TiVo Launches $50 Streaming Video Player to Take On Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV

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Fire TV edition TV, basically a TV running Fire TV OS without needing to plug in a stick. Currently using 2 DVRs on it - Recast (local tuners and HDD) and Youtube TV (cloud). Recast hangs off the network and has no remote control requirements other than what's done through the app on the TV. The TVs own built in tuner actually has a live buffer of about half an hour, but I rarely use it.

 

Well for me, in each my two UHD setups, I have an ATV4K, a Roku Ultra or Roku STream 4K, FireTv 4K stick, two Shield TVs(one 2017 and one 2019) , XB1, PS4, and two TiVos in each setup. I use all those devices daily or weekly(well the 2017 Shield TVs really need to be removed). With the 2019 Shield Tvs being used the most.

Then I have multiple UHD BD players and 2K BD players that are used multiple times each month. As well as Popcorn Hour boxes(UHD and HD) and a Netgear streamer(HD) that are used several times each month(the HD ones give me access to full menus from my 2K BD ISO rips). And UHD Android streamers. With the cheap android streamers being rarely used and the 2K devices only being used a few times during three months. The only devices I would really get rid of would be the cheap Android ones since they suck. And the 2017 Shield TVs. Which I either need to sell or to use in a third UHD setup I will be creating soon. When I replace my 2015 Sony UHD TV with a 2019 TCL Series 8 UHD TV. So the 2015 Sony would go in the tertiary UHD setup.

Unfortunately no device does everything well or has access to all the apps I use. Which is why I've always used multiple devices. With my 2019 Shield TVs being closest to perfect.

But then the Shield TVs can't have HDR from Youtube. The ATV 4K can't do HDR or UHD from Youtube. The ATV 4K can't properly send content at 24 Hz( and currently more and more streaming content is being released at an actual 24hz framerate). The Shield Tv doesn't automatically switch to the native framerate (Although I hear that will be coming soon) etc. Every device has certain issues. Over a decade ago I realized I will always need to have multiple devices to get access to everything I want and also access to the best apps or features. SInce every device is not the same or has access to the same features from the same app. Which is why I've always had so many devices in my setups.

 

Wow, that's a lot of stuff to watch. I watch a couple of hours every night, maybe a movie (streaming) on the weekend. No gaming at all, and couldn't care less about UHD, HDR or discs. Obviously no Tivos anymore since I switched to Recast and streaming.

Hope a box that does handle all that UHD/HDR correctly eventually comes along.

 

I forget -- does the TS4K support both 4K and HDR in the YouTube app? Given the chipset and the fact that it's running Android TV, I'd think so.

 

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Yes. But the TS4K still erroneously forces everything to HDR. Unless that has changed recently. So it's worthless to me.
SDR should be sent as SDR and HDR should be sent as HDR.

 

Obviously that's your TV's problem. The TS4K is perfect and has no such bug.
TiVo Launches $50 Streaming Video Player to Take On Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV

 

Obviously.

I never said it wasn’t a bug to force it on you with no choice to switch it off if that’s your preference. I said the mapping it does is a normal occurrence and if your setup, namely the display, is configured properly then you shouldn’t see the overblown image as is being reported. This is fact, believe it if you want or not but that doesn’t change this fact.

 

My TVs have zero problem with the TS4K forced HDR. There is no overblown image. The problem is that it actually forces HDR when it should be sending SDR. SDR content is meant to be viewed in SDR, not in HDR. HDR content is meant to be viewed in HDR. 99% of other devices do this correctly.

It's the same to me as a letterboxed movie and someone zooming in on it. Only SDR sent as HDR is much worse. I would never, ever watch a movie that way.

 

Then we agree the issue is they didn’t give a choice. You may want to tell the other folks this that think it maps wrong, since they don’t want to believe me or the experts.

BTW, if your HDR 4K bt2020 setting is setup right, then a Rec709 SDR Video gamut and Gamma mapped into it should look identical to a normal SDR Rec709 input. Key wording is “setup right”.

 

If that is the case then I have never seem a TV do that. The SDr image is always brighter than it should be. Since SDR is typically around 100 nits. While HDR is much higher. Although I see the new standard with SDR in BT2020 is supposed to be 203 nits now.

Now with my Shield TVs that send SDr Rec709 in BT2020 it looks correct. It is not sending a signal that it is in HDR. Which would be fine if the TS4K actually did that.

 

SDR when mapped was (supposed to be) set to the diffuse white level and as you say it was about 100 nits. Now they’re saying to use 203 as you say as well. I guess we watch the same YouTube videos from Vincent? ;-) So yeah that will appear a little brighter.

I have a new shield too but when I switch between it and my TS4K they appear identical. Maybe it is my hdfury helping it and ts4k isn’t sending good metadata? I am now watching everything in in lldv dolby vision so maybe that attributes to what I see versus others?

 

I only had my TS4K during the first month it was available. I returned it because of the always on HDR issue. Otherwise I thought it was a speedy device. But I'm glad I did return it since they still have not done anything about the always on HDR.

 

HDR is supposed to be fixed in the next update according to tivopm on Reddit. I kept the ones I ordered. De-TiVo’d one and use it in my office on an old 1080p tv. I like the google live channels app with my HD Homerun Quattro and Plex works fine at 1080p/60 on it.

It is a very fast device, noticeably faster than my 4K Fire Sticks on my 4K TVs. I like the remote too. If HDR is fixed to my liking I’ll move the other in place of a Fire Stick. I’ll probably try one of googles new devices once they launch, but I’ll let others try them first and report before I jump right in like I did with the TS4K.

 

My devices updated (TS4K SW Version V9.0-4.1.11) and now I see additional options under the Remote Control settings for pairing with TV and AVR. And now the TS4K controls the volume on my old AVR. Sweet!

 

Tivo Stream killer?

Google Chromecast remote leaks in new image of the dongle - 9to5Google

 

That's the second time this week. Chris Evans also leaked an image of his dongle.
Marvel actor Chris Evans accidentally posts his nude photo; here is how netizens reacted

But seriously, nice to see those volume buttons on the side to go with that mute button, and the power and input buttons at the bottom.

 

Have you used the free DVR feature in the Live Channels app? (Can't remember if I asked you this before.) If so, how is it and what are you using for storage connected to the TS4K?

 

FWIW, I ran Google Live Channels DVR with an HD HomeRun for a few years on another Andriod TV box. It worked really well for me. I used an old hard drive in a powered enclosure. Should work the same on a TS4K.

I think the OP said he tried Live Channels and didn't like it. Not sure why.

 

The TS4K has a USB port separate from the power port, right? (Or maybe two USB ports, one for the power cord and another left open?)

Looks like the new Chromecast with Google TV has a single USB-C port that is used for power. If so, that complicates things a bit for connecting peripherals like a hard drive or SD card reader.

 

On further reflection, I'm doubtful that the circular D-pad on the new Chromecast's remote will be a touch-sensitive track wheel. Seems too costly to include in a device that's supposed to only cost $50 or $60.

But glad to see in the new photos today that volume up/down buttons are on the right side of the remote. That should work well -- basically like most cell phones I've owned. And a dedicated mute button on the front is great too. Kinda miss that on my Apple TV remote.