Area vs HLS Stream Player
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Area
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The Area-Unit Converter application converts the value of the input area (square meters, square yards, etc.) into 15 units. The unit to be converted is square meters [m ^ 2], square feet [ft ^ 2], square yards [yd ^ 2], and so on. Also, you can convert "jou", "tsubo", "se" and so on which are units of area unique to Japan. In addition, we can also compare with the size of Tokyo Dome which is compared well in Japan. Simply entering the area value and selecting the area unit with the unit selection button, the converted value in 15 units will be displayed. Units supported by this application are as follows. γUnit of Areaγ Square Metre, Are, Hectare, Square Kilometre, Square Feet, Square Inch, Square Mile, Acre, Square Yard, Jou (η³), Tsubo(εͺ), Se(η), Tan(ε), Chou(ηΊ), Tokyo Dome In this application square miles are calculated at 2589988.110336 square meters. In addition, 1 jou(η³) is calculated at 1.62 square meters.
HLS Stream Player
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This app plays HLS (.m3u8) streams that are protected with HTTP Basic authentication -- the kind of stream a private or office server provides. You register the URL of your own server. The app ships with no stations and no stream list of its own. FEATURES - Register several streams and switch between them with one tap. - Works with streams that require a user name and password, over http or https. - Background playback. Audio keeps playing while you use other apps or with the screen off, and you can control it from the Lock Screen and Control Center. - The track forward and back controls on headphones and car audio switch to the next and previous stream. - Connection Test verifies the URL and the credentials before you try playback. - Import and export a settings file, so one person can configure the streams and everyone else imports them instead of typing URLs. - Automatic reconnection when the network drops, with a backoff of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 seconds. - Send the audio to an AirPlay speaker or a Bluetooth device from the output button on the main screen. - Give each stream its own artwork for the Lock Screen with an image URL, in the stream editor or the settings file. The app icon is used when none is set. - Streams with video show the picture on the main screen, and fill the screen when you turn the iPhone sideways. With a display connected by an HDMI cable, the picture appears on that display only. Streams without authentication can also show the picture on an Apple TV chosen from the output button; streams with authentication send only the audio. - Start and stop a stream from the Shortcuts app, from an automation such as connecting to your car over Bluetooth, or by asking Siri. Include the app name, for example "Play Office Radio with StreamPlayer". WHAT IT DOES NOT DO - In the background or with the screen locked, only the audio plays. - No offline playback and no recording. - One stream at a time. On http streams the user name and password are sent in near-plain text, so use them only on a private network. The app shows a warning when you do.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: HLS Stream Player at Free against Area's $1.99. HLS Stream Player also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 8 months). Area's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 27.0). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
HLS Stream Player is free to download; Area costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Area ships an update every 8 months, HLS Stream Player daily. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Area | HLS Stream Player |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free β better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Daily β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod β better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 β better | 27.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 0 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kei Suefuji | Futoshi Ebata |
In-app purchases
Area
No in-app purchases
HLS Stream Player
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Area free?
Is HLS Stream Player free?
Do Area or HLS Stream Player have ads?
Which is updated more often, Area or HLS Stream Player?
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