Google TV....??

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We have a Roku box that we use with our NetFlix account. Queue up the netflix that are available for online delivery and not have to wait for a DVD to show up.

Our only problem is that our broadband connection meets minimal requirements but we're also in the ancient era with a standard resolution analog set.
 
I'm keeping an eye out for the Boxee Box.

I currently run Boxee on my Apple TV, and while it is very nice, the hardware is underpowered. So, the possiblity of running Boxee and XBMC on a small, full featured set-top box is great.
 
This should be interesting, and is yet another platform that will use the open source ANDROID operating system.
 
I'm not sure that I get what the fuss is. There are already a lot of options for this.

My Samsung 55" LED TV already has a number of internet 'widgets' that I don't use. I use a PS3 for my Blu-Ray player and it has a full internet browser built in so no widgets are needed. Plus I use the TV as a 4th monitor on my computer. I can watch anything that's online from any of the networks or sites like Hulu in as high a def as they can stream. The viewing experience from this is very good. Plus my DirecTV HD DVR has VOD streaming from many sources.

What more will Google TV with it's own box deliver that I don't already have? These options seem available to anyone now.
 
Most DTV and Cable boxes currently have very rudimentary apps to show weather, sports, etc ... but they are slow and ugly looking.

Google/Android opens it up to support tens thousands of apps, very good web browser, flash, etc. Through it's open source nature, it will encourage developers to come up with innovative new ideas. What they have done in the phone market in the past year has been amazing, and I suspect this will be just as impressive.

Dish Network has already jumped on the bandwagon for Google TV/Android.

DTV just rolled out the excellent HR24 receiver, which has 3 tuners and works with remote H24 units. They're also working on a DirecTivo box, which keeps getting delayed. I suspect it'll be a while before DTV commits. I prefer DTV to Dish, and hope that they offer a Google alternative as well!

The cable company boxes have software that is absolutely terrible, IMO. Bare bones functionality.

It's probably good to leave the hardware vendors to make hardware, and someone else do handle the software.

In any case, it should be interesting to see how innovative this gets. Google tends to have a lot of surprises up their sleeves.

Mike
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
DTV just rolled out the excellent HR24 receiver, which has 3 tuners and works with remote H24 units.

The cable company boxes have software that is absolutely terrible, IMO. Bare bones functionality.
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The HR24 is the receiver I have. It's a nice one. I abandoned the cable company 15 years ago for DirecTV (I know because I'm getting a 15 year anniversary discount for 6 months).

I'm not sure why anyone would want cable anymore. It seems like more than half the houses where I live have dishes.
 
How did you get the HR24? They started appearing two weeks ago, and I thought they were only being sold in four test markets on the west coast? They're supposed to be everywhere in a couple weeks. I'm on a waiting list for one, too. Our old HR20 is getting tired :)

Mike
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
How did you get the HR24? They started appearing two weeks ago, and I thought they were only being sold in four test markets on the west coast? They're supposed to be everywhere in a couple weeks. I'm on a waiting list for one, too. Our old HR20 is getting tired :)

Mike
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I just bought a house and had my satellite moved 2 weeks ago. They first tried to give me a reconditioned HR20 that I refused to accept because it didn't have the features I wanted (transparent closed captioning and 100/400 hours of recording among others). I would have accepted the HR22 or HR23. They went back to their warehouse and when they came back it was with the HR24.
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
The cable company boxes have software that is absolutely terrible, IMO. Bare bones functionality.
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Ain't that the truth! I have FIOS about 4 weeks now and the FIOS box alone beats the snot out of any cable box! Much faster reaction time (doesn't take like 10 seconds to switch channels...:fire:), tons of good functionality too.

If the trees around my house were shorter, I'd have had a dish for at least 10 years now.
 
Paul N said:
If the trees around my house were shorter, I'd have had a dish for at least 10 years now.
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Have you ever had someone look at this? Unless you have very tall trees right up against your house, there is likely someplace on the roof where the dish can go.
 
The closest trees to our satellite location on the roof of our house are about 75-100' away. We had to switch from DirectTV (after 11 years) to Dish because DTV said they couldn't provide a signal from the HD satellite. Dish put one dish on the roof but the other one they had to put on a pole on the lawn, probably another 75-100' away from the trees.

We've gotten used to Dish, but liked the DTV DVR interface better. Actual service has been excellent from both.
 
Larry Peterson said:
Have you ever had someone look at this? Unless you have very tall trees right up against your house, there is likely someplace on the roof where the dish can go.
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Trees are 20 ft away and VERY tall. Even on the roof, I might need a 25 ft pole, possibly higher!

And to make matters worse, the satellite's orbit seems to be very low over the horizon.
 
Paul N said:
Trees are 20 ft away and VERY tall. Even on the roof, I might need a 25 ft pole, possibly higher!

And to make matters worse, the satellite's orbit seems to be very low over the horizon.
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Dish Network's new Eastern Arc setup with one dish getting signals from 61.5, 72.7 and 77 West longitude are pretty much straight South of CT and about 41 degrees up.

And, they do have the best DVRs. :p:p
 
Pat Murphey said:
Dish Network's new Eastern Arc setup with one dish getting signals from 61.5, 72.7 and 77 West longitude are pretty much straight South of CT and about 41 degrees up.

And, they do have the best DVRs. :p:p
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I live further up, most north-western part of Westchester County NY...and my house & backyard get the shade at 2 PM....just to show you how high the trees are!!

And .... just signed a 2 year contract with the FIOS crowd.
 
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