Digistream HD. Can this be legit?
My dad wants to buy one of these and asked me to look into it and I just can't believe what I'm seeing. You can see for yourself at http://www.digistreamhd.com/. I watched the video (also available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CwyX1IAcAE) and at first i figured it was like an expensive roku or chromecast - you know.. the type of device that can only access common streaming content. Hulu, netflix, amazon, pandora, etc.
But they are advertising any TV show, any movie ever, even ones in theaters or before they are on DVD, premium subscribe only content like HBO TV shows, etc.
How can this be legal or possible? If these claims are correct, (and I consider that a very big IF) then my best guess is that it is accessing torrents and playing them live after buffering the first X minutes of something. I literally can find nothing about the legality of this on the web, just a bunch of mostly positive reviews on Amazon. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Note: I did some due diligence and found these two posts, both old and neither seem to match up with the claims that are made in the video linked above.
Thanks to the new casting feature you are able to watch all Yelo Play content on your tv screen, also when it’s not connected to a digicorder or digibox. You simply need a Google Chromecast to stream it to the big screen.
What else is possible?
Via any network in Belgium and in all EU countries:
• Watch live TV on over 80 channels
• Consult the TV guide (up to 2 weeks ahead and 1 week back) and manage your recordings.
• Switch seamlessly between your smartphone, tablet or PC and, via ‘My TV’, continue where you left off.
• Request films and series from Play or Play More (for Play and Play More subscribers)
• Watch up to 7 days back with Replay TV (for Play and Play More subscribers)
Note
• If you are watching via 3G or 4G, you are using mobile data.
• When you stream Yelo Play content via Chromecast to the big screen, it uses wifi.
• You can watch your recordings from the last 2 months via Yelo Play app. This is only possible when using Yelo Play on your home network and for recordings from 25 channels.
What do you need?
• Digital TV and internet from Telenet
• Your Telenet login & password
General:
• The Yelo Play app is only available for customers who have at least a Telenet internet subscription and digital television.
• The number of screens on which you can watch digital TV simultaneously is limited. Consult the terms of use on telenet.be/algemenevoorwaarden.
• Yelo Play is available in all EU countries. Recordings and specific films, series or tv shows are only available on a Telenet internet connection. For more info consult: telenet.be/yelo.
• You can watch Play, Play More & Play Sports (live, recording or on demand), on up to two devices at the same time per extra package, on a maximum of 5 devices.
• Replay TV, films, series and extra theme channels are exclusively for Play and Play More subscribers. Certain channels might not have replay-rights for certain films, series or tv shows (see replay icon).
• Play Sports channels are exclusively for Play Sports subscribers.
Apple TV 4K: From £179, Apple
4K capable? Yes
HDR? Yes
Voice remote? Yes
Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime? Both
Games and other apps? Wide selection
The strengths of the Apple TV 4K box include Dolby Atmos sound on compatible systems as well as 4K and HDR. When 4K content became available to buy or rent, Apple not only set the prices the same as HD but upgraded any purchases already made in HD to the higher-resolution format. The Apple interface is particularly attractive and includes a useful TV app which remembers what you’ve been watching and stores your place in the episode you’ve reached, with programmes from multiple sources.
There’s little in the way of free content. Subscriptions to Amazon Prime and Netflix bring extensive libraries, and of course catch-up services are available. Beyond that, the range of TV and film to buy or rent is comprehensive.
NOW TV Smart Box with 4K and Voice Search: £45.99, NOW TV
4K capable? Yes
HDR? Yes
Voice remote? Yes
Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime? Netflix
Games and other apps? No
The new NOW TV box is made in conjunction with Roku, whose own boxes are also in this roundup. What’s unique here is the connection to Sky. Instead of subscribing to a set of programmes for a year or more as you do with the Sky box above, you simply choose a pass. An entertainment pass (11 Sky channels) costs £7.99 a month but you can cancel whenever you like. Similarly, Sky Cinema, with 1,000 movies on demand and a new premiere each day, costs £9.99 per month until you cancel.
For Sky Sports you can sign up for as short a period as 24 hours for £7.99 or a week for £12.99. Simple to use and amazingly flexible.
Roku Streaming Stick+: £59.99, Argos
4K capable? Yes
HDR? Yes
Voice remote? Yes
Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime? Both
Games and other apps? Few
Roku has hundreds of streaming channels from mainstream offerings like ITV Hub to dedicated horror or sci-fi stations. The remote has a dedicated Netflix button, which is handy. Its interface is straightforward and it works well. It’s keenly priced and in some ways offers more than its rivals.
The range of channels is so extensive that it’s easy to spend considerable time just signing up to more – many are free or have a trial period.
Amazon Fire TV Stick: £39.99, Amazon
4K capable? No
HDR? No
Voice remote? Yes
Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime? Both
Games and other apps? Wide selection
If you don’t have a 4K TV you can opt for a Fire TV Stick without it, which costs £10 less than the model above. It still comes with a voice remote, though an earlier version, which lacks the power, volume and mute buttons of the later 4K version. So, in other words, you have to turn the TV on or off, and volume up or down on the TV remote, not the Amazon one. Other than that, it’s a similar size and includes mostly the same capabilities. Ideal for a second TV, for instance.
Otherwise, the Stick without 4K works in exactly the same way and looks pretty similar, too. Like the other Amazon stick above, it sits on the back of your TV, plugged into an HDMI socket, so it’s completely out of sight. The remote still works because it uses Bluetooth, not infra-red, so no line of sight is needed.
Google Chromecast Ultra: £69, Currys
4K capable? Yes
HDR? Yes
Voice remote? No remote
Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime? Netflix
Games and other apps? Some
Until the 4K Amazon Stick arrived, this was the undisputed value streamer for 4K TVs. It’s still highly competent and very easy, not to mention quick, to set up. There’s no remote control. Instead, you use the appropriate Google-branded app on your smartphone. That also means it’s easy to cast, as Google calls it, video from your phone or tablet onto the bigger TV screen. It has a built-in ethernet adapter which aids with the simplicity of connection.
Unlike other boxes here, the interface lacks a central hub of apps – the Chromecast is all about streaming content from your phone, tablet or computer rather than finding the channels you can browse. Instead, you must rely on the Google Home app to find content. Then you use apps which feature a distinctive Cast button, touch the button and your chosen content appears on the TV. The Netflix app works with Chromecast, while Amazon Video does not.
Apple TV: £149, Apple
4K capable? No
HDR? No
Voice remote? Yes
Compatible with Netflix, Amazon Prime? Both
Games and other apps? Wide selection
Like the cheaper Amazon Stick, this is a more affordable box from Apple, one which lacks 4K and HDR display capabilities of the pricier unit, and so is ideal for those rooms with HD-capable TVs instead. The box itself is a cute, well-crafted square with rounded corners and the remote, identical to the 4K one, is simple to use (though sometimes swiping the touch-sensitive area can feel inexact).
Apple’s huge range of apps from games to more useful items like AirBnB, for instance, mean there’s always extensive content to divert you.
The Verdict: Best TV streaming boxes
The range here is distinctly different. The Sky Q box is easily the most capable and although it’s the biggest, it’s still reasonably small.
Best value is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, though the interface is smooth and appealing on the Apple TV and Apple TV 4K.
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Look, we believe that paying for great TV shows and movies shouldn't cost more than your groceries, and that there's no better way to save some green every month than ripping that money-sucking cord out of the wall and delivering that long-winded 'you're fired' speech to the cable company.
We're here to help you make that next buying decision the best one possible by ranking the three best set-top boxes in two categories – for 4K TVs and for Full HD TVs – and tell you which one will best fit your home entertainment center. Warriors orochi 3 ultimate gauntlet.
Telenet Digibox Streaming
So how did we narrow down the field? We looked at the amount of content available on the system - not only the number of apps available, but the quality, too – as well as its feature-set, usability and potential to grow in the coming year. The competition is fiercer than ever in 2018 as the big guns battle for supremacy, but there’s now a capable streamer for every budget.
The best streaming boxes for 4K TVs
If you've recently upgraded to a 4K HDR TV, it's a safe bet that you want a streaming box that can give you every one of those 3840x2160 pixels. You're in luck, because most of the major streamers have released 4K upgrades of late. However, so numerous are they that some excellent 4K streaming boxes have been squeezed out of our top three. The super-talented GoogleChromecast Ultra just misses out on the podium, as do the Nvidia Shield TV and even the Xbox One S. However, it's clear that our remaining trio are the best streaming boxes for 4K and HDR content.
WINNER: Apple TV 4K (2017)
Apple's streaming box gets a 4K HDR shot in the arm
Digibox Freeview
Okay, so Android users may not be invited to its 4K party, but there's no denying that Apple's waiting game has paid off. Yes, it's locked to the Apple ecosystem, but iPhone users will love the tvOS operating system, which looks nothing short of sublime. It packs in the pixels and looks sharper than ever, while a souped-up A10X processor means navigation and app loading is fast.
Whether you go for the 32GB or 64GB storage versions, every streaming app you can think of is here, with one glaring omission; there's no Amazon Prime Video. However, we do like the 4K HDR ‘room’ within its iTunes movies app, which makes it easier to discover hi-res video content. Dolby Vision is a real asset that few other streaming devices support right now (with Dolby Atmos to follow, we've been told), just as impressive is universal search and the addition of Apple Music, the later of which which makes Apple TV a competent jukebox as well as a top-tier movie streamer. And the integration of the proprietary Apple HomeKit smart home tech could be a feature to watch. Our only criticism is that Siri makes too many mistakes.
Read the full review:Apple TV 4K (2017)
RUNNER-UP: Roku Streaming Stick+ (2017)
The brand that started it all goes 4K HDR with exciting results
Why buy a box when a dongle will do? In a move that makes the impressive Roku Premiere+ obsolete, this streaming stick has two incredible advantages; every app you could ever want, plus an improved 802.11ac Wi-Fi antenna that increases the range by four times. That double-act should give the Roku Streaming Stick+ an easy win, and yet we two have two issues with this diminutive dongle. Try as it does, a few niggling issues like slow pop-in time and lack of Dolby support prevent it from winning top accolades.
Also unwelcome is a proprietary power cable, but this Roku beats the Chromecast Ultra by shipping with a remote that has a microphone built-in for voice search (U.S. only), and dedicated media buttons for Netflix and in the U.S., Sling, Hulu and PlayStation Vue. Also in Roku OS 8 is Amazon Video, Amazon Music, YouTube, Spotify, Deezer, VEVO, SiriusXM and TuneIn and in the U.S., Vudu, PS Vue, Pandora, Crackle and Hulu. U.S. users also get a free network of films and TV shows the company has licensed from studios like Columbia and Paramount amid a dizzying 5,000+ streaming channels. Tiny reservations aside, this peerlessly egalitarian approach to streaming make this a hugely impressive and good value product.
Read the full review:Roku Streaming Stick+ (2017)
RUNNER-UP: Amazon Fire TV (2017)
With a fantastic redesign comes support for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos
If you are already on the Amazon train with a Prime account and plenty of Amazon Echo units dotted around the house, then the Amazon Fire TV (2017) will slot into your home with ease.
Despite being one of the core apps of the streaming age, getting Amazon Video is not easy. It's not available on Apple TV or Google's Chromecast products, but Amazon Fire TV devices are much more than merely workarounds to the giant retailer's own video content.
A discrete box of media tricks that can sit unobtrusively in your home, the latest Amazon Fire TV device is smaller than ever and incredibly easy to install and use. Redesigned as a dongle that plugs directly into your TV's HDMI slot, it does require a separate power connection. However, it also comes with an excellent remote control that allows you to use Alexa voice commands to control playback, which is a boon to anyone who has embraced the Amazon Echo range of smart speakers. The interface itself is similar to Apple TV, and includes a host of Fire TV apps – including Amazon Video, obviously – as well as Netflix. However, the flipside of Amazon Prime Video not being available on other streamers is that Google's YouTube is not available on this device.
4K HDR content, though sparse, looks great, though performance depends on the strength of your Wi-Fi network. Dolby Atmos support is welcome, too, but barely visible. Minor niggles aside, we enthusiastically recommend this latest Fire TV.
Read the full review:Amazon Fire TV (2017)
Next year, 25 percent of households will have some sort of streaming device in their home, according to analysts. With Apple, Roku, Google, and Amazon all making dedicated streaming devices, consumers have plenty of competitive devices to choose from. But before you settle on a brand, the bigger question might be form factor: streaming stick or set-top box?
Inexpensive, compact and dead simple, streaming sticks like the Google Chromecast, Roku Streaming Stick and now Amazon Fire TV offer a compelling argument for “smaller is better.” And consumers agree. Google sold 3.8 million Chromcasts in its first year alone, the same number of set-top boxes Roku sold in 2013.
But what do you sacrifice when you go small? To help you navigate, we compiled a list of pros and cons to the streaming HDMI stick in an effort to help you decide whether the new hotness in home theater is right for you, or if a traditional set-top box better fits the bill.
Digibox Streaming
Pros
Tiny size, light weight
Streaming sticks are about the size and weight of a big pack of gum. With such a negligible footprint, they easily fit in your pocket, and go unnoticed in a backpack or suitcase. As such, you can take one anywhere, anytime, whether it’s to a buddy’s place, the office, or a hotel. Sure you can haul around a set-top box, but then you’ll have to bring its power supply and a bulky HDMI cable, too.
Out of sight
There’s a lot to be said for a device you don’t have to look at. Not only does your TV’s transformation seem just a but more magical with a streaming stick, but its out-of-sight location behind your TV is far more discreet and convenient, too. With a streaming stick, you don’t have to be concerned with another black box taking up space on your already crowded equipment rack.
Easier installation
Since streaming sticks plug directly into a one of a TV’s HDMI ports, you’ll never have to worry about running another HDMI cable up to a TV, or deal with the hassle of snaking another power cord through your entertainment stand’s already rat-nested bundle of cords and cable. Streaming sticks get their power via USB, and since most TVs produced in the past few years have USB ports on them, there’s often no need to run any cables anywhere.
Price
The Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, and Roku Streaming stick cost $35, $39, and $50, respectively. By comparison, each devices set-top counterpart, the Nexus Player, Fire TV box, and Roku 3, cost $99. That means the least you save by going with a streaming stick is 50 percent, which also means you can hook up at least twice as many TVs.
Same interface
It would be fair to assume that, because streaming sticks are so small and inexpensive, that they might offer a watered-down experience, but that would be incorrect. Both the Fire TV Stick and the present version of the Roku Streaming stick offer the same user interface with access to the same apps and many of the same features.
Cons
Slower
Simply put, streaming sticks can’t house as much horsepower, due in part to their smaller size. Though the Amazon Fire TV Stick raises the bar for HDMI dongle hardware, it’s still half the hotrod the Fire TV set-top box is. As such, The Fire TV Stick, like the Roku Streaming stick, will be a little slower to navigate and load videos compared to its full-fledged set-top counterpart.
No Ethernet connection
Both the Roku 3 and Amazon Fire TV feature Ethernet connections, which provide a more stable and reliable streaming video experience. Wi-Fi is prone to interference and congestion in a way that Ethernet hard lines are not. For those houses where multiple video streams via Wi-Fi are common, or Wi-Fi dead spots are a problem, Ethernet is the best possible solution, but, sadly, not an option for streaming sticks.
Fewer connection options
With a streaming stick, you’ve got one connection possibility — HDMI to one port — and that’s it. Roku and Amazon both outfit their best set-top boxes with Toslink optical audio output ports, which can diversify connection options and, for many, dramatically improve sound quality. Sure, HDMI can handle all the latest audio signals, which can’t be said for Toslink, but if that HDMI stick is connected directly to a TV, that TV is going to downmix and crush the living daylights out of the audio signal before it passes it out through its own Toslink optical digital audio port. Unless you are using an A/V receiver for all of your audio and video switching needs, a set-top box is almost always going to be a better choice for those that care about sound quality.
No on-board decoding potential
Fair enough, set-top boxes don’t currently decode video files on their own, but they at least have the potential to. Just looking at Amazon’s Fire TV hardware, and it’s clear it is up to the task of taking videos straight off a storage drive and decoding them on its own, without the need for media software (like PLEX) and a computer to run it. This is something we could see in a future firmware update (yes, we’re optimistic!). On the other hand, streaming sticks have virtually zero chance of pulling off this function anytime within the next decade. And this isn’t the only hardware-based con.
No storage expansion potential
It’s amazing technology has come to a point where the Amazon Fire TV Stick can tout 8GB of storage space — blowing the Roku Streaming Stick away — but that 8GB is all you’ll ever get. As apps and games get more advanced, they’ll get bigger, and a set-top box will be able to accommodate them, a streaming stick never will.
At this point, you should have a gist for what makes streaming sticks and set-top boxes different. For casual users who want a quick and inexpensive fix, streaming sticks are great. And, frankly, they’re cheap enough to have one sitting around just in case. But if you consider yourself more of an enthusiast — a power user, even? — then the set-top box offers the sort of hardware and expansion potential that should help feed your tech-y need.
Available here:
Chromecast: Amazon, Walmart, BestBuy, Staples
Roku Streaming Stick: Amazon, BestBuy, Office Depot, Walmart
Amazon Fire TV Stick: Amazon
Nexus Player: Google Play
Roku 3: Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy
Amazon Fire TV: Amazon