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Sling TV Accidentally Reveals Its Set-Top Box For Cord Cutters (engadget.com)
The Sling TV team has inadvertently spilled the beans on its previously leaked media hub for cord cutters. Zatz Not Funny discovered a briefly available landing website for the AirTV Player, and it's clearer than ever that Sling (read: Dish) is catering to those determined to leave cable and satellite behind. From a report on Engadget: The set-top box will revolve around a home screen that merges over-the-air TV tuning with not only Sling TV, but Netflix -- you won't have to jump between apps or devices to watch both your local news and the latest season of Black Mirror. And since this is an Android device (notice the "G" button on the remote), there's a good chance that other online services will be available as well. It's not certain how much the AirTV Player will cost or when you can get it in your hands. However, a launch at CES in January seems likely given that Dish tends to have a major presence at the trade show. It could be a big deal if there aren't any rude surprises in the pricing or execution, though. Until now, you've typically needed a separate over-the-air TV tuner device (like Nuvyyo's Tablo DVR) if you wanted local live programming wrapped in a slick interface.
Other than an easier way to snag OTA content, I'm not sure what this box offers. Most new TV's, home theater receivers, and blu-ray devices already offer a plethora of streaming options built right in (or you can just pick up a Roku or similar device). It would have to be an extremely compelling "experience" at an even more compelling price point to get any traction.
Is that still a thing?
So, wow I wait for Sony to do this on the PS4, or come out with a cheaper box that just streams PS Vue, Netflix and hooks into local channels.
Sling isn't very good. But, they've got a good idea...
>> over-the-air TV tuning with not only Sling TV, but Netflix
Sounds like all the "smart TVs" I've been buying for a while. What's the need for this third-party box then?
Dish had it first...fyi. :-)
When we first decided to cut the cord, this is EXACTLY what we were looking for and could not find. I'm tired of switching between some devices for some content and then other devices for others. The big limitation of this device is it's proprietary, not open to developers, and won't play the gobs of Apple content that I have purchased and share on my home network. What I really want is an Apple TV with an over-the-air tuner. Apple won't do anything innovative any more so fat chance of seeing that.
Why do they call it a "set-top" box when nobody has called it a TV set let alone built one you could set a box on top of in at least 40 years?
You can use the TIVO Bolt (not Bolt+) or the Roamio OTA with an OTA antenna. It also connects to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, etc. and allows you to search for content across all of these platforms. In fact, you can setup a OnePass that will list available streaming options for a show across the variety of content providers, as well as record any broadcast of that show and present it all for you in one place.
Until now, you've typically needed a separate over-the-air TV tuner device (like Nuvyyo's Tablo DVR) if you wanted local live programming wrapped in a slick interface.
What, like the Freeview+ box I've had for two years, which has BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Wuaki, YouTube, Curzon and several other on-demand services that I've never heard of installed on it, as well as being able to receive over-the-air channels?
catering to those determined to leave cable and satellite behind.
I don't know about the US, but "cord-cutting" doesn't mean discarding satellite on the other side of the pond. We've got Freesat here, 200+ channels free-to-air beamed down from space.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
That is there biggest downfall
Yeah, my Roku devices have done this kind of integration for years via cross service search.
Mine used to, but voice search always only worked on a subset of apps ("channels" in Roku-speak), and now works on even less. For example, if the match is for Amazon prime, it takes you to the Amazon Prime app, but once there, you have to search AGAIN to find the show it supposedly found in the first place. It used to take you straight to the show.
Until this shit gets sorted, I'm not spending more money on these devices.
If this thing doesn't record then it can go fuck itself. Paying a la cart for multiple services is bad enough, but if you can't even record anything to trim out the ever growing number of commercials then fuck them.
I just love how some OTA apps now make you watch more commercials than if you just paid an MVPD for the shit---and not only that IT'S THE SAME FUCKIN FOUR OR FIVE COMMERCIALS CONSTANTLY ARRRRGGGHHHH.
It would have to be an extremely compelling "experience" at an even more compelling price point to get any traction.
Compared to the "experience" offered on most TVs, home theater receivers and blu ray devices that is a pretty low bar to clear. I have a smart TV, Apple TV, Roku, and blu-ray and all of their streaming experiences are pretty much terrible.
I'm also still waiting for someone to have a well designed stateful universal remote that actually knows what state the device it is controlling is. Virtually all remotes currently are one way remotes that have to guess at what the device they are controlling is doing. I have a Logitech Harmony and the fact that it is stateless is more than a little annoying. I'm constantly fixing things when it turns off a device that was supposed to be on (or vice-versa).
I have a swift kick to the groin ready and waiting for whoever failed to implement deep linking in that search app. Grumble search twice grumble.
Cordcutters already have whatever box they want. The last thing they want is another one.
Congrats on sticking it to The Man but you're still just wasting your time with nonsense any way you slice it.
Cut the cord in a much more meaningful fashion. You'll be better off for it.
OMFG, that's so innovative and new!
"Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
Wrong, Tivo had it first.
I prefer uTorrent with my new.showrss.info account and 5 bucks for a VPN.
It downloads everything automatically without intervention.
It has everything and I don't need any boxes, dishes or Netflix/hulu memberships.
You can do all of this with an HDHomeRun, which will play stand-alone on many smart TV's, and has apps for practically every platform you can think of. Combine it as you will with services of your choice, and put it anywhere in your house, not just connected to the TV. This is especially useful for cutting the total cable length, which can help pull in fringe channels.
If you're the tinkering type, you can also do the same thing with a RPi running TVHeadend and a couple of USB tuners. This offers mongo power features, but here in north america the cost of the two tuners is more than a HD HomeRun, now that the kWorld is no longer available.
Unless it can run a Plex client ima not interested, k thx bye.
Uhh, you don't have to "jump between devices or apps" on a Tivo either... Rather, you get the shows listed in your main program layout, then once you play, sure, it would have to launch netflix.. I highly doubt this is any different..
What are you smoking? Comcast and Turner have horrrrrible customer service ratings due to thier knowledge they have a monopoly in most areas they operate. And they have tons of monthly reoccurring fees. Your avaerage triple play with boost in our area has your cable bill over $200....
Conversely the SlingTV app has horrible reviews about messed up glitchy streaming content. Otherwise I would have already signed up and streamed from my Xbox one.