if you own an Xbox or a PS3, PlayOn can serve a dual function by streaming videos to those devices (including videos on Hulu that might not normally have streaming rights).

To get Hulu and Netflix working, you'll have to download and install PlayOn on a desktop computer or a laptop with a good amount of power. It can take some juice to stream video, so be aware of that.

The program configures itself automatically, so no stress there. You'll get a green light when it's running properly, at which point you can enter your login info for Netflix, Hulu, and any other services that you want on your iPhone.

Now go to the App Store and download the PlayOn app. It's very intuitive and works simply-you'll simply choose the service that you want to use, choose the video that you want to watch, and start watching right away. Videos can be sketchy over a 3G connection, though they'll work just fine over WiFi.

Things like rewinding and fastfowarding don't work perfectly with PlayOn due to the fact that it's running a fairly CPU intensive server operation. Also, Hulu commercials can sometimes take some extra time if they require input from the user. Nevertheless, the PlayOn app is the best option I've found for streaming Hulu and Netflix to the iPhone.

That doesn't mean, however, that I'm not done searching or that there aren't other options. If you know of a great way to stream Hulu or Netflix to the iPhone, post in the comments section below.