Download Netflix, watch later: viewing content offline can help the environment and keep your kids quiet while travelling – what are the drawbacks?
- The advantages of downloading streamed content to view later? It avoids the buffer icon and allows you to watch in places with little or no internet connection
- However, you generally have to pay for it and, depending on the provider, the content may only be available temporarily
Most people are familiar with the dreaded buffer icon – the small, rotating circle in the middle of the screen when you’re streaming videos from the internet.
Fortunately, almost all streaming providers allow you to save content temporarily to your device for watching later.
That means you can watch the content without an internet connection, making it popular with commuters and parents who want to keep their children occupied with a smartphone or tablet when travelling.
“The feature makes it possible to enjoy movies and series even when the connection is poor, for example in households with moderate reception or when travelling,” says streaming app expert Maximilian Reichlin.
Watching content offline is also more environmentally friendly than streaming using mobile data, as downloading over Wi-fi is more energy-efficient than streaming over a cellular internet connection.