jiocinema.com
The name Jio has completely transformed the telecommunications sector in the Indian subcontinent. Apart from providing jaw-dropping internet plans, Jio launched dozens of apps that came preinstalled with a Jio Sim. Thus, we can all guess where the 250 million subscribers come from. Having said that, it should be clarified that Jio as a brand has immensely contributed in making the internet affordable in India. And its impact can be seen in the entertainment world as well, in terms of Jio Cinema.
What is Jio Cinema?
Jio Cinema is a content streaming app that comes with a vast content library. It is a black hole of content for audiences looking for binge-watching shows. What makes it so appealing is that it is available in a variety of languages and has content from every corner of the country. Sure, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are leading the streaming charts, but Jio is definitely holding its own.
What should you expect from the Jio Cinema App?
JioCinema is a massive content library filled with on-demand videos. You can access the platform through the desktop or your mobile device as the app supports both smartphones and the web platform. JioCinema partners with major studios such as Disney, so you can find popular Hollywood titles on the network.
Popular titles & genres
JioCinema provides you with access to a wide range of genre-based films, such as comedies, action, documentaries, romances, thrillers, history films, and more. As for titles available on the platform, thanks to its recent partnership with Disney, you will find Marvel movies as well as iconic releases such as Toy Story 3, The Lion King, and even the Jungle Book. For existing users of JioCinema, they can easily unlock the JioDisney access by sharing the link with five friends (family or friends). However, it is not just Disney content that is available on JioCinema; you will also find impressive libraries from streaming services such as AltBalaji and ErosNow.
Basics Done Right
JioCinema offers a vast selection of movies, including in multiple languages. You can use Chromecast to watch your favorite TV shows and movies on the big screen. JioCinema's big data capabilities allow you to resume the stream where you left off, and you can manually choose the quality at which you'd like to stream a particular title.
Lacks Originals
While JioCinema has a large content library that includes movies and television shows, it does not yet offer much in the way of Originals. Streaming services such as Prime Video and Netflix still dominate the innovation chart, even in India. However, Jio is poised to take a step ahead and is working towards developing original content with ties to 18-20 production houses from around the country.
Jio Cinema App Information
JioCinema, a streaming app with over 200 million downloads, is certainly a contender for India's most popular streaming app. However, the two major platforms - iOS and Android - have a massive difference as far as the app is concerned. The Android App is just 14 MB in size, whereas the iOS app is above 60 MB in size. Also, after some digging, I was able to find out that the iOS users weren't really pleased with the service. The app has a rating of 3.7 stars on App Store compared to 4.3 stars on Google Play Store.
How to access Jio Cinema?
If you have a Jio sim card, you can access Jio Cinema. The app can be found in the Google Play Store or App Store and downloaded from there. Once it is installed, it will ask for your phone number for verification. Apart from JioCinema, there are also lots of other apps that will be pre-installed on your device once you insert a Jio sim card. So, chances are you don't even need to install the app in the first place.
Design
The app's interface is unique, with a maroon and white color combination that I haven't seen on premium or free streaming platforms. The well-designed menus, along with content access through genres, independent streaming networks, and channels, makes browsing and finding content easy.
App Homepage
The moment you sign-up on the app, you'll be directed to a landing page with four options: JioCinema, Disney, JioKids, and Bigg Boss. If you click on any of these options, you'll be taken to the dedicated section for each of these categories. The homepage has the category title at the center, a search bar towards the right, and a drop-down menu towards the left. Under this, you'll find menus such as "Clips," "Genres," "Languages," "Eros Now," "Available for Download," "My Downloads," "My List," "Settings," and "Logout."
The webpage features beautiful banner designs with slider options underneath. Various content sections, such as 'Disney Delights' and 'Nursery Rhymes,' are available in this area. This makes it perfect for parents who want to spend time watching cartoons and animated movies with their children.
Inner Pages
The inner pages are well designed with optimized devices in mind. The streaming page has a media player with Play/Pause and fast-forwarding video feature, which is standard. At the bottom, you have the runtime towards the left, full screen, subtitle, and streaming quality toggle options towards the right. There is a title followed by release year and genre. Under this you will find a summary along with information relating to cast, director, and audio. Finally you will see "My List," "Download," and "Share option," followed by the "Related" section.
Content
JioCinema offers an extensive selection of content, catering to a variety of audiences. There are more than 100,000 hours of content on the network in a variety of languages - English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Telugu, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam and other dubbed content.
Movies
You can choose between Bollywood and Hollywood movies. As for Bollywood titles, you can find films such as ?Stree,? ?Luka Chuppi,? ?Baazaar,? ?Andhadhun,? ?Manmarziyan,? ?Force 2?, ?Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, ?Pihu,? ?Bajirao Mastani,? ?Dishoom,? ?"Housefull 3," and "Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi." In terms of popular Hollywood titles, you can find films such as "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Captain America: Civil War," "Iron Man 3," "Wall-E," "UP," "Guardians of the Galaxy," and "Ratatouille."
Music Videos & TV Shows
You will find some of the best artists from around the world at this festival, including AR Rahman, Beyoncé, Sia, Coldplay, Pitbull, MTV Unplugged Seasons, and TV shows such as Bigg Boss S13, Bepanah Pyar, The Khatra Show, Shrimad Bhagwat, MTV Splitsvilla x2 and Mahapuran.
Desktop/Mobile experience
I've been streaming on JioCinema for over two years now and I've always found the service to improve periodically. It allows you to watch HD quality content without any major hiccup and provides an impeccable streaming experience thanks to the ad-free platform. This makes it possible to watch ads without worrying about annoying pop-up ads or misclicks. Besides this, you also get the cool sharing functionality which allows you to share content with your friends and family.
Suggestions I have for Jio Cinema
None of my complaints about the app pertain to the lack of Original content. I would be appreciative if the developers added that content, as it has amazing potential. This app has a lot of capabilities that can be further explored and expanded on, which is exciting to think about. The sky is truly the limit for this app.
Conclusion
If you are a Disney fan or love Bollywood and Tollywood movies, you would fall in love with this platform. There are more than 100,000 hours of content on this platform spread across multiple genres. There are movies, TV shows, cartoons, documentaries, reality TV, and other programs on the network. Overall, you should definitely give this app a try.