XStreamHD

It seemed so neat, but now it seems like you pay a monthly fee for access to PPV and OTA...pretty stupid IMO if that is the case.

If it was like netflix where you paid a monthly fee and got access to lots of shows/movies, then it would be more worth the price.

 

"XStreamHD plans to make a limited number of systems available in April 2010."

 

Anyone hear/see any info on whether they will provide CC for their movies/tv content?

 

Have not seen any mention. Their website is vague to say the least on actual details (does not even go into pricing).

 

Okay, I'm the guinea pig. I tired to pre-order the Pro-Start a couple of weeks ago and had a problem checking out. I received an email on Friday from VP of marketing James Mahoney indicating the checkout issue was resolved and I could go back into my account and finish the pre-order, keeping my reservation spot from 1/20.

He even left a direct contact number which I called and left a message asking for more info.

So for now, I'm out $25. I will post when and if I receive more info.

 

Just for those interested about this system. The basic fast start box is $ 399, the Pro start box is $ 499. There is a monthly fee of 9.995 from what I can tell. Hadn't seen an update about the system for awile.

 

Looks like they're adopting the gas pricing strategy.

 

When I met with these folks at CES 2010, they had some interesting hardware and demos.

On the side, one of their lead engineers admitted that adoption was slower than they had planned, but still moving along OK.

Neat stuff.

 

XStreamHD is launching two hardware bundles: a FAST Start package is priced at $399, while the Pro Start package will be offered for $499. They're essentially identical, with a 1-terabyte media server, an HD media receiver, HDMI and Ethernet cables.

 

Wait-so you pay $10 a month basically to see which PPV titles are available, then you pay for each one separately? Why charge a monthly fee then? I'm not getting it. Also, any idea how much the movies are going to be?

 

according to their website, the $10 is to cover the guide service for the OTA antenna; something you can get free @ titantv.com and even windows media center.


looks like movies will be about $5ea. I read somewhere online that some will be less, about $3, and some even higher around $7.

I can't see this making it very long.

 

XStreamHD™ Signs Long-Term Satellite Service Agreement With EchoStar Satellite Services to Support Its Groundbreaking High Definition (HD) Entertainment Service

XStreamHD Will Provide Consumers with First-Ever Full HD Direct-to-Home Cinema Class Movie Service

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...nition-hd-entertainment-service-97386704.html

 

Theoretically this would be very competitive. I say theoretically because you would need line-of-sight to AMC16 plus off-the-air locals and a DLNA/1000Mbps-compatible-network-wired home to make it truly worthwhile.

But with those prerequisites, after you pay for whatever equipment you need (figure at the least $500 for XStreamHD equipment), for $10 a month you can record three OTA programs simultaneously and receive "prefetched" movies and other content in full 1080p/7.1, all without affecting your ISP's monthly cap. Storage can be 4GB internal, plus eSata external, drives. And it is MRV capable.

The pricing is not bad. For $10 a month you immediately can record local channels. Plus for up to $5 each, you rent on-demand Blu-ray movies and other content. At that point, you're paying only for the movies and cable channel content you want, albeit not when it is released at the theaters or a new show on cable TV, but at the best quality. The depth and breadth of content titles must become comparable to Netflix for them to compete well.

Now back to my reality. LOS to AMC16 isn't possible for me and I don't get OTA TV, so it isn't an option in my reality.

 

This is pretty close to my reality as well, although, locating a seperate dish somewhere pointing at only a single spot in the heavens at 85W may be possible for me.

Placing this dish on the same tower as my DirecTV dish will almost certainly result in yet another tree having to come down so I'm not to keen on that idea.
The logistics involved in creating little mini-dish farms is going to be quite interesting for alot of people.