Crackle's opening panorama has pages for featured content, movies, shows (TV), watchlists (favourites), and more (sign-in, settings, about). The first three of these show content from the Crackle database. Each page lists a few pieces of content, with the full listings available by tapping on "see all". Depending on your locale there will be 50+ movies and a similar number of TV shows (many with multiple episodes). The watchlists page offer a customisable watchlist (your own favourite content), plus recommended watchlists (pre-populated, curated watchlists). The 'about' page offers the option to sign into Crackle, which you must do in order to watch any of the content; fortunately there's a sign up option included within the app, so there no need to register through the Crackle website.
Editor's note: you can also log in via your Facebook account, but be aware that everything you watch could be posted to your timeline
Each piece of content gets its own page with overview information: content title, thumbnail image, rating, length, mini review and description. Tapping on the thumbnail kicks off playback, with the dedicated player making it easy to pause/play content, or to jump forward or backwards. Conveniently, if you exit from a piece of content before finishing it, the app will resume at that point when you return. The bottom toolbar offer options to pin the content to your Start Screen (useful for longer content pieces and TV shows with multiple episodes, that you're not going to complete in one go), share with friends (via social networks) and add to watch list (favourite).
The content in the Crackle app can also be found through the Crackle website. It is also syndicated to a number of third party services including YouTube and Hulu. However, if you are a Windows Phone user, the convenience of getting all of Sony Picture's and related companies "free to air" TV and movie content through a single app is hard to match.
The amount of content on offer is impressive and there should be something to match nearly everyone's tastes. TV sitcom content like Seinfield should have broad appeal, as should moviews like Pineapple Express and Snatch, but there's also cult content on offer, including a very broad range of anime. For obvious reasons most of the content is from a few years ago, or the further reaches of the back catalogue, but there are some notable exceptions (e.g. The Walking Dead) and even the older content includes some real gems (e.g. Snatch, Three Stooges, Moon) [Don't forget Ghost Busters! - Ed]. Also noteworthy is the original content commissioned specially for Crackle (e.g. Trenches and the Bannen Way).
The Crackle app offers an easy option for those looking for free video content. The app's implementation is relatively simple, and some additional features (e.g. search) would be welcome, but it does follow the Windows Phone style guide, and makes sensible use of standard platform features (pin to Start Screen) making it easier to get to your favourite content.
Marketplace description:
Finally, watch FREE movies on your Windows Phone. PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, BIG DADDY, JOE DIRT, LAYER CAKE, MR. DEEDS, PANIC ROOM, S.W.A.T., SNATCH and hundreds more: full-length, uncut and FREE. Plus, top rated TV series like SEINFELD.
Crackle is one of the fastest growing digital entertainment networks, offering quality movies and TV series from Columbia Pictures, Tri-Star, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Classics and more.
Crackle can be downloaded from the Windows Phone Marketplace for free. It is available in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.