Why does Lightbox have a suicide wish?

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Why does Lightbox have a suicide wish?

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20157 posts

Uber Geek

#1264056 20-Mar-2015 14:18

That looks good, I will at last have a reason to use my chromecast. I hope they release an iphone version of the app to run it, currently it seems to only be on the ipad.

gjen

75 posts

Master Geek

#1264077 20-Mar-2015 14:30

Here's an article on the AU/NZ setup for netflix. They state "however, that Netflix customers in Australia will be streaming their content from Amazon’s data centres in the US rather than in Australia, simply due to the cost."

Ops looks like they have change the article as now they are stating they are using their open Connect CDN's with partners in AU so some content will be sourced locally, Well in AU that is..

JimmyCorrigan

49 posts

Geek

#1264126 20-Mar-2015 15:22

mattwnz: That looks good, I will at last have a reason to use my chromecast. I hope they release an iphone version of the app to run it, currently it seems to only be on the ipad.

Indeed. I hope they release an Android version that can be used on more than 4 models of Samsung tablet haha

dafman

3927 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1274713 31-Mar-2015 19:25

Ok, update.

Netflix. Downloaded android app, set up free month, and started casting on my Panasonic TV via Chromecast, all of which took less than 5 mins in total. In the last couple of days, the family has set up profiles and are casting to their hearts content.

Lightbox. Signed up for 12 month free service. Have done nothing else, not even searched library, as not interested in watching on PC. May have a look again in future if as easy as above, but may not be able to drag family away from Netflix.

Unlikely to subscribe to both as only so much time to watch streaming.

Come on Lightbox, get moving, or suffer consequence ... And no, not interested in "announcement imminent, but can't say anything now because is commercially sensitive"! You're killing yourself in the starting blocks.

LesF

176 posts

Master Geek

#1274735 31-Mar-2015 20:05

I have a Samsung BD-F8500A which has Smart Hub and lets me use the Lightbox app, it all works just fine.
My sony tv is newer and it would be nice to have the app on the tv - it would save me valuable seconds of my life to only have to use one remote, heh, but I can get what I need from this combination.

I wouldn't be put off getting a smart Samsung BD player, from reading some of the previous comments, just make sure you check the specs and get the right model. I know I did before investing in the somewhat-iffy blue ray fiasco (certainly disappointed by what is available on BD now).

MikeAqua

7779 posts

Uber Geek

#1274987 1-Apr-2015 10:04

My comments were particular to the model I bought.

In my case I did some research. I confirmed that the model I was considering had smart hub and I could get TVNZ OD. I checked reviews and they were largely positive. The only negative comments were about using the on screen keyboard for you tube searches etc, which didn't concern me.

The 8500 does look like nice unit nice, especially with Freeview terrestrial PVR built in

The 7500 seem to be similar but without the PVR.

The thing that would bug me: How long until how long until Samsung starts neglecting these units too?

I wouldn't be put off getting a smart Samsung BD player, from reading some of the previous comments, just make sure you check the specs and get the right model. I know I did before investing in the somewhat-iffy blue ray fiasco (certainly disappointed by what is available on BD now).

Mike

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1275025 1-Apr-2015 10:28

dafman: Ok, update.

Netflix. Downloaded android app, set up free month, and started casting on my Panasonic TV via Chromecast, all of which took less than 5 mins in total. In the last couple of days, the family has set up profiles and are casting to their hearts content.

Lightbox. Signed up for 12 month free service. Have done nothing else, not even searched library, as not interested in watching on PC. May have a look again in future if as easy as above, but may not be able to drag family away from Netflix.

Unlikely to subscribe to both as only so much time to watch streaming.

Come on Lightbox, get moving, or suffer consequence ... And no, not interested in "announcement imminent, but can't say anything now because is commercially sensitive"! You're killing yourself in the starting blocks.

I think you still aren't quite getting what people have been saying to you in this thread.

Panasonic is a very very small brand in NZ for TVs (and globally).
Lightbox not having a panasonic app is extremely unlikely to be hurting them very much, simply because very very few people actually have panasonic 'smart' devices compared to the likes of Samsung, Sony or LG. Sure, it's an advantage for Netflix to have pana apps, but realistically it's a very very small advantage because it is only meanigiful for people who actually own Panasonic smart TVs, which not many do.

(and ironically there was another thread on GZ about how some slightly older pana smart TV models didn't even have a Netflix app available either)

However, what will be hurting Lightbox soon enough is not having the devices that either lots of people have - (Xbox 360/1, Sony, LG, generic Android) or the devices that not many have now, but are very cheap and easy to get, (Chromecast or maybe Apple TV)

So far, Lightbox added PS3, PS4, and Samsung in the first six months, so seems likely to add 2-3 more devices in the next six months (Chromecast has been confirmed) and same again six months after that.

Adding the devices listed above will pretty much get them to parity with Netflix. (on device reach - content and UI is a separate conversation. Personally I'd say the Lightbox UI is 'fine' but the Netflix UI is excellent. Lightbox content is probably a bit ahead of Netflix content right now. No movies, but MUCH better TV)

consider this: it may even be the case for them that it will NEVER be worth spending, say, $50-100k (plus ongoing maintenance) on adding Panasonic devices because they will never be profitable for the number of panasonic customers that might sign up (consider they probably only make $1-2 per month per customer - that's a lot of customers needed just to pay back the app development cost, let alone start actually making money)

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qyiet

454 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1275077 1-Apr-2015 10:58

NonprayingMantis:
I think you still aren't quite getting what people have been saying to you in this thread.

Some irony here.

NonprayingMantis:
dafman:... started casting on my Panasonic TV via Chromecast, all of which took less than 5 mins in total....

...
Panasonic is a very very small brand in NZ for TVs (and globally).
Lightbox not having a panasonic app is extremely unlikely to be hurting them very much, simply because very very few people actually have panasonic 'smart' devices...

Dafman never mentioned using a Panasonic app, in fact he used the exact suggestion you noted later.

NonprayingMantis:
However, what will be hurting Lightbox soon enough is not having the devices that either lots of people have - (Xbox 360/1, Sony, LG, generic Android) or the devices that not many have now, but are very cheap and easy to get, (Chromecast or maybe Apple TV)

The point is I believe dafman is getting at is: Netflix exists where He/She needs it to, Lightbox doesn't, so lightbox loses. Content is only part of the equation, convenience is the other part.

This is similar for myself as well, I'm not going to watch stuff in a PC browser that kind of works when I already have a solution that works on all my existing tablets/phones/TVs/Consoles seamlessly. I understand that lightbox has to pick it's targets for development, but until it catches up with Netflix it is less valuable to me so I will be willing to pay much less for it because it is far far less convenient as far as I am concerned.

Warning: reality may differ from above post

dafman

3927 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1275126 1-Apr-2015 11:41

qyiet:
NonprayingMantis:
I think you still aren't quite getting what people have been saying to you in this thread.
Some irony here.
NonprayingMantis:
dafman:... started casting on my Panasonic TV via Chromecast, all of which took less than 5 mins in total....

...
Panasonic is a very very small brand in NZ for TVs (and globally).
Lightbox not having a panasonic app is extremely unlikely to be hurting them very much, simply because very very few people actually have panasonic 'smart' devices...
Dafman never mentioned using a Panasonic app, in fact he used the exact suggestion you noted later.
NonprayingMantis:
However, what will be hurting Lightbox soon enough is not having the devices that either lots of people have - (Xbox 360/1, Sony, LG, generic Android) or the devices that not many have now, but are very cheap and easy to get, (Chromecast or maybe Apple TV)

The point is I believe dafman is getting at is: Netflix exists where He/She needs it to, Lightbox doesn't, so lightbox loses. Content is only part of the equation, convenience is the other part.

This is similar for myself as well, I'm not going to watch stuff in a PC browser that kind of works when I already have a solution that works on all my existing tablets/phones/TVs/Consoles seamlessly. I understand that lightbox has to pick it's targets for development, but until it catches up with Netflix it is less valuable to me so I will be willing to pay much less for it because it is far far less convenient as far as I am concerned.

Yes, that is my point, Netflix exists now for our family consumption, and Lightbox, 7 months after launch, is not there. Forget my Panny tv, we are enjoying Netflix:

Via Chromecast on all our tvs, not an option for lightbox
Via my Sony Xperia Tablet, not an option for lightbox
The teenager watches directly on her Moto G, not an option for lightbox
My partner on her Samsung S3, not an option for lightbox.

Unless LB moves quickly, our family, and many others, will be boots in deep with Netflix and unlikely to consider LB as an option. Yes, some users will be on both platforms, but many won't - and LB needs users to recoup their significant capex.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1275128 1-Apr-2015 11:43

qyiet:
NonprayingMantis:
I think you still aren't quite getting what people have been saying to you in this thread.
Some irony here.
NonprayingMantis:
dafman:... started casting on my Panasonic TV via Chromecast, all of which took less than 5 mins in total....

...
Panasonic is a very very small brand in NZ for TVs (and globally).
Lightbox not having a panasonic app is extremely unlikely to be hurting them very much, simply because very very few people actually have panasonic 'smart' devices...
Dafman never mentioned using a Panasonic app, in fact he used the exact suggestion you noted later.
NonprayingMantis:
However, what will be hurting Lightbox soon enough is not having the devices that either lots of people have - (Xbox 360/1, Sony, LG, generic Android) or the devices that not many have now, but are very cheap and easy to get, (Chromecast or maybe Apple TV)

The point is I believe dafman is getting at is: Netflix exists where He/She needs it to, Lightbox doesn't, so lightbox loses. Content is only part of the equation, convenience is the other part.

This is similar for myself as well, I'm not going to watch stuff in a PC browser that kind of works when I already have a solution that works on all my existing tablets/phones/TVs/Consoles seamlessly. I understand that lightbox has to pick it's targets for development, but until it catches up with Netflix it is less valuable to me so I will be willing to pay much less for it because it is far far less convenient as far as I am concerned.

good point about the casting.

Dafman - why aren't you using the panasonic app for Netflix, especially since that was one fo the primary reasons for starting this thread? Do you consider chromecast to be better experience than using the pana app?

Lightbox

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lightbox

#1275134 1-Apr-2015 11:53

Hey all,

There's no question that adding support for more devices will make our service relevant to more consumers. I doubt anyone would dispute that.

I can't divulge anything right now, but we'll be making announcements in the quite near future about upcoming devices.

Lightbox - we are online TV.

dafman

3927 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1275159 1-Apr-2015 12:13

NonprayingMantis:
qyiet:
NonprayingMantis:
I think you still aren't quite getting what people have been saying to you in this thread.
Some irony here.
NonprayingMantis:
dafman:... started casting on my Panasonic TV via Chromecast, all of which took less than 5 mins in total....

...
Panasonic is a very very small brand in NZ for TVs (and globally).
Lightbox not having a panasonic app is extremely unlikely to be hurting them very much, simply because very very few people actually have panasonic 'smart' devices...
Dafman never mentioned using a Panasonic app, in fact he used the exact suggestion you noted later.
NonprayingMantis:
However, what will be hurting Lightbox soon enough is not having the devices that either lots of people have - (Xbox 360/1, Sony, LG, generic Android) or the devices that not many have now, but are very cheap and easy to get, (Chromecast or maybe Apple TV)

The point is I believe dafman is getting at is: Netflix exists where He/She needs it to, Lightbox doesn't, so lightbox loses. Content is only part of the equation, convenience is the other part.

This is similar for myself as well, I'm not going to watch stuff in a PC browser that kind of works when I already have a solution that works on all my existing tablets/phones/TVs/Consoles seamlessly. I understand that lightbox has to pick it's targets for development, but until it catches up with Netflix it is less valuable to me so I will be willing to pay much less for it because it is far far less convenient as far as I am concerned.

good point about the casting.

Dafman - why aren't you using the panasonic app for Netflix, especially since that was one fo the primary reasons for starting this thread? Do you consider chromecast to be better experience than using the pana app?

Casting from our android devices is so user friendly and easy, am unlikely to bother with panasonic app. My point for starting the thread was the lack of devices for LB - I cannot understand a launch strategy that focuses so much emphasis on content, yet months down the track access is so limited. My Panny TV was only one example of this limited device availability, not the point of the thread.

LB is not the debacle that Ferritt was - LB has good content, excellent branding, good communication, all of which is getting missed by a large pool - I would argue the majority - of potential customers. And at a very crucial time; the competition is now here! If I was Simon Moutter, $30million in, I would be screaming down the hallways - get me devices, yesterday! Maybe he is?

JimmyCorrigan

49 posts

Geek

#1275237 1-Apr-2015 13:16

Almost every day i visit this forum/thread and hope to read that a (generic) Android app for Chromecast has been released.

Someday, someday... (:

compost

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1276553 3-Apr-2015 01:33

This is a funny old topic. Lessons learnt so far:

If a service doesn't meet your specific needs fully and immediately, you can post topics with trolly subjects and not be called up on it

Fellow device fanbois can pile on unhindered, but non green insectoid carnivores that demur will be admonished

(Actually I think they can be brown too)

A time-poor geek is hardly a geek at all

Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1276600 3-Apr-2015 08:34

After using both the Lightbox and Netflix services I would agree that Lightbox is on a hiding to nothing. Netflix is clearly one of the global leaders in streaming services and in an open market I find it hard to imagine how Lightbox can succeed. That said, good luck to Lightbox!

Amanon

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