Why Are Virtual Browsers Perfect for Watch Parties?
Most people prefer to use virtual browsers to watch movies and TV shows with friends online because they require the least hassle to set up and use, they let anyone take control if the host wants, and they let you visit any website you want.
If youâre looking to try out virtual browsing for your next watch party, then we recommend giving Tutturuâs free virtual browser a try!
Thereâs... another way?
Watching movies and TV shows together with friends online is something more and more people have been looking to do as social distancing restrictions continue and work becomes more remote than ever before.Â
So how do you host the best watch parties possible with all the options available today? Letâs take a look at the most popular options for hosting watch parties and see why most people prefer to use virtual browsers to watch stuff together online.
Whoâs it for: Friends that just want to watch a few short videos together on a popular site.
First up on the list are video sync websites and extensions. These applications require everyone to open up the video-to-be-watched in their own browsers, and it then synchronizes the video players by overriding everyoneâs video controls. You can think of it as an automated alternative to counting down from three and then clicking play.
Video sync applications can be great for quickly sharing a short video with a friend, or when all you plan to do is watch a public video on a popular site like YouTube. Theyâre also relatively simple to build, so you can typically expect to use them for free. However, video sync applications do have a few downfalls as well:
They require everyone to have access to the content being streamed.
They typically only sync content on a few specific websites.
Differing internet connections and personal computing can lead to video players pausing sporadically to re-synchronize everyone. Depending on the platform, you might fall out of sync without even knowing.
All in all, if youâre looking for a quick way to share short videos on popular sites, then video sync applications may be the way to go. However, If youâre looking to do more, then read on to learn about the other exciting options that are available.
Whoâs It For: Hosts who arenât concerned about privacy, and have a very reliable internet connection.
Ah, good olâ screen share. Screen share requires the host to access the video on their own computer and then upload a stream to everyone else in the party. While screen share is used in a variety of applications nowadays, some people figured out they could also use it to host watch parties!
Screen sharing can be a great option for watch parties when you want to stream videos that are stored locally on your computer, or when the host has a very good internet connection and a fast computer. However, as many people have probably experienced at some pointâscreen sharing does have its fair share of issues:
Host-dependent - Screen sharing is never fun when the host has a poor internet connectionânobody likes a blurry and laggy stream. Since the entire watch party relies on them to stream the video, this can lead to a variety of issues as well as stress for the host!
No multi-control - Sometimes your friend wants to take control of the screen to show you something, or maybe you need to run to the restroom. Most screen share applications lack multi-control support which means no restroom breaks!
Little privacy - Ever leave an embarrassing tab open by mistake? Or maybe you forgot to turn off desktop notifications? Screen share streams everything from your monitor to everyone else in the party, so say bye bye to privacy during your watch party.
Overall, screen sharing apps can certainly get the job doneâbut a lot of the experience depends on the host and the quality of their internet connection and computer. For those that want the best experience possible, however, read on to learn about the next big thing when it comes to watch partiesâVirtual Browsers.
Whoâs It For: Anyone that wants the most dependable, interactive, and hassle-free watch party experience available today.
Lo and beholdâthe holy grail of watch party technology. Virtual browsers have become all the rage when it comes to hosting watch parties as theyâre easy to use, they offer very precise video synchronization, and they let you pass around control of the browser.Â
Virtual browsers are essentially internet browsers that run on powerful remote servers that all members of the party can connect to. The server then uses its resources to stream the video in unison to every member of the party. The party host accidentally disconnects? No problem. Virtual browsers keep working, making them the most dependable watch party solution available today.Â
Because virtual browsers are...well...browsers, theyâre capable of syncing any website. Want to watch TV shows? Check. Movies? Check. The big game? Check. Anything you can think of, virtual browsers have you covered.
Finally, you might be thinking that given all of the benefits of virtual browsers that theyâre probably difficult to set up and useâbut that isnât the case! On the contrary, virtual browsers provide one of the easiest ways to host watch parties today.Â
So whatâs the catch? While virtual browsers can provide a great watch party experience, the need for remote servers means that they can be expensive for the website owner to run. However, some virtual browsing services such as Tutturu provide free virtual browsers, along with a premium subscription if users want access to extra features. If you want to know what youâre missing out on, we highly recommend giving Tutturuâs free tier a try.
Nowadays, watching movies and TV shows with friends online can be a super fun way to just kick back and chill, or even spend some quality time with loved ones while apart. To get the most out of your experience though, itâs important to know what watch party tech exists, and what type is best for you. While we may be a bit biased at Tutturu, itâs really a no-brainer to us and our hundreds of thousands of usersâvirtual browsing is the way to go.
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