Grab your popcorn: Netflix-style torrent app Popcorn Time is now on iOS

By Christian Brazil Bautista Published April 9, 2015

Popcorn Time iOS — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Popcorn Time, the controversial Netflix-style torrent streaming service, has just come out with an app for non-jailbroken iOS devices. In true Popcorn Time fashion, this release is not official, meaning you won’t find it in the App Store. While downloading it may not be straightforward, it only requires a few extra steps to have the app on your iPhone or iPad.

The new app is from the Popcorn Time fork www.popcorn-time.se, which is one of the most popular versions of the service. “For months we’ve been wrecking our bright brains on how we can make this happen. How can we bring our awesome Popcorn Time iOS app to users who don’t want to jailbreak their device? This was one hell of a challenge,” the group wrote in a blog post.

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“It took some time for them to figure this out and develop it, but now we’re thrilled to announce that its ready.”

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Even though Popcorn Time routinely raises debates on piracy and copyright infringement, the service is gaining popularity, something that is sure to continue with its new release. According to an interview with Wired, Popcorn Time has millions of users and enables as many as 100,000 downloads per day.

Popcorn Time’s success is sure to merit protest among movie and TV production houses. An anonymous developer involved with the service said that they plan to sidestep litigation by trading in their current BitTorrent streaming method for a peer-to-peer based system. Nonetheless, Popcorn Time has not totally escaped persecution; its previous domain, Time4Popcorn.eu, was revoked by EURid, a website domain registrar from Belgium.

The iOS app may just be the start of an overhaul for the Popcorn Time service. In its blog post, the group revealed plans to create a sort of underground app store. The service, which may be integrated into the Popcorn Time iOS app, will feature apps that have not been approved by Apple.

Downloading the app requires connecting an iOS device to a PC with iTunes installed. Right now, the app can’t be loaded onto an iPhone or iPad with a Mac. However, Popcorn Time promised an update in two weeks.

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Christian Brazil Bautista

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Christian Brazil Bautista is an experienced journalist who has been writing about technology and music for the past decade…

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