Cloud streaming has been around for a long time, but its extensive reliance on a fast and stable internet connection, which we lacked in the past, has severely crippled its potential. Fortunately, the recent advancements with Wi-Fi and the introduction of 5G have filled that missing piece. Cloud streaming involves storing and transmitting files from a remote server into your device, allowing you to consume data in a timely manner without needing to download it beforehand or allocate storage space for it. This works whenever you access a streaming service and select a video or a game. The file is encoded in small and manageable sets of data that are steadily streamed into the client device, which are then processed and immediately deleted after being previewed on the display screen, preventing it from taking up any storage space. However, this means every action requires new data from the server, hence the need for a reliable internet connection.
Video Streaming
One of the first and main purposes of cloud streaming is to be able to stream videos online. This allows famous streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube to present a wide array of various videos. The appeal of video streaming is immense, offering high-grade quality, diverse quantity, and on top of that, cutting down on costs.
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Caught in 4K
Many services offer pristine resolutions that can reach up to 4K, going beyond the standard quality of aired TV shows and highlighting even the faintest wrinkle. Higher resolutions demand larger storage spaces, which is another issue that streaming services have solved as long as you have the internet connection for it.
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No Download Required
This is an often overlooked feature, especially given the plethora of options typically available in most streaming sites means that having to download each and every one of those videos will undoubtedly be an agonizing chore, both for you and your device.
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Individual Purchases vs. Subscription Fees
Economically, there is a stark difference between streaming services and the traditional method of watching. Traditionally, you can buy a disc or cassette tape of a film and it’s yours to keep for as long as its lifespan allows. This means that as long as you take good care of it, you can rewatch this particular film a year or even a decade later at no additional cost. However, if you’re the type to only watch something once or twice then look for the next best film, this can become a significant expense for you. For streaming services, you only have to pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee for access to ALL of the site’s collection, making this a largely more beneficial deal. This does entail, however, that you need to stay on the subscription plan to access your favorite movies, and that how long a film is available in their selection is beyond your control.
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Content Diversity
There are even multiple platforms available to choose from, with YouTube offering a variety of free user-generated content, Twitch specializing in gameplay streams, and premium streaming services such as Netflix for gaining access to everything professionally-made from movies, K-Dramas, television series, podcasts, news reports, and even anime, you can easily access and enjoy them from anywhere and anytime.
Game Streaming
Game streaming has recently picked up traction, inspiring inventions such as the PlayStation Portal, which utilizes a PS5 as the server that transmits data to the Portal for portable gameplay, and live casino gaming, a more immersive approach to enjoy real money online casinos through the use of HD cameras to livestream the game to its players for a more dynamic and interactive gameplay. Many game sites present important information such as bonuses and ratings to make it easier and more convenient for you to choose where to get your Casino Bonuses. These specialized websites, crafted by experts, aim to assist players in making informed choices. Similarly with video streaming, game streaming follows the same formula of delivering data from a remote device or server into the client device, but packs some extra bonuses that can further preserve performance and reduce expenses in the long-run.
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Less Demand on Hardware
Since the games run on remote servers, there’s practically no strain applied to your gaming hardware or consumption of storage space, meaning even a low-end hardware can run graphics-intensive games, provided it has a strong and stable internet connection with good latency, as unlike video streaming, cloud gaming’s data transmission is a two-way street as your inputs in the game have to be timely addressed for a seamless gaming experience. While you might pay more for better internet, you will save even more from no longer having to spend copious amounts of cash on a powerful gaming rig.
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Nigh-Realistic Graphics
The servers are especially designed to handle the strain of gaming, granting you the opportunity to play at max settings without suffering from fatal frame rate drops and snail-paced loading times.
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A Robust Game Library
Cloud gaming services boast a great number of games to choose from, ranging from free games such as Fortnite to paid games that require a small fee to access. Much like Netflix’s condition, though, you have no control over how long the games will remain in the service’s library.
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Crossplay-ability
Cloud gaming is often available on multiple platforms, allowing you to play a specific game on PC, console, or your mobile phone. There are even supported Bluetooth controllers available for you to use.
