Topic about Netflix, Roku, Apple TV and Digital TV

Discussion in 'hardware' started by Rasheed187, Nov 18, 2015.

  1. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I was wondering what experience you guys have with digital TV in your country. Are you using devices like Roku, Apple TV and Tivo? And can you guys receive HD channels without decoders? And I also wonder if you guys are using services like Netflix and Hulu. The reason why I'm asking is because (believe it or not) I just made the switch to digital TV and I'm a bit disappointed about the way things work over here in Holland.
     
  2. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I do Netflix because it is cheap. The selection still sucks. Cable TV is overpriced and loaded with channels I don't want so I go with the minimum package. Can't afford to add much else to that.
     
  3. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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    Big fan of Roku here. Lots of free content. Netflix is the only channel I pay for. Much of the content is HD.
    It and an antenna (getting free local HD programming) allowed me to get rid of the overpriced cable and it's hundreds of redundant / useless channels.
    Channels / programming however differs in the EU, UK from those in the US (though I don't know why).
    You may want to check out the Roku forum (it's quite active) http://forums.roku.com/viewforum.php?f=28
     
  4. CrusherW9

    CrusherW9 Registered Member

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    I don't watch any TV so there aren't any shows I actively watch. That said, I do use Netflix fairly frequently but it's mainly just to have something going in the background while I'm on my pc. I'll throw whatever Netflix says I'll like on one monitor and do stuff on the others.
     
  5. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    I use Netflix, streaming hd on the pc. Cable tv is terrible, and Netflix is only a fraction of the price. Works for me....
     
  6. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    It's funny you should say that, because over here in Holland I was also a bit disappointed in the Netflix database, in the USA it's way better. But according to their CEO we will have the same content in about 3 to 5 years, that's way too long, they should be able to do better.

    But yes I think the 10 bucks is still worth it, especially if you compare it to other services. The only thing that's bugging me is that Netflix is not available over cable and IPTV. Do you watch Netflix on your TV, and is it a smooth experience?

    http://www.opnetflix.nl/categorie/actie
    http://www.movies-net.com/category/horror-movies
     
  7. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Over here in Holland there's also a lot of crap on TV. I was happy with my old school analog TV, but I had to replace it with a LED Smart TV. To my shock, analog and SD channels look like crap on flat-screens. And if you want HD channels you have to turn your DVR on, are these guys for real? But anyway, about devices like Roku and Apple TV, I don't get it, what is the advantage when compared to Smart TV's that already offer the same apps?
     
  8. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Have you also tried to stream HD on your TV? In a couple of days I will check it out, I wonder what the quality will be on a 40 inch LED TV.

    TV is still a major source of entertainment for me, even with all the crappy channels on cable. I mostly watch the 30 to 40 channels that come with the standard package. The extra channels are not worth it.
     
  9. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I use a PS3 connected to a TV. Works fine. Just can't find much I want to watch.
     
  10. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    No, I have not yet tried that. So far I've been satisfied with using it on the pc. If I decide to buy a new tv then I might give it a go sometime in the future....
     
  11. Joxx

    Joxx Registered Member

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    I don't watch TV; cable, stream or whatever is out there
    but I'm a fanatical fan of British TV production which I access through the ever dwindling private torrent sites (RIP TheBox) and the many DVDs I keep and occasionally buy
     
  12. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    There are a lot of British shows on both Netflix and other sources on the internet. I love 'em too. Most of them are really good.
     
  13. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    I use Netflix on an Apple TV. Personally, I hate the vast majority of the content on the Australian Netflix, but my girlfriend watches it a lot.
    I can access the US Netflix by changing the DNS settings which gives a much greater range of content, but uses up my internet quota very quickly. I have 150GB of data a month, including unlimited Netflix. However, when I switch the US Netflix, it uses my data. Supposedly it uses around 3 to 5GB an hour of watching.
     
  14. Malwar

    Malwar Registered Member

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    By reducing the quality to low in the settings you can make Netflix use 0.3 gb(300 mb an hour) I have unlimited data but 20 gb of high speed a month and that is what I do.
     
  15. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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  16. Malwar

    Malwar Registered Member

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    Anytime!! Your welcome!!:thumb::cool:
     
  17. rm22

    rm22 Registered Member

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    good timing on this thread - i've just been using my pc to watch content for years & have just started researching TVs...

    As i understand it the benefits of Roku, etc are that 1) you don't need a smart TV & the difference in price is far more then what Roku costs 2) more Apps or update an old smart TV - the apps will be obsolete long before the TV will. What Roku does not have is a browser which is why i've been looking into Micro PCs - starting at $60 (CDN) you can just plug an Android or $150 Windows Micro PC into the back of your TV and get full PC functionality on your TV. Anyone tried using one of these? I guess there are also some smart TVs out now with a browser as well - haven't looked into that yet.
     
  18. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    @rm22 I've got an Android HDMI Mini PC. It runs a full version of Android, and to control it I've got a mini wireless keyboard with a touchpad on it. I don't like it much, and I think some of the Android multimedia TV boxes which come with a remote control with buttons for media playback are a better option for watching media.
     
  19. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Well, you shouldn't complain, the content is way better than in Europe (see link), not surprisingly. I could of course use services that get me access to the USA movie database, but I need my Dutch subtitles to understand everything.

    http://www.movies-net.com/netflix-assortment-per-country

    Weird, I really don't enjoy watching movies on my PC, you just can't beat the TV.
     
  20. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    That's another thing that I wonder about, I'm wondering how providers are coping with all this data usage. I haven't got a bandwidth limit though.
     
  21. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Well, you haven't got much choice, it's all about LED TV's nowadays, I didn't even know that they stopped making CRT (old skool) and Plasma TV's, I should have bought a plasma when I had the chance. But from what I understand, LED are nowadays just as good plasma's. Of course you should get at least a Full HD, unless you want to watch 4k content, then you need Ultra HD. Sadly enough, TV broadcasters are probably not going to switch to 4k in the coming 5 years.

    I was thinking, perhaps they also have a more powerful processor, making it a more smooth expercience? BTW, what about Tivo, isn't anyone using that?

    https://www.tivo.com/
     
  22. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    BTW, what I don't get is why some content is missing. For example, Netflix Holland offers Home Alone 1 to 3, but not part 4. And it offers the Rosemary's Baby TV series, but not the movie. I wonder what that's all about, I mean they got the broadcasting rights, as they do offer them in the USA.
     
  23. CrusherW9

    CrusherW9 Registered Member

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    Having unlimited Netflix is interesting. We're consistently using about 750Gb a month with 4 or 5 of us streaming netflix regularly.
     
  24. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    I guess it comes down to licensing for different countries.
     
  25. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    Netflix regrets signing unmetered deals with iiNet, Optus
     
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