Streaming for 4 year olds.
December 24, 2020 3:01 PM Subscribe
I haven't had television or any alternatives to television (e.g., hulu, netflix) since MacGuyver was on. The one with Richard Dean Anderson. Not in reruns. I need to set up a screen watching situation for someone else. Many snowflakes inside.
My brother-in-law is a stroke survivor with some cognitive impairment. Accurately entering passwords or email addresses is beyond him. He wants to watch DisneyPlus, and we've bought him a subscription, which right now he watches on a tiny shattered phone screen over a data connection, on the web browser in desktop mode. He doesn't have wifi or internet at home. He has no computer and his TV is from the 1990s.
We'd like to set him up with a nicer arrangement. But COVID: we can't actually go over to his house to help him set anything up in person. I'm fairly competent with computer tech support generally, but see above re: my level of sophistication with the relevant tech for watching stuff on a screen. We can throw a certain amount of money at the problem.
So: Explain to me like I'm five. What could I order for him and how could I arrange to have it set up for him so he can watch DisneyPlus on a decent screen?
My brother-in-law is a stroke survivor with some cognitive impairment. Accurately entering passwords or email addresses is beyond him. He wants to watch DisneyPlus, and we've bought him a subscription, which right now he watches on a tiny shattered phone screen over a data connection, on the web browser in desktop mode. He doesn't have wifi or internet at home. He has no computer and his TV is from the 1990s.
We'd like to set him up with a nicer arrangement. But COVID: we can't actually go over to his house to help him set anything up in person. I'm fairly competent with computer tech support generally, but see above re: my level of sophistication with the relevant tech for watching stuff on a screen. We can throw a certain amount of money at the problem.
So: Explain to me like I'm five. What could I order for him and how could I arrange to have it set up for him so he can watch DisneyPlus on a decent screen?
I feel like if the "can't go inside" restriction is a hard line (otherwise I'd be suggesting alterations there) I think your best bet would be a tablet with a data plan. Otherwise you're looking at getting him an internet connection which I am presuming is outside of the scope of this question (the cheapest option would be a low-end smart TV or tablet with wifi in the house, it's ok if this is not the time for cheapest options).
If your family already has a family phone plan, the simplest way to make this work would be to call your cell phone provider (or check their websites) to see if there are options for adding an additional device on to your plan and then seeing what your options are for tablets. Usually you can find better ones than the telco has to offer, but sometimes it's just simpler going that way. Something potentially like this (just one random example).
If your family does not have a cell plan you can get something like a Cricket Wireless account for it that would run you about $40-50 a month unless it's the kind of thing that he could add on to whatever plan he has. And then the idea would be: you'd get the device delivered to you, set it up with the app somewhere easy to find/see (maybe add him to your Netflix account if you have one - make sure the device saves all the passwords) get the cellular service up and running and he'd have a device that would... kind of... just work.
posted by jessamyn at 3:31 PM on December 24, 2020 [6 favorites]
If your family already has a family phone plan, the simplest way to make this work would be to call your cell phone provider (or check their websites) to see if there are options for adding an additional device on to your plan and then seeing what your options are for tablets. Usually you can find better ones than the telco has to offer, but sometimes it's just simpler going that way. Something potentially like this (just one random example).
If your family does not have a cell plan you can get something like a Cricket Wireless account for it that would run you about $40-50 a month unless it's the kind of thing that he could add on to whatever plan he has. And then the idea would be: you'd get the device delivered to you, set it up with the app somewhere easy to find/see (maybe add him to your Netflix account if you have one - make sure the device saves all the passwords) get the cellular service up and running and he'd have a device that would... kind of... just work.
posted by jessamyn at 3:31 PM on December 24, 2020 [6 favorites]
Note: If you can also remotely troubleshoot/control the device, that would be good. I've had streaming services like Disney+ and Hulu that were using my SO's login suddenly and mysteriously log out, so I need them to log back in again.
posted by Seboshin at 5:05 PM on December 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Seboshin at 5:05 PM on December 24, 2020 [2 favorites]
Option 1: get them wired for home wireless internet, then buy and set up a device with accounts and passwords already entered and set up. Sit on their front stoop, and connect it to their wifi, entering those paswords too. Then ring the doorbell and leave it there.
Option 2: as mentioned above, if their mobile / cellular data plan is working now, buy and add an iPad or other tablet to that plan. At that point, it is just a great big phone. Do whatever you did to get Disney on the shattered phone, but now you can just use the Disney Plus app instead of desktop mode stuff.
Option 3: similar to 2, but two devices to buy. First is a mobile hotspot device from their mobile data provider. It's the data modem, and a wifi router, but without the phone, about the size of a deck of cards. That will let you choose another wifi viewing device, rather than limiting you to tablets that work with their plan provider.
Assuming you get the same level of reception at your place, and that this level is adequate to stream to a big TV, then you could set it all up for them - Hotspot to TV connection, TV apps to Disney accounts, then drop it off like you did in #1, but no internet installer entered their house.
How's their speech? With Alexa and Google Home devices (once set up and online), you can do things like "Alexa/Hey Google, open Netflix on Living Room TV" via voice control, rather than poking at a little screen or tv remote buttons.
posted by bartleby at 5:06 PM on December 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
Option 2: as mentioned above, if their mobile / cellular data plan is working now, buy and add an iPad or other tablet to that plan. At that point, it is just a great big phone. Do whatever you did to get Disney on the shattered phone, but now you can just use the Disney Plus app instead of desktop mode stuff.
Option 3: similar to 2, but two devices to buy. First is a mobile hotspot device from their mobile data provider. It's the data modem, and a wifi router, but without the phone, about the size of a deck of cards. That will let you choose another wifi viewing device, rather than limiting you to tablets that work with their plan provider.
Assuming you get the same level of reception at your place, and that this level is adequate to stream to a big TV, then you could set it all up for them - Hotspot to TV connection, TV apps to Disney accounts, then drop it off like you did in #1, but no internet installer entered their house.
How's their speech? With Alexa and Google Home devices (once set up and online), you can do things like "Alexa/Hey Google, open Netflix on Living Room TV" via voice control, rather than poking at a little screen or tv remote buttons.
posted by bartleby at 5:06 PM on December 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
I concur that a tablet with a data plan that you have setup for him is probably the easiest option, but here are some other ideas:
Mobile hotspot for the internet, pre-activated.
Is a new TV an option? Then get him a smart TV and either set it up with the hotspot for him, or make sure the hotspot and the TV support Ethernet and connect them that way.
If a new TV is not an option, get him a streaming box and check that the ports are compatible with his TV, or get him a converter that will make them compatible. (This, of course, assumes that he is capable of matching up the plugs, which may not be the case. Though in that case, maybe you could wire everything together for him while you're setting up the logins.)
Either way, set up the streaming device/smart TV with the Disney+ app and login before you give it to him.
I really like the Roku devices for ease of use. They have TVs with Rokus built in or separate boxes. The remotes are very simple (even the ones for the TVs), and some of them come with a button that will start Disney+ directly. Some of them have voice commands if he can't use a remote. You can install new channels for him over the internet via the Roku account, and most channels give you the option to link them up the service's account via a URL and a 4 character code (so, he could call you, you could login to the service, and then he could read the code off to activate the channel).
posted by natabat at 5:09 PM on December 24, 2020
Mobile hotspot for the internet, pre-activated.
Is a new TV an option? Then get him a smart TV and either set it up with the hotspot for him, or make sure the hotspot and the TV support Ethernet and connect them that way.
If a new TV is not an option, get him a streaming box and check that the ports are compatible with his TV, or get him a converter that will make them compatible. (This, of course, assumes that he is capable of matching up the plugs, which may not be the case. Though in that case, maybe you could wire everything together for him while you're setting up the logins.)
Either way, set up the streaming device/smart TV with the Disney+ app and login before you give it to him.
I really like the Roku devices for ease of use. They have TVs with Rokus built in or separate boxes. The remotes are very simple (even the ones for the TVs), and some of them come with a button that will start Disney+ directly. Some of them have voice commands if he can't use a remote. You can install new channels for him over the internet via the Roku account, and most channels give you the option to link them up the service's account via a URL and a 4 character code (so, he could call you, you could login to the service, and then he could read the code off to activate the channel).
posted by natabat at 5:09 PM on December 24, 2020
If he has unlimited data and a tv at home, get him a Chromecast with Google TV. He plugs it into the hdmi port and can stream from his phone to a large screen. If he has neither unlimited data or a large tv, I would buy the TV and add him to your phone plan. On t-mobile, I have unlimited data that is not throttled until 50 gb. Very hard to get to 50gb. Cost would be about $300 for TV, $50 for Chromecast and $0/month for data.
The tablet or laptiop would work well too. If a data plan is too expensive for that, do any other relatives have Comcast cable or one of the cable companies that has nationwide free wifi? Get a password from them. Have the laptop or tablet sent to you, you download Disney+ and put in all the necessary passwords and leave it outside his door or ship it to him.
The Roku devices work well too as noted above. Chromecast, Roku, Firestick, they would all do the trick.
posted by AugustWest at 6:03 PM on December 24, 2020
The tablet or laptiop would work well too. If a data plan is too expensive for that, do any other relatives have Comcast cable or one of the cable companies that has nationwide free wifi? Get a password from them. Have the laptop or tablet sent to you, you download Disney+ and put in all the necessary passwords and leave it outside his door or ship it to him.
The Roku devices work well too as noted above. Chromecast, Roku, Firestick, they would all do the trick.
posted by AugustWest at 6:03 PM on December 24, 2020
The Chrome browser has a plugin that allows remote access for troubleshooting; this might be handy on a laptop or tablet. If you get a tablet, some sort of stand is quite useful.
posted by theora55 at 8:17 PM on December 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 8:17 PM on December 24, 2020 [1 favorite]
Also, most streaming services have their own apps which can be downloaded to.the phone, can stay logged in after initial time, and would at least provide a better viewing experience than the browser on the phone.
Does your brother-in-law have a home health aid who could be enlisted (with payment) to help set things up?
posted by eviemath at 5:41 AM on December 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
Does your brother-in-law have a home health aid who could be enlisted (with payment) to help set things up?
posted by eviemath at 5:41 AM on December 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
It’s possible to download Disney+ and Netflix episodes to a smartphone/tablet for later viewing. Before the pandemic this was easy to do at many libraries using the free WiFi. I agree that setting up internet at your brother-in-law’s house is the ideal solution but if this proves to be too complicated due to social distancing, a local friend or a paid worker could download episodes to your BIL’s device at a location with WiFi (and the owner’s permission to download episodes.) A socially distanced handoff at the door can be used to replenish new episodes when needed.
A Kindle Fire tablet costs around $49 and plays Disney+/Netflix. This could be an option if you’re looking for an inexpensive device to stream. An iPad would be a better experience but costs around $330.
posted by mundo at 12:52 PM on December 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
A Kindle Fire tablet costs around $49 and plays Disney+/Netflix. This could be an option if you’re looking for an inexpensive device to stream. An iPad would be a better experience but costs around $330.
posted by mundo at 12:52 PM on December 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
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Otherwise, an iPad or other tablet with a dataplan would be the most similar to his current setup. You (or someone else) could open the tablet and download all the apps and set up the passwords and then just hand it over, ready to use.
posted by lovecrafty at 3:30 PM on December 24, 2020