Optimizing Video Playback: How to Choose Between Streaming and Downloading

❎ Streaming and downloading video sites have some features that make the answer more complicated than it would seem.
❎ Streaming a video uses data equivalent to downloading the video each time you watch. Downloading once lets you watch the file multiple times without additional data usage. CZcams and other services may adjust streaming quality dynamically based on your connection. Downloads offer consistent quality and save data on repeated viewings.
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Chapters
0:00 Streaming and Downloading
2:20 Your internet connection
3:00 Dynamic streams
5:00 Video quality
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[@glasslinger]

Keep in mind that each time you stream it counts for data used off the internet plan you have paid for. When you exceed the plan maximum data amount, the price you pay goes up. You can thus get to the "free" limit and then have your bill increase for each stream. On the other hand, once you have the videos stored on your hard drive you can watch it as many times as you like without your bill going up. If you have an "unlimited" plan you are home free. You are already paying the maximum price for your service

[@johnburgess2084]

Of course, if you download a video, you have to have HD space to save it and everything else you want to download and save. And, if you download a lot of stuff, you'll want to catalog it so you can easily find it again. I.e., administrative overhead, too. Both those are gone with streaming.

[@alanparkinson549]

Just this week CZcams has been blocking my browser's download function. Infuriating, especially as they also stopped the browser's ad blocking some time ago!

[@rickgibson7876]

One thing I noticed was the few I have downloded the commercials didn't come with them.

[@MrRayopt]

I always download the better stuff because my satellite connection is so poor (Thanks Hughes)

[@tvideo1189]

My problem with media streaming is actually getting the file to play on the TV. My computer "magically" turns off "Public" networking AND "magically" turns off "Media Streaming". And even after turning everything back on, and the smart TV actually seeing the Video folder AND movie files, selecting the movie file fails and a "Check Network Connection" box appears. Infuriating.

[@captainofthewhitetower]

Leo how can we exclude a file in Onedrive folder when it is uploading to Onedrive? So I have Steelseries moments a video clip capturing software. The problem is whenever it captures a video thumbnails folder gets in to onedrive too. If I exclude the folder it get deleted in Onedrive. I made the storage location the Onedrive folder. When I check my photos I see thumbnails. I just want to disable the thumbnails folder.

[@chrissimpson1183]

Anyone can DL youtube videos.

[@grahampembs]

If you watch a youtube HD video with the default screen on your monitor then say you use theatre mode so available screen area showing same video is larger at the same HD setting (or go to full screen mode) does this mean that the video file being down loaded is larger at the same definition?

[@askleonotenboom]

It's not the same resolution if you've made the window bigger. It may be larger, it may not be, depending on things like your internet speed and such.