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Now TV now on iPhone and iPad, still nowt for Galaxy S3

Sky's new on-demand thingummy Now TV has arrived on the iPhone and iPad -- but there's still no sign of it on the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Nick Hide Managing copy editor
Nick manages CNET's advice copy desk from Springfield, Virginia. He's worked at CNET since 2005.
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Nick Hide
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Sky's new on-demand thingummy Now TV has arrived on the iPhone and iPad -- but there's still no sign of it on the Samsung Galaxy S3, despite the phone embarrassingly appearing in an ad for the service.

Now TV lets you watch films from Sky Movies either on a £15 monthly pass, or on a pay per play basis for £3.49 for most new films, and from 99p for classics. The apps let you stream video over 3G or Wi-Fi.

Sky boasts that you can pick from over 600 movies from all the big studios: Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros and Universal. There are "up to five" new films every week.

The app is already on Android's Google Play store, but only for the following devices:

  • HTC Desire and HTC Desire HD
  • HTC Desire S
  • HTC Incredible
  • HTC Sensation (both Gingerbread and ICS)
  • Samsung Galaxy S
  • Samsung Galaxy S2 (both Gingerbread and ICS)
  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus (ICS)

It's odd that it's not available for the S3 or HTC One X, because Sky's Sky Go app is very similar and works on both.

"Although the Sky Go and Now TV apps have similarities, there (are) also a few significant differences which prevent the Now TV app functioning correctly on the Samsung Galaxy S3," a Now TV spokesman explained on the service's forum. "Rest assured our developers are working diligently to get the app working as it should on more handsets including the Galaxy S3."

More Sky channels will be added to Now TV over the coming months. I'd expect Sky Sports to be added in time for the start of the Premier League season on 18 August, with Sky 1 and Sky Atlantic added soon after.

While I wouldn't personally pay £15 per month for a movie subscription -- even if it is a much better selection than Netflix or Lovefilm -- I'd definitely be interested in a standalone Sky Atlantic deal, particularly if it was about £5. I strongly suspect it'll be bundled with Sky 1, Sky Arts and a load of other stuff I don't care about for £15, although that's a complete guess.

Are you getting your Sky on your iPad? Bummed it's still not on the S3? The sky's the limit in the comments box, and on our stratospheric Facebook page.