TV options/no directv maybe

[gomer pyle]

Comcast is supposed to run service to my house next week(keep in my fingers crossed) for internet. We currently have direct but don't watch TV that often. With over $100 a month bill we are looking at other options. We don't watch sports period. Its mostly Disney, hallmark, history, and discovery channels. We have a couple of shows(ncis, ncis la, etc..) that we like to watch but dont care if its that exact night and we have a 4 year old. I don't really unstand how roku or any of those work or what I need. I plan to get chrome cast to do YouTube videos but I'm lost from there. Tell me what I need and how they work.
Thanks and happy new year

 

edit: i don't have internet at home yet and can only look at stuff on my phone so i was unable to do the research i needed/wanted to do. i finally got a little time on a pc at work and found this site to explain a little more about the different devises(i didn't know that roku was a devise and not a service)

 

http://techforluddites.com/streaming-media-players-overview/

i still have to do more research on the different services but thought i would put this up for anyone else thinking about doing this

Edited January 2, 2015 by gomer pyle

[lunarpowered]

Chromecast is awesome if used with an Android device.

You may want to add Google TV and Android Fire TV to your list of things to check out:

http://youtu.be/TNOsB8tRmWU

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-streaming-media-player/dp/B00CX5P8FC

[10-Ring]

Do a search, this topic comes up about once per month here and there is a lot of good information out there.

[runco]

I made the switch to outdoor antenna 18 mos ago, and have not regretted it.  I use my Amazon prime to stream movies on my large TV, and honestly I have not missed much cable TV at all.  I sure don't miss the monthly bill.  I am guessing I have saved close to $1800 which may explain several guns that I bought in 2014!

[btq96r]

Check these threads, then come back with any questions you have.

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/84318-anyone-use-a-roku-stick/?hl=roku

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/84195-looking-for-a-replacement-for-cable-tv/?hl=roku

[gomer pyle]

I have read most of the threads(and just reread them). They tell me opinions on what to get but not how any of them work. ie, if I want to watch the most recent ncis episode which service? Are they all mostly the same thing or are some tv show based and some movie? I know utube will get little man cartoons and apps will get some or most shows.

[btq96r]

I have read most of the threads(and just reread them). They tell me opinions on what to get but not how any of them work. ie, if I want to watch the most recent ncis episode which service? Are they all mostly the same thing or are some tv show based and some movie? I know utube will get little man cartoons and apps will get some or most shows.

 

Roku/Apple TV/Google Chromecast/Whatever Amazon calls their service are all sort of the same thing, with some minor differences.  They have apps that are either free like YouTube and SkyNews, or you pay for, like Netflix and Hulu Plus.  I like my Roku because I can stream other content through it over my network or USB connection.

 

For recent TV shows, if you can catch it when it airs, all you need is an OTA antenna.  For watching it after it comes out, you probably need Hulu Plus.  Also HBO Go, Watch ESPN, and all the Disney channel stuff for your kid needs some kind of subscription, usually through a cable company.  Netflix also has a bunch of kid shows, so that is worth the money for you and him.

[2.ooohhh]

I have read most of the threads(and just reread them). They tell me opinions on what to get but not how any of them work. ie, if I want to watch the most recent ncis episode which service? Are they all mostly the same thing or are some tv show based and some movie? I know utube will get little man cartoons and apps will get some or most shows.

In this case the easiest way to explain Netflix, and Hulu+, are to consider them digital video libraries. Just like local libraries in your city and county they may each have a dictionary on the shelves, but only one may have a copy of the latest bestselling fiction novel. Joining these two examples are relatively cheap for the amount of content on their shelves, but not EVERYTHING you want to watch may be contained within them. They are to be considered a "good start", some are ad free(Netflix) others are ad "supported"(hulu+).

 

What are your other options for material you want to watch not in one of the base services?

 

1)Rent- There are options to subscribe to content direct from providers, such as HBO GO. They will often only have premium content from that provider, many major sports also fall into this category with the providers being the leagues.(see MLB 'at bat') There are also rental of many new movies available through digital stores such as Vudu, Google Play, and iTunes.

 

2)Purchase digitally- There are options to purchase content much like a local bookstore. It will be pricey by comparison but you will own it, it will essentially always be on your digital shelves. It will typically be commercial free and possibly available in multiple qualities. Examples of digital content stores are Google Play, iTunes, ect.

 

3)"OTA" (over the air)- Think of over the air as free promotional copies of books constantly being throw at you from the heavens. If you have long enough arms(antenna) and live close enough to a broadcaster you can catch these free but you will need to watch them live, unless you add a DVR to record them when you aren't watching. The best DVR(in terms of simple, and reliable) for this IMHO is the tivo romio but they are pricy($499 with lifetime service) which only works out if you watch a lot of broadcast television.

 

4) Purchase/Rent/Borrow physical media- Not often a great option but in one to keep in mind. In my case my wife wanted to watch 4 seasons of a show that wasn't available anywhere digitally. I found the box sets used at a local store(McKays) purchased and later sold them on ebay. It ended up costing us around $6 per season and she got to watch them at her own pace. We've also occasionally rented from redbox.

 

5) Steal- I'm not going to beat around the bush nor deny ever doing it but I won't go into depth here on how to do it for yourself. There have always been providers who were "less than willing" to release content in a timely manner even though they had thousands of fans standing "in line" with hands full of cash offering/asking/screaming to pay for said content.(I'm looking at you HBO!) Legalities/morals aside you can find content through the internet, but I highly recommend that you thoroughly exhaust all avenues above first, content producers do spend large budgets producing many of these shows/movies and they and all their employees deserve to get paid for all their hard work.

 

BTW- you may have noticed I left Amazon out of all my examples, it's a great source for content but bad example since it's essentially a content library, that also sells/rents digital content, as well as selling physical media, and producer of original content.

 

 

Where to get the show depends on it's age, what entity owns the rights, and what entity has paid for it to be available in their library recently. In some cases a show will be available on 3 major services all at the same time. In other cases it's more challenging b/c one provider might have an exclusive agreement for a show, or it may not be currently available digitally at all.

 

One online "card catalog" if you will is www.canistream.it though it occasionally has a few errors here and there due to content providers not reporting correctly.

Edited January 6, 2015 by 2.ooohhh

[GlockSpock]

I'm selling an Apple TV 3 in the classifieds here for $60 shipped. It was a great device but no longer fills my requirements as I am moving away from Apple. It is just a personal preference thing. I like the hackability/customization that I can have with Android.

 

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/84738-keurig-b200-apple-tv-3/

 

In terms of usability, Apple TV 3 is great.

[GlockSpock]

By the way, my wife and I have not had "cable/satellite" since we've got married and moved in together 2.5 years ago. We use Hulu/Netflix/Amazon Prime. We typically will use Hulu and Netflix sporadically. Get Netflix for a month, cancel it, wait a few months, get it again. You can typically watch all the "good things" in that amount of time and then wait for more things to be added.

 

Then, rent or buy anything that you cannot find somewhere else. I think, compared to paying for service, you'd find you might enjoy only purchasing/renting the things you want to watch. 

[NextExit]

Here's the solution.  Found this on Craigslist... Free TV!!! Yup, free movies, free sports, free PPV, even free porn! :stunned: All you need is an internet connection.

 

http://nwga.craigslist.org/for/4847920687.html

 

Gotta be a scam.  That phone number on the box is a Bronx/Queens/Brooklyn area code yet it's listed in NW Georgia. :squint:

Anyone want to take a $200 gamble?

[2.ooohhh]

Here's the solution.  Found this on Craigslist... Free TV!!! Yup, free movies, free sports, free PPV, even free porn! :stunned: All you need is an internet connection.

 

http://nwga.craigslist.org/for/4847920687.html

 

Gotta be a scam.  That phone number on the box is a Bronx/Queens/Brooklyn area code yet it's listed in NW Georgia. :squint:

Anyone want to take a $200 gamble?

 

 

They just don't inform you that all the content is pirated. You don't have to charge very much if you're giving away stolen stuff. :yuck: