During the heat of the pandemic, Netflix Party was all the rage. It allows you to watch movies and shows with your loved ones and friends without being physically together. Through the service, everyone can stream and watch the same Netflix content at the same time, while talking and sharing via a virtual chat box.
Netflix Party has received a facelift and a name change: Teleparty. With its new features and other streaming services integrated inside, you can still watch all those crappy reality TV shows you tuned into with your family during quarantine – even if you’ve since left.
What exactly is Teleparty?
The once Netflix-only extension has now been expanded to include HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney Plus, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. The extension, compatible with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera browsers, is completely free. See the article : Commissioner Mario Chavez: People over politics. The only thing you pay for is your streaming service of choice.
The premise is simple: One member of the watching party acts as the host by playing a show or movie and uses the Teleparty browser extension to get a shareable link. Anyone who clicks on that link will then be transported to a virtual streaming room. There’s even a chat feature so you feel like you’re still watching in the same room as your Survivor superfan brother.
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What devices support Teleparty?
Currently, the extension only works on laptop and desktop computers. If you have an HDMI converter, however, you can connect your laptop to your TV. To see also : Netflix investors brace for subscriber losses as the company works on long-term solutions. Currently, the extension is not compatible with iOS and Android devices, but Teleparty says an update will be coming soon.
Ready to host your teleparty? Here’s how to set it up.
Step 1: Download the Teleparty extension
You will first want to download the Teleparty extension from your Internet browser’s add-ons store. Note that Safari does not support the service, so you will have to resort to an alternative. For Chrome users, you can install the extension from the Google Chrome Store. On the same subject : Amazon Prime Video Named Best Value Streamer Amid Cost of Living. For Microsoft Edge, visit the Edge Web Store. Opera users, click here.
Click on “Install”. Your browser will then ask you to click Add on or Get to apply the extension. A browser restart may be required to use the service.
Step 2: Pin the Teleparty extension
Pinning the extension to your browser makes Teleparty easier to find and faster to access. On Chrome, click the puzzle piece icon/toggle in the upper right corner of your browser. Edge users should look for the star icon. Then pin the extension to the top by clicking the pin or star icon.
Opera users can open the Teleparty extension, click the tab and click Pin.
How to pin with Google Chrome browser
Step 3: Grant permission
Now give your browser permission to change the data on the websites you visit. This sounds much scarier than it actually is. You can read about Teleparty’s privacy policy here, but basically you give the extension access to your streaming services so it creates a synchronous video playback and chat experience across all participants.
Step 4: Select your streaming service(s)
Teleparty will now ask you to choose which streaming service you want to connect to. You can choose as many as you want or as few as one.
Step 5: Start streaming
Once you’ve signed up to your preferred streaming service, you’ll be asked to start the video you want to watch. There is no limit to how long the content must be.
Step 7: Creating a party
Finally, you are ready to invite people to the streaming party. Pause the video and click on the pinned Teleparty extension. You’ll see a prompt that says Create a teleparty, with the option to give yourself host control (meaning no one else in the room can play and pause the video), and a Start Party button.
If you know your friend is a chronic pauser who likes to pause and overanalyze every scene, make sure the control setting is green.
The button will turn green to signal that you are controlling the teleparty stream.
Step 8: Share and stream
After selecting Start the Party, fill out a link for you to copy and share. Hit the red Copy URL button so that the link is copied to your clipboard and paste it into your group chat or message app, etc.
As people join the teleparty, you’ll see their names and personal icons on the right.
From there, watch, chat and binge together from afar.
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Yes. Unless you’re watching on the same device as someone who has Teleparty, you’ll need to download the extension separately to join a party.
Up to 1,000 people can join your teleparty. Just make sure everyone has downloaded the browser extension to call in your invitation.
Teleparty is currently available in every country where Netflix is available. However, keep in mind that different countries have access to a different variety of shows and movies. So you may not be able to stream the same TV show as a friend from abroad.
