As you might recall, I signed up for the DirecTV Now service just a day or two after it came on-line. For a short time, they offered 100 channels for $35. Sadly, that special is now over (100 Channels is now $60), but I am guaranteed that low price for as long as I have the service.
My main streaming device is a Roku box, but DirecTV Now is not available for it (it will be sometime in the near future). So I used my seldom-used Chromecast device. However, it doesn’t use a remote control. Instead, one uses an Android tablet to control the device and to select and change channels. Well, that did not work out well. The two devices did not work well together about 35% of the time. Mostly it was the software on the tablet that would fail to connect to the Chromecast.
So I decided to spend $40 to get an Amazon Fire stick, similar to the one above. Fortunately, Amazon just came out with a new version of the stick that includes Alexa voice commands. So, here are the results of my first week with the device:
After plugging it in, it was immediately apparent that the picture quality of the Fire Stick was far superior to that of the Chromecast. The difference in quality was huge! I also compared it to my Roku using both Amazon and Netflix programming. The quality of the the picture was just slightly better on the Fire Stick, but it is not really a fair comparison since the Roku device is a few years old.
As far as DirecTV Now, the picture quality is excellent on all the channels I’ve checked. From ESPN to Turner Classic Movies, the pictures are just great! I view them at 1080P on my 50” Sony TV. Old movies have never looked so good. I checked out other channels also and was quite pleased with the results.
Moving from channel to channel is easy using the on-screen DirecTV guide. It does take about 15-20 seconds for the picture to begin playing, but that is not unreasonable considering I use the Internet to receive all these channels. And is does work 100% of the time when compared to the Chromecast/Android tablet combination. The bottom line for me is I will keep DirecTV going as it has all the channels I will ever watch.
As for the Fire Stick, I really like it. It took me a couple of days to figure out how it all worked, but have got it pretty much nailed now. As for Alexa, the voice commands work flawlessly, so far. I have asked for titles of specific TV shows and movies as well as lists of movies, like “Clint Eastwood Movies.” I am very impressed with how fast it works and its ability to deliver my commands on screen.
If there is a downside to the Fire Stick, it is its organization of program listings on the screen (this excludes DirecTV Now). It is a jumbled mess, when compared to the Roku. ..even its own Amazon Prime content. Thank God for Alexa to help me find what I want to watch.
Our first two news items talk about streaming TV…what is here now and what is coming. You might find them quite informative if you are thinking of “cutting the cable.” As for the rest of this newsletter, there is good information here to help you with all your devices. So be sure and check them out. -JRC
Tech News and Opinions
Despite glitches, AT&T’s DirecTV Now hits 200,000 subscribers in its first month
AT&T’s new live TV streaming service DirecTV Now has been off to a shaky start in terms of performance, but that hasn’t stemmed the flow of sign-ups
Live streaming services to replace cable on the market or coming soon
2017 promises a host of new entrants that could ultimately take the crown as the best streaming TV service out there.
Samsung answers burning Note 7 questions, vows better batteries
During a press conference Sunday, Samsung said two separate battery defects caused both the original batch of Galaxy Note 7 phones and the replacement units to overheat.
The biggest barrier to Windows 10 success is still Windows 7
The fate of Windows 10 lies in the hands of users that are still in love with Windows 7.
Every Chromebook released in 2017 will support Android apps
You currently have to be picky about your choice of Chrome OS devices if you want to run Android apps, but you won't have to be quite so choosy going forward.
Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks
How to Tweak Your Tiles in Windows 10
Whether you love tiles or not, you can find ways to customize and work them so it's easier to access your favorite apps.
The new Google Voice launches, bringing a modern look, group chat, photo sharing & more
Largely, the update is about giving the product a more modern look-and-feel, after having not received a major upgrade in years
The Best Cheap Laptops of 2017
You don't have to spend a fortune—even a small one—on your next PC. If you need a laptop for basic computing, these some of our top performers, and most of them ring up for less than $300.
Hands-On with Microsoft's New Books Experience
Microsoft is adding a new e-book store and reading experience to Windows 10 with the Creators Update. Here’s a quick peek at how this will work.
How to Create an Anonymous Email Account
The Internet doesn't make it easy to go completely anonymous. Here's how you can stay hidden even when emailing.
Mobil Computing
Apple just released iOS 10.2.1, here's what you need to know
The update's release notes indicate that it includes "bug fixes and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad." No new features.
Improve Safari performance with Safari Unleashed tweak
With Safari being the stock iOS browser, most owners of iPhones and iPads chose it as their daily driver. It might have a lot of features, but that doesn’t mean there’s not room for improvement.
Opinion: Don't buy a new smartphone right now, you'll regret it if you do
Mobile World Congress kicks off at the end of February, and we're expecting a whole crop of new smartphones that'll hit the market in the weeks and months that follow.
Microsoft is bringing Cortana to the Android lock screen
It’s a new feature that’s clearly designed to replace Google’s own quick access, and to convince Android users to switch to Cortana.
How to fix slow Android app installations
Every so often the installation of Android apps slow to a terrible crawl. When this occurs, things get very frustrating very fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment