These days, convenience is key. With the never-ending hustle and bustle of life, we are constantly looking for the quickest and easiest ways to do everything; from ordering groceries online, to ordering dinner in a matter of minutes from your phone, we have never known the pleasure of instant gratification as acutely as we do now.
This includes how we consume our entertainment. More and more people are “cutting the cord,” or getting rid of traditional cable and satellite packages and streaming their television from sources like Playstion Vue and Sling TV.
Enter Mobdro.
Mobdro is an app that allows you to watch your favorite movies and television shows in picture perfect quality, as long as you have an Android (though there are ways to circumvent the Android exclusivity; more on that later). Mobdro users can find a vast library of music, movies, television, live-streams, and is also free to install.
There is a chance that your phone could be set up to prevent third party downloads, which Mobdro is, so you can alter your settings to allow it to properly download. You can do this by following this path: Settings Security Device Administration Toggle “Unknown Sources.”
Those who download Mobdro enjoy a large variety of content in numerous languages. There is no subscription, you can choose different resolution options during viewing, you use less bandwidth than with other apps like it, and you can even use it when not connected to the internet.
Those familiar with Kodi know the absolute magic of being able to watch brand new movies and premium television shows from the comfort of your own home. Oh, and also for free. The birth of Kodi has caused visceral debates on the subject of illegal piracy and all that goes with it, but Kodi is an incredibly popular platform that does not appear to be going anywhere any time soon.
Conversely, Mobdro is an app that scans the web for streamable links for movies, TV shows, and even live sports, among many other options. After they are compiled, you receive them in a nice little package on your Android device, including an Amazon Firestick or Google Chromecast.
Because of the nature of the app, there is a distinct possibility that some of the links populated by Mobdro could be pirated. Mobdro makes very clear that they in no way condone or encourage pirating of any kind, per their terms and conditions:
Mobdro has no control whatsoever nor may it be held liable for the content or location of the streams, which shall be the sole responsibility of the pages on which they are hosted.
Should the holder of a copyright consider that her/his right have[sic] been breached, she/he must address the source to request its withdrawal.
Mobdro is not available in the Google Play store, only through the official Mobdro site (mobdro.to). Because of this, you might be required to follow the steps outlined above in order to properly install it.
To begin the download, you can go to https://www.mobdro.to/mobdro.apk. A download warning might pop up, but you can ignore this. When you attempt to run the app, an error prompt appears stating “installs from unknown sources must be enabled,” or something along those lines. That is when you need to follow these steps: Settings Security Device Administration Toggle “Unknown Sources.”Mobdro has no control whatsoever nor may it be held liable for the content or location of the streams, which shall be the sole responsibility of the pages on which they are hosted.
Should the holder of a copyright consider that her/his right have[sic] been breached, she/he must address the source to request its withdrawal.
Another draw to Mobdro is the appealing and simplistic interface, which resembles the sleek look of YouTube. The content is laid out by topic or category, and it does not require any additional add-ons like Kodi does.
In addition to the typical content one expects from a streaming service like television shows and movies, you can find videos of people playing video games, live NASA streams, as well as more obscure news channels and sources. Nothing about Mobdro requires any poking or tweaking; everything is right there, fully populated in the app as soon as you launch it.
Since the premium version is no longer available, an ad-free experience is not an option when using Mobdro.
The ads overrun the interface and appear with each change of the “channel.” Not only do they muck up the look of the app, they are those horrid interactive ads that require the user to sit through a video of a game then give you the download link.
Despite the burden of the unceasing ads, by all accounts, Mobdro is completely safe. Though users recommend downloading it directly from the Mobdro website, rather than some of the other sites that host it.
The content offered via Mobdro is quite extensive for a free app. If you are you looking for some of the most popular TV channels, you can find the History Channel, ABC, HGTV, CBS, AMC, FX, etc. If you are looking for news options, you can count on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, and other informational staples. Popular TV shows such as The Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Law and Order: SVU, and countless others are also available.
Access to ESPN and ESPN 2 allows sports lovers to catch all the big games with ease, while music lovers can take their chances on actually catching some music on MTV and VH1. Mobdro users also can tune in to live streams of some of their favorite personalities playing popular video games. Animal lovers have the opportunity to enjoy some of their favorite nature shows, too, while also delighting in the multiple live streams of beaches, jungles, reefs, and many other ecosystems that feature adorable animals in their natural habitats.
Science lovers can explore space with NASA live streams as well as view a live feed from the International Space Station. Those who love podcasts can find a vast variety of them available for your listening pleasure. There are also spiritual options for those who are looking to for alternative ways to explore their faith.
Since the success of Mobdro is dependent upon the effectiveness of the links provided, there is always the chance of clicking on broken or pirated links. Mobdro always recommends that users heed the warnings that websites offer so that they may avoid any illegal activity.
Most reviewers insist that the viewing experience on Mobdro is high-quality. One reviewer reported watching a live sporting event without any interruptions. However, if you do find yourself having issues with buffering, the same reviewer recommends securing a VPN to help smooth out the stream.
This is very likely not the first time you have heard of a VPN, but do you really know what it is and what it does? A virtual private network, or VPN, is a third-party resource that allows you to connect to the internet anonymously and securely by logging you in via a server that hides your web activity.
Instead of simply opening Firefox or Google Chrome, you access the VPN first and then launch the VPN software. This software is designed to immediately begin encrypting your data before it is even detected by your internet service provider or the Starbucks WiFi where you are working for the day.
From there, you are free to browse at your pleasure. You can access anything you would have with a traditional web login, but no one can view your activity or history. Not only that, but it masks you from the websites you are viewing so that they can only see that a VPN is accessing their content, instead of you, the individual user.
When you really think about what the internet is, it is essentially just a collection of information being shared via servers that is open to any person that wants to access it. Because of the nature and complexity of the internet, these servers must communicate with each other, which causes your information to be shared for public consumption. While this allows for a brilliant surfing experience, it does not bode well for your privacy.
Your data is the price you pay to be able to access information in the blink of an eye on literally any subject you could ever dream of. But it doesn’t have to be.
If you are perusing on Buzzfeed or reading an article on Vice.com, that really does not matter much. Who cares if the internet knows that you like cute cat videos? But, once you start accessing sites that have information about your personal bank accounts, or when you are shopping online and typing in your credit card information, a VPN can add an extra layer of security to help prevent the theft of your identity.
The use of a VPN solves security issues several different ways. First, your site destination will log only that a VPN has accessed their content, not you. A traditional search does not easily identify your computer and you, the user, as the source of the surfing. They cannot see what sites you are accessing, the data you are sharing, or where the data is coming from. Lastly, the encryption of your data only allows prying eyes to see encrypted information rather than whatever raw data you are actually viewing or sharing.
VPNs offer anonymity in a very visible world, but they aren’t even legal everywhere. Users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and most of the rest of the Western World are fine. VPNs are completely legal in those regions. However, users in North Korea, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Iraq, Russia, Turkmenistan, Oman, Belarus, and Iran should steer clear of VPNs entirely. If you live in those regions, you use VPNs at your own risk.
To be honest, there is nothing on this Earth outside of military-grade technology that can keep you completely safe on the web, and even then, there are probably hackers out there that could find a way past military encryption anyway. No, VPNs are not 100% guaranteed to protect your identity and your information, but honestly, that is not a realistic expectation for anyone who knows anything about the internet.
Without a VPN, however, your connection is completely unsafe. Your entire internet trail can be followed by anyone who cares to look for it. Anyone who wants it badly enough could easily discover your browsing history, passwords, possibly your credit card numbers, bank account numbers, Social Security number, and any number of devastating bit of sensitive information that a person has.
It is also important that you thoroughly research different types of VPNs before choosing one, as their options and capabilities vary greatly. Not every VPN allows you to fully access Netflix or Hulu, for example. Conversely, there are many of them that allow you to download mobile apps for Android or iOS. PIA, Tunnelbear VPN, ExpressVPN are highly recommended for Android users.
While it may be tempting to try out some of the free VPNs offered, consider what it means to be able to offer a service like that and not charge your users. VPNs are expensive to create and maintain. Companies that run VPNs have to make enough profit to hire employees, support data transfer, create infrastructure, and host robust servers. Saving a buck here and there is nice, but the entire purpose of a VPN is to secure yourself and your data. If you are only willing to do so by using free software, how safe are you really? Consider that, if this company is not charging you to use their VPN, where did they cut corners to sustain that? Most VPNs only cost $3-$5 anyway and are well worth the price.
You can even get VPNs on your smart TVs, to protect those investments from prying eyes and hacker access. To successfully install a VPN on your smart device, you need to either configure it on the device itself, or configure it on your router, which then protects your entire home and every device that logs into that WiFi connection.
Should you choose to download Mobdro on your PC, first you first need to procure an emulator that allows you to run Android exclusive apps on your machine. Some options for good emulators include BlueStacks, ARC Welder, and iPadian.
Once you have chosen your emulator, you can install the modulator, then download the Mobdro app. Once it is finished downloading, navigate to the app’s file location, right click,
and open. After installation has completed, open your modulator and locate the apps area. Launch the Mobdro app and stream to your heart’s content.
Roku sticks are similar to the Amazon Firestick, in that the user can install apps and connect to the internet via the Roku interface. If you are looking to download the Mobdro app for Roku, follow these simple steps.
First you need to download the Mobdro app on a supported Android device. Once you have done that, setup your Roku stick on your TV if you have not already done so. On your Roku stick, enable the “Screen Mirror” setting.
Next, choose media content to play through Mobdro and select the “cast” feature, which can be found on the navigation panel of your Android. You must ensure that the Android device and your Roku are hooked up to the same WiFi connection. This is imperative for a successful mirroring. Once you have found and chosen your device on your television, click on it using the “pair” option. Finally, this pairing casts the content from your Android device to your television.
Apple users can enjoy the pleasures of Mobdro as well, but they are not able to find the app within iTunes. Navigate to vShare.com and download the vShare app that is compatible with iOS. Once found, install and then launch the app. Search for Mobdro APK and begin the installation process. You may now access Mobdro from the Apple device of your choice!
There have been some issues with Firestick users successfully downloading the Mobdro app. This prompted the official Mobdro website to post a step-by-step tutorial that they say all but guarantees success.
Start the process by navigating to the “settings” section on the Amazon Firestick homepage. Once there, find your way to “developer options.” Choose the “apps from unknown sources” option and turn it on. You should see one of those warnings about downloading content from unknown sources; check “okay” anyway.
Navigate back to the homepage and get to the search bar. There you should type in “ES File Explorer.” Users who have previously successfully downloaded Kodi may already have this available.
Once you have selected and downloaded ES File Explorer, select “favorite” from the menu and choose “add.” Next, you should type in the file path http://bit.ly/2oxB1rb and rename it Mobdro. Click “add.”
Click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the screen and choose “open with ES downloader.” This begins the Mobdro download on your Amazon device. Click on “open folder” and install Mobdro. Once it is fully installed, navigate back to the homepage again and go to your apps. You should see Mobdro in the ribbon. Click on the app and launch Mobdro to begin the streaming process.
It may seem a little redundant, but you can use Mobdro within the Kodi platform, as well.
Firstly, install the Kodi software on your desired device, if you have not already done so. Once it has been installed and launched, navigate to the “system” section on the home screen. Once there, click on file manager and find the “add source” option, then click okay.
On the virtual keyboard that appears on your screen, type http://lvtvv.com/repo/ and then choose “done.” Enter the name of your choosing for the media file, then find your way back to the home screen and the “system” section once more. Find and click the “install from zip file” option and chose the name you gave the media file.
Once you click repository.ah.zip, a notification should pop up about add-ons being enabled. Click on “get add-ons” and choose the AH add-on repository. Find your way to the “video add-ons” section and choose Mobdro. After that long and arduous journey, you should finally be able to operate Mobdro out of Kodi.
As previously mentioned, Mobdro is a completely free app. However, as with many other apps out there, there is a premium version that you can pay for that allows the user to enjoy Mobdro without being inundated with the unseemly apps.
You may upgrade to premium at any time after downloading the free version and this option costs about $3.55. There have been some reports that a premium version is no longer available, but some users believe it is a temporary glitch. Either way, users were happy to pay that monthly premium to allow for a much more user-friendly and ad-free experience.
Cutting the cord on traditional cable and satellite has been the hardest on sports lovers. There have not always been reliable ways for lovers of athletics to get their team fixes. Mobdro is here to change all that.
The available sports channels are ever-changing and updating as Mobdro changes and updates, but the channels available at this time are as follows:
ESPN
STAR CRICKET
NEO CRICKET
SKY SPORTS
BT SPORTS
PREMIER SPORTS
WWE TV
LIVERPOOL TV
MUTV
CHELSEA TV
EIR SPORTS
BOX NATION
AT THE RACE
RACING UK
BRITISH EURO SPORTS
MOTORS TV
STAR SPORTS
TEN CRICKET
TEN SPORTS FOX SPORTS
NBA TV
NBC SPORT NETWORK
SPORTSNET ONE
BEIN SPORT USA
TSN
EUROSPORT
SPORTSNET WORLD
NFL TV
GOLF CHANNEL
PTV SPORTS
A BOLA TV
FOOTBALL HEROES
UFC NEXT
PLANET X SPORT
The athletic events taking place on the numerous channels listed above are all streamed in HD quality and in 10 different languages. All other local games and events can typically be found on the network channels that are also provided by Mobdro.
Reviewers and experts alike agree that Mobdro is completely legal to download and to use. Since there is no torrenting or downloading of pirated material of any kind, most users do not run into any trouble.
While there is the distinct possibility of stumbling upon pirated links that populate in Mobdro’s web search, they claim absolutely no responsibility for what their users choose to click on. Copyright activists have differing opinions on Mobdro’s legality, but so far, nothing has taken shape. Just keep that in mind as you use this apps.
The creators of Mobdro want you to know that they take the collection of your personal information very seriously. They do not obtain access to your contacts or any other sensitive information that may be housed on your device. They are interested in you enjoying their content, not datamining you.
You may notice upon downloading and installing Mobdro that it requires permission to start upon the boot up of your machine. This is because the app is constantly looking for updates. However, you can disable this in your settings, and the program has a very slight impact on battery life.
Another option available in the Mobdro app is the share option, in which you have the option to share links with other Mobdro users directly, allowing them access to the content with just one click.
You may also wonder why Mobdro requests access to your device’s accounts. This is so the app can ascertain whether or not you have purchased the premium version so that all of the features may be enabled.
Users who have downloaded and used Mobdro were surprised with how little data and bandwidth were consumed, which is another mark in favor for this revolutionary app.
As with any app, there are some glitches that users may come upon when streaming with Mobdro. Should you find that your category lists are empty, you may need to fenagle your network settings to allow you to use the Google Public DNS.
If you come upon a “Parse Error” message, this is because the Android operating system you are using is older than the version that Mobdro was configured for. At this point, Mobdro users will need to use Android 4.1 or higher to enjoy the Mobdro app.
Slow streaming could be something you experience. If you have checked your internet connection and found it to be sound, the likely explanation is that you have reached your personal bandwidth capacity. This is not something that be fixed with troubleshooting via the Mobdro app, as they have no control on the bandwidth used by the links discovered on the web.
If you find that a stream you were enjoying yesterday is no longer available, unfortunately you are out of luck. Since Mobdro operates by scouring the web for available content, this means it is subject to never-ending changes in available streams.
If you are still suffering from connection issues but have perfectly working internet, it is very possible that you are operating an older version of Mobdro. Simply go to the official website and update your app to the most recent version.
Another common error in Modbro is the “Live Stream is Currently Offline” error. The easiest way to fix this issue is to obtain a VPN from the Google Play Store; specifically, the Opera VPN. Once it has been downloaded, connect to the VPN from the device of your choosing. After you have connected, clear all recent tabs. Open up the Mobdro app, and this issue should have been corrected.
You may also receive an error that states “Not working/no downloads.” In this instance, your best laid plan is to clear your cache and app data. To do this, open the settings on your Android device and look for an “apps” or “manage apps” option and click on the Mobdro app. Once you have navigated there, you should find options to “clear data” and “clear cache.” If you happen to be an Android Marshmallow 6.0 user, you want to click on storage to clear your cache and data. Clearing the cache and data should remediate this problem.
If you find yourself continually having issues with new updates on Mobdro, try downloading an older version. Not only does this potentially smooth out your viewing experience, it can also likely fix any issues you may be having.
If after launching Mobdro, you find that you are experiencing video playback issues, there might be a super-secret cheat code that you can enter in order to unlock the fix. If you use Andriod Lollipop or later, navigate to Settings About Phone and tap “Build Version” seven times to unlock “Developer’s Option” in the Settings menu. Yes, you must tap it exactly seven times.
Once there, scroll down through the “Developer’s Option” menu until you find under “Media” an option labeled “Use AwesomePlayer (deprecated).” Enable that function, restart your phone, and hope for the best.
If you find that you are experiencing some other common bugs associated with streaming apps, open the apps manager section in your Android’s settings menu. Click on “All Apps” followed by the menu icon. Choose “Reset App Preferences” and reboot your phone, and most of those bothersome glitches should have been corrected.
For any and all other issues with Mobdro, the handy uninstall/reinstall method is always an option, as well. This is rather like the “unplug/replug whatever electronic device wasn’t working at any given time” method that has been a tried and true troubleshooting tactic for decades.
As much as we all use our phones, very few of us know exactly what eats up our precious data. For those of us who do not have the luxury of unlimited data, knowing what apps and functions deplete our data is crucial.
For those who love to stream music, audiobooks, or any number of audio files, most platforms are using the low/normal/high quality scale.
For example, low quality audio files typically run at 96kbps. Low quality audio .72 MB of data per minute, or 43.2 MB per hour.
Normal quality runs at approximately 160kbps, and uses 1.20 MB per minute, or 72 MB per hour on average.
Conversely, high quality streaming runs at 320kbps and uses 2.40 MB or 115.2 MB per hour.
Of course, this is just based on averages, which is important to remember. Many streaming platforms adjust themselves based on your data plan, but it is in your best interest to double check these settings before beginning a streaming session. In fact, most mobile carriers simply round up or down, depending upon where the actual data figures fall on the scale.
No one should be surprised to learn that streaming video eats up way more data than streaming audio does. A huge difference between audio and video streaming is also the quality. Low-quality video is extremely noticeable, and really, really low. We are talking like 240 or 320p low. These low-quality settings typically eat about 300 MB an hour.
SD quality video streams run at the standard 480p and eat 700 MB of data per hour. This is a markedly better picture quality, as well.
HD quality looks even better than SD and runs at about 720p and 2K. HD uses about .9 GB for 720p, 1.5 GB for 1080p, and 3 GB for 2K quality per hour. Again, this is just an average.
The highest quality video streaming, UHD, obviously uses more data than any of the other options. You can expect a 4K stream to use up 7.2 GB per hour.
Many of these figures were collected thanks in part to Netflix for disclosing what an hour of streaming on their platform uses.
Assuming you do not have an unlimited plan, or a T-Mobile plan (or any other company that, like T-Mobile, enforces zero-rating), most options for data plans through cellular providers are 2GB, 5GB, and 10GB.
Whenever you are streaming, it is absolutely in your best interest to be connected to Wi-Fi, but if that is not an option, you can expect the following streaming capabilities based on your data plan:
0.25 hours of 4K video
28 hours of normal-quality music
17 hours of high-quality music
6.5 hours of low-quality video
2.2 hours of 720p video
1.3 hours of 1080p video
47 hours of low-quality music
0.6 hours of 2K video
2.8 hours of standard definition video
70 hours of normal-quality music
0.6 hours of 4K video
42.5 hours of high-quality music
7 hours of standard definition video
117 hours of low-quality music
5.5 hours of 720p video
3.25 hours of 1080p video
1.5 hours of 2K video
16.25 hours of low-quality video
11 hours of 720p video
140 hours of normal-quality music
1.2 hours of 4K video
85 hours of high-quality music
32.5 hours of low-quality video
234 hours of low-quality music
14 hours of standard definition video
6.5 hours of 1080p video
3 hours of 2K video
These figures are based on the industry standard of the 1 GB formula not the “actual” calculation of 1,024 MB per GB. That is because your mobile carrier is likely to do the same.
At the end of the day, even the word “unlimited” needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Unlimited plans only mean unlimited until you hit a certain threshold. If you go over that limit, your carrier might begin to slow down your streams and other functions on your device. They do not return to normal operating levels until your data “re-ups” the next month.
Most carriers politely inform their unlimited customers when they are close to reaching their thresholds so that they can be aware of their usage and tone down the streaming unless connected to Wi-Fi.
There are so many incredible features offered in this app that are unique to Mobdro.
First, and most importantly, it is free. Apps that allow you to stream high-quality content usually cost a pretty penny, so this incredible app offering you all of its services at no charge really is unprecedented.
Because of the nature of Mobdro, in which links are compiled to offer the user available web streams, it is possible that some of the streams you find may not be there the next time you launch the app. Mobdro recognized this potential limitation and gave users the ability to create bookmarks. Even if you intend to sit down as soon as you find something to watch, you are going to want to bookmark it, just to save yourself the strife of having to search for it later.
Like Netflix, Mobdro also gives users the option of downloading videos to enjoy during offline use. This is especially useful for people who travel often and do not always have reliable access to Wi-Fi. Mobdro also gives users a sleep timer option, so that the app does not continue to drain battery and data after you have fallen asleep and are no longer viewing.
Many users may be surprised to learn that Mobdro is not an app, but rather an APK. An application, or app, is mini-software that allows mobile users to enjoy a multitude of different services, from games, communication, food delivery, ride sharing, social media; honestly the list goes on and on.
An APK, or Android Packet Manager, is numerous files (video, icons, source code, images, audio, etc.) that are compiled into one tidy package to be distributed and installed to the masses.
In fact, apps are basically decompressed APKs. An app operates after all of the compressed files from the APK are decompiled by the installer and then reconfigured into the final version of the apps you use on your phones and tablets.