Can I Stream It? – An app worth downloading

One of the more frustrating things I deal with on a regular basis is searching for a movie with one of the many apps available for XBox. With; Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, VuDu, Epix, Crackle and Cinema Now (and Hulu or HBO if you pay for it) available to me, it can get frustrating checking to see if a movie is available on each app. Get’s even more frustrating when I pay for a movie that was available free (well, with a subscription) on another app. Hey, $2.99 is $2.99.

Enter Can I Stream It? The app, available for Windows Phone 7 & 8, aggregates a collection of the sites and shows availability for a searched movie or tv show. Availability results are categorized by; Instant Streaming, Instant Streaming Rental, Purchase, DVD Disc and Xfinity. If you register (not required to use the app), you can set reminders to be notified via email when a movie/ tv show becomes available on a particular service. The app includes links to the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes web sites, in addition to providing some general info about each selection.

From the developer:

Can I Stream It? is a free service created by the Urban Pixels that allows you to search across the most popular streaming, rental, and purchase services to find where a movie or TV Show is available. If the movie or TV show you’re looking for is not available, just sign-up, set a reminder and voila we will shoot you an email when your chosen service makes the item available. It’s simple and fast.

Services currently searched:

• – Netflix (Instant and DVD)
• – Amazon (Prime Instant, Rental, Purchase, DVD, Bluray)
• – Hulu (including Plus)
• – YouTube (free / rental)
• – EPIX
• – Streampix
• – Vudu (rental / purchase)
• – Blockbuster (rental / purchase)
• – Google Play(rental)
• – Redbox (DVD rentals)
• – XFinity (HBO, Showtime, Encore, Starz, etc)
• – iTunes
• – Crackle
• – Redbox

Can I Stream It? supports searching for movies and TV shows. Email us at support@canistream.it with feedback/issues. Visit Can I Stream It? on the web at http://canistream.it

The app is free (ad supported) and has apparently been around since January, but it somehow slipped past my radar. I haven’t done extensive testing, but the info provided appears to be reasonably accurate. For example, a recently released Amazon Instant movie was not listed as available to stream on Amazon. But trending and popular now selections from Amazon were listed accurately. One noticeable omission is XBox Video, and to a lesser degree, Cinema Now. Hopefully those services can be added soon.

If you have an XBox, or any kind of connected streaming entertainment system, this app is a must have. Now, if they could figure out how to connect this app with Smartglass, so I could search and click to open said movie via a selected service, my life would be (nearly) complete. You can find it here in the Windows Phone Store.