AT&T's OTT streaming television service DirecTV NOW has expanded its DVR features, making them available for all subscribers despite the continued "beta" status. The features are being made available to iOS and tvOS users first, though AT&T promises that Android, Roku, and Fire TV users will get access to the DVR and other changes in coming weeks. Joining the DVR is a new interface and more.
Online live television streaming service Sling TV has expanded Cloud DVR support, adding Chromecast, Chrome, and the Xbox One to the list of supported devices. As well, the company is also adding support for select smart TVs, enabling users to take advantage of the platform's DVR service. The support covers some older smart TV models, but new Samsung smart TV owners will be disappointed.
The team behind Tablo has a new model for cord-cutters, the Tablo Dual Lite. This over-the-air DVR is a relatively inexpensive offering that records OTA broadcasts picked up using an HDTV antenna. This particular model offers two OTA ATSC tuners, as well as support for both WiFi and wired Internet connections. The model works as a "whole-home" DVR rather than one that delivers video over HDMI.
Verizon customers using Fios Internet and TV service were given access to Netflix this week. Specifically those users with Multi-Room DVR Enhanced for Premium service - they were given said access, and were given said access with a single year free with the streaming service. Unlike most smart TV platforms, Verizon Fios users will find Netflix on a TV channel - in this case, that's channel 838.
Dish Network customers who have the company's Wally, Hopper, or Joey DVR will soon have access to Hands-Free TV via Google Assistant support. The company announced the new integration today, though it isn't yet available; Dish expects the feature to be available "in the coming months." Once it does arrive, customers with a supported DVR will be able to control the device using voice commands as an alternative to the remote.
Back when DVR first became a thing, the prospect of watching your favorite shows and fast forwarding through the commercials was indeed an exciting one. No one likes commercials, after all, which is part of the reason why services like Netflix have become so incredibly popular. Today Plex is taking that sort of DVR functionality one step further, implementing a new feature that will remove commercials from your recorded shows so you never see them in the first place.
TiVo can perhaps be considered the granddaddy of modern-day DVRs and set-top boxes, but it has been shoved to the sidelines by numerous rivals, including those from big names in the tech industry. Not one to go down without a fight, the company was rumored to be working on not just a more modern box but also a remote control with voice support. Those are no longer rumors now that the TiVo BOLT VOX has appeared, disappeared, and now reappeared on Amazon, ahead of whatever announcement TiVo may have in store.
Tablo has announced the launch of a new product for cord-cutters, the Tablo Dual DVR for recording over-the-air television. The Tablo DUAL builds upon the original Tablo Over-the-Air DVR the company previously released, though it comes with a smaller design and more features. Among other things, the Tablo Dual DVR includes 64GB of built-in storage, which Tablo says can be used to record up to 40 hours of high-definition videos.
Sling TV has announced the availability of its new Cloud DVR feature for subscribers accessing the service via an Amazon Fire, Amazon Fire Stick, or a Fire tablet. The service is an add-on subscription that tacks an extra five dollars onto a subscriber’s monthly rate. The DVR feature provides 50 hours of content storage and conflict-free recording.
When it came to home entertainment, a DVR was the thing to have. A DVR means being able to record shows while you’re away from home, being able to catch up on shows later on while you watch something else now, and being able to watch episodes even if the cable goes out. As with all things, though, times are changing and DVRs are no longer the hottest thing out there (for home entertainment, that is) -- it's Netflix.
TiVo has announced that it will be giving its BOLT something of a makeover, announcing the pricing and release details for the new BOLT+ today. The BOLT+ is similar in a lot of ways to the original BOLT, offering up support for 4K resolutions and features like QuickMode and SkipMode, but with this latest release, TiVo is stepping up its game a little bit.
Plex has added a DVR feature for recording shows available via cable and over-the-air broadcasts. The feature is available in a limited fashion as a beta initially, but Plex says it will be making the DVR function available in a future auto-update for Plex Pass users in the near future. The DVR function is being offered in partnership with SiliconDust and requires an HDHomeRun device to work. Those who are interested in trying it out can get the beta from Plex's forums.