Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
That's a pretty common model these days for many of the DVR-type offerings, to have the media server separate from the viewing clients. I guess if you're an all-Amazon household with fire TVs, it could be attractive.
I'd consider one like that if it had a Roku channel, if it was cheap enough.
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Unfortunately there isn't really much available yet in OTA DVR devices. Makes you miss the 1980s and those crappy VCRs! Most of the models I've seen cost at least as much as the Amazon new model, and many require a pricey monthly fee for the ability to schedule recordings. TiVo charges $15/month for their programming schedule service, for example. Amazon is apparently providing a free programming schedule service, so that is a plus. Many don't offer any programming schedule service. So this Amazon device might be worth the money for some people. However, most of the streaming services like Sling, Hulu TV, and DirecTV Now offer cloud recording for local OTA programming but only for those channels they stream. Amazon's device won't record non-OTA programming though due to licensing and contractual issues. So it will only be good for recording what you can receive locally over an antenna. This is true for the TiVo and other OTA DVR devices too. I'm not sure if any of the OTA DVR devices can record streaming or cable or Satellite services for a fee, but I doubt it. I did hear that Spectrum will allow users to record their cable TV programming on an Apple TV later this year, so maybe some of the other service providers will start to open up to allowing us to record programming via 3rd party devices rather than paying rent on their boxes. Time will tell.