Slashdot Mirror
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.
>> 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?
>> Over-the-air TV
If you've cut the cord, then yes. Over-the-air switched to an all-digital, hi-def signal many years ago. It's how I watch PBS, NFL football and the occasional college game. (My wife also watches some of the crappy network morning shows.) Along with Netflix and a little pirating, it helps keep our family's monthly TV costs under $10.
Get the Channels app and a Silicon Dust HD Homerun.
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.
I'm not even 40 and I have two TVs in the house that a "set-top" box could sit on top of. One I received in college, the other I bought myself shortly after. Neither are my main TV anymore because they aren't 1080, but they are still in good condition and use. About 15 years old tops.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
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).
OMFG, that's so innovative and new!
"Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
After paying $40 for an antenna to receive live TV, wouldn't you need to pay $750 more to TiVo to be able to record live TV? That's $200 for the DVR and either $150 per year or $550 one time to make it work.
Well, not necessarily. I got my series 3 HD TiVo used with Lifetime Subscription for $100 about five years ago. You can transfer the lifetime subscription with a call to TiVo support. Similar prices are common on Craigslist for newer models like the Roamio and Premiere. Spare parts are readily available from WeaKnees, and TiVos are about the same difficulty to service as a desktop PC.
I paid $140 for a Tablo instead. Currently paying $5/mo for the guide, but they off a $50/yr or $150 lifetime subscription as well.
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..