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“Stream thousands of movies instantly to your TV.”
“Setup is a breeze.”
“Open the door to a whole new world of entertainment.”
DIRECTV’s video on demand service sounds great! Only one problem. My router is way over there, and I’m not crazy about running an ethernet cable across the room…or down the hall for that matter. No worries. Drop some cash on a wireless adapter…problem solved!
The Wireless-N adapter offered up by DIRECTV is a hundred bucks; and if you don’t have one of those money trees, then that’s another problem. There are a few less expensive options that offer the same quality and streaming capability as the one endorsed by DIRECTV. Of the choices I found while lurking around on the satellite forums, the best all-around option based on price and reviews appears to be the TRENDnet Wireless N Gaming Adapter (Model TEW-647GA).
SETTING UP YOUR ADAPTER. One of the common issues regardless of which adapter you use seems to be setup. But I found this process to be a breeze. My TRENDnet came with an AC power cord, ethernet cable, and a setup CD. I tried using the Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) method; but after a couple of failed attempts, I used the setup CD. The directions that come with the adapter are perfect. Take your laptop with you to the room with your HD DVR. Setup involves plugging your adapter into the laptop via the ethernet cable, powering up the adapter, and following the TRENDnet setup menu.
Once setup completed, I removed the ethernet cable from the laptop and plugged it into the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR (I’m using model HR22). Next I pressed the MENU button on my DVR remote, chose “Parental, Fav’s & Setup”, and then “System Setup”. Go to “Network Setup” and choose “Connect Now”. This will prompt your DVR to begin accessing the VOD menu. You’ll get a message that says something about taking 24 hours to complete the process. Regardless, there should be VOD offerings to begin watching immediately.
So far, my experience has been great. Streaming quality is excellent although that’s helped by a buffer. It’s important to point out that I’m using a cable connection piped through a Wireless-N router; but if you have an opportunity to use dual-band wireless router (like the Linksys E3000), you’ll better off in the long run especially if you have simultaneous usage across your home network.
Now go watch something. I’ve got Hot Tub Time Machine queued up.
Popularity: 1% [?]
DIRECTV’s multi-room HD DVR service isn’t new news, but it is coming to a living room…bedroom…media room (you get the idea) near you. The service is currently available to the public in a beta testing phase for those with HD DVR receivers that are already networked.
DIRECTV.com
According to the DIRECTV website, multi-room viewing (MRV) provides a single, combined playlist of all your recorded programs on any connected TV. You can also record and delete shows from any TV connected to an HD receiver, not just the one connected to the HD DVR.
The folks over at DBStalk.com have been testing the service for several months now, and provided their readers with a First Look (pdf link) of the service with some details of their findings and some tips and tricks for future beta testers.
The kicker is that DIRECTV plans to charge for the service. Hey. It’s a great service, but not one worth paying for in my opinion. Regardless of what I think, keep the enhancements coming, DIRECTV. Especially to Video On Demand.
[Hat Tip: DBStalk.com]
Popularity: 10% [?]
No sooner than I compare Blockbuster & Netflix video on demand pros and cons, Amazon throws a curveball in the whole thing by bringing its library to viewers via the Roku digital video player. Yes. The very same used by Netflix VOD users.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that it will offer customers the ability to instantly purchase, rent and watch digital movies and TV episodes from its popular video service, Amazon Video On Demand
, via the Roku Digital Video Player. Beginning in early 2009, the Roku Player, which currently supports only the Netflix service, will offer access to Amazon Video On Demand’s more than 40,000 commercial-free movies and television shows, enabling Roku customers for the first time to watch new release movie titles instantly.
The service is already available to Amazon VOD users on other stand-alone devices such as a specially-equipped TiVo DVR
The great thing about Amazon’s VOD service is that new release movies are available the same day that they are released on DVD that are not currently available on the Roku Player. The service boasts instant playback with no downloading, no waiting and no subscription fee. The library includes over 40,000 movies and TV shows that stream instantly to a quality consistent with your bandwidth. And as I mentioned in the Blockbuster v Netflix comparo, the Roku player will connect to any television set using HDMI, component video, composite or S-video connections.
So, now we sit and wait while Amazon dangles this carrot in front of our faces. In the meatime Macworld attendees wait for an announcement regarding an improved Apple TV, and Blockbuster has a small window of opportunity to reinvent its offering. Better hurry.
Popularity: 17% [?]
Are you kidding me? Apparently I’m a little behind the curve on this news. Last night, my DIRECTV DVR list included a message regarding the recording of Pay Per View movies to my DVR. The message reads as follows:
Effective April 15, 2008, DVR recordings of PPV movies will be available for 24 hours of unlimited viewing after purchase. Major movie studios have required that satellite and cable providers alike may no longer allow their customers to view these recordings for longer than 24 hours. During the 24 hour viewing period, you will continue to enjoy all of your DVR features such as pause and rewind.
Um. Why on earth would anyone purchase a movie and record it to their DVR when in the same timeframe, they could hit up Blockbuster Online or Netflix for a movie…and then keep that movie for days without late fees? Luckily the movies I have stored on my DVR already won’t be deleted.
I can see it now. No more fast forwarding through commercials.
Popularity: 58% [?]
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