Why cord-cutters should (kind of) be excited about Comcast's new Xfinity Stream app
Comcast Xfinity subscribers will be treated to a tricked-out new mobile TV experience later this month.
Xfinity Stream is an overhauled app that will serve as a replacement for the cable giant's current on-the-go platform, Xfinity TV.
The new app adds a slew of features to Comcast's mobile entertainment suite — but perhaps most importantly, it will serve as a stepping stone for the cable provider's $15 a month cord-cutting internet TV service, Stream TV, as it preps for a launch into markets nationwide.
For customers with full Comcast Xfinity subscriptions, the Stream app will grant its users access to over 200 live TV channels and over 40,000 movie titles and TV shows for streaming on demand via internet connection. "Thousands" of the on-demand options will be downloadable for offline viewing, but there are no details available about what exactly will qualify.
DVR service will get some mobile love with the Stream app, too, as users' entire library of recorded content will be accessible to stream over an internet connection or available for viewing offline via download. DVR functions can be controlled by the app as well, just in case you forget to record something before leaving the house.
Current Stream TV subscribers will be able to use the app too, but only for networks included in the package. Right now, that list is fairly limited, with exact channel lineups varying across the regions where its available in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Hampshire.
Comcast is also reportedly set to roll out an update to its Stream TV service nationwide later this year to all Comcast markets, but the cable provider isn't offering any details on what that update might include. When that happens, Stream TV will be rebranded to differentiate the app and the à la carte service.
It's unclear if the app will be available for streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV, but one thing is for sure: the Stream app is launching for iOS and Android on Feb. 28.
Brett Williams is a Tech Reporter at Mashable. He writes about tech news, trends and other tangentially related topics with a particular interest in wearables and exercise tech. Prior to Mashable, he wrote for Inked Magazine and Thrillist. Brett's work has also appeared on Fusion and AskMen, to name a few. You can follow Brett on Twitter @bdwilliams910.
