Hulu Plus comes to Windows Phone, finally

By Saul Berenbaum May 6, 2013

The Windows Phone Store filled a big gap in its app selection this morning, with the Hulu Plus app. The app features a clean layout with Live Tile support for updates on your favorites, and runs on on Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G LTE networks. The app’s just like the non-mobile version, with all movies movies, TV shows, trailers, and everything from your own saved queues and favorites. The app requires premium subscription service, which gives you all the videos in HD with unlimited streaming.

Hulu Plus costs $8 a month, and has an impressive library of movies and TV. It’s important to note here that with Hulu Plus, some ads remain. Various ad-free kids shows are available (SpongeBob SquarePants and Nickelodeon fare is cited on the App’s download page), but overall, don’t expect an entirely ad-free experience from the service. One of our favorite places to start looking for movies on Hulu Plus is the Criterion Collection category. Titles from the company’s library typically run for $30 or $40 on disc, minimum, so for $8 a month, you can afford to seek out something a little bit different.

With this update, the Windows Phone Store can cross off one of its most requested apps, but it’s still way behind the iOS App Store and Google Play Store on overall app count, and especially on games. If Microsoft can cross a few more top-tier apps off of that list by the end of the summer, it’ll go a long way to keeping Windows Phone afloat through the next generation of smartphones.

We’ve previously reported on how Microsoft managed to attain 7.4 percent of the global smartphone marketshare last quarter, up from zero percent in the first quarter of 2012. Now it’s time to see if they can start the fall off with something just a bit more impressive, and Hulu Plus is definitely a step in the right direction.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Saul Berenbaum has been writing film and gaming reviews since college. Recently, he contributed to HardcoreDroid. Now he…

Mobile

The OnePlus 12 is the OnePlus phone I’ve been waiting for

A person holding the OnePlus 12.

Since it arrived, the OnePlus 12 has been sitting on a shelf, unused, behind my desk. Apart from a few days when I tested out the camera, battery, and performance, I haven't had a chance to really dig into the phone.

Don’t mistake this for indifference, though. I’ve been itching to use it for more than just those early few days, but due to various reasons, it hasn’t been possible until now. Was it worth the wait?
Why did it have to wait?

Mobile

5 phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 8

A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the back of the phone.

The Google Pixel 8 is a well-received Android-based smartphone. However, there are reasons why you might not choose it and opt for something else. Perhaps its 6.2-inch display does not meet your requirements, or its camera system does not match your expectations. It could also be possible that you would prefer a phone released in 2024 instead of one launched late last year.

If you’re not interested in buying the Google Pixel 8, several alternative phones may be more suitable for your needs. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S24 has the same-sized display as the Pixel 8 but with better internals. Alternatively, you could consider the OnePlus 12R, which offers a bigger display and better internals at a lower price. And that's just scratching the surface.

Mobile

Motorola is having a big sale on its foldable phones — from $500

Apps on the Motorola Razr Plus.

Foldable phones are making a comeback, and if you're interested in buying one as your next device, you should check out Motorola's ongoing sale. You can get the Motorola Razr 2023 for only $500, following a $200 discount on its original price of $700, or the Motorola Razr Plus 2023 for just $700, for savings of $300 on its sticker price of $1,000. We're not sure how much time is remaining before these foldable phone deals expire though, so it's highly recommended that you proceed with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on either of these bargains.
Motorola Razr 2023 -- $500, was $700

Motorola Razr Plus 2023 -- $700, was $1,000