Lightbox - Telecoms new on demand TV service

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jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#148612 25-Jun-2014 00:09

So here are the latest details for Telecom's new On Demand TV service:

http://pages.mail.lightbox.co.nz/register

$15/month with more than 5000 hours worth of content.

TV shows include the new season of 24, Mad Men and Vikings.

[Mod Edit |BH| Moved to (possibly) more appropriate forum]

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3075 posts

Uber Geek

#1073828 25-Jun-2014 02:06

Pricing isn't half bad, proof will be in the pudding when it launches though to see whether its worth shelling out that much each month. Hope it's not another QuickFlix

rugrat

3107 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1073835 25-Jun-2014 05:17

watchable on your desktop, laptop or iPad.

Above from the web page, guess it's not for watching on big screen TV?, as it doesn't mention TV.
Will it be HD or SD?, if HD then might be worth plugging laptop into TV if it will allow it.

steve98

1395 posts

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Trusted

#1073839 25-Jun-2014 06:25

Much better name than 'ShowmeTV'

joff_nz

446 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1073844 25-Jun-2014 06:40

Hmmm .page won't let me submit, asks me to enter a valid email address, when using my gmail address.

On my phone using chrome so will try laptop later this morning.

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#1073927 25-Jun-2014 08:59

rugrat: watchable on your desktop, laptop or iPad.

Above from the web page, guess it's not for watching on big screen TV?, as it doesn't mention TV.
Will it be HD or SD?, if HD then might be worth plugging laptop into TV if it will allow it.

That was my initial thoughts too, particualrly, desktop, laptop or ipad. Probably not woth $15 to me if I can watch it on tv via the xbox 360. Be interesting if they can get some support for consoles and set top boxes up quickly.

JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1073929 25-Jun-2014 09:02

it will have airplay compatibility according to their facebook page

davidcole

6037 posts

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#1073933 25-Jun-2014 09:04

JarrodM: it will have airplay compatibility according to their facebook page

so that sorts out IOS...now what about everything else?

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BigMal

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#1073939 25-Jun-2014 09:10

The should just modify/customise a Roku like Sky in the UK did and sell that to their customers. If they have decent content then they need an easy to way to get it on the TV.

Watching content on my tablet/phone is secondary to being able to watch it on my big TV.

dclegg

2806 posts

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Trusted

#1073940 25-Jun-2014 09:10

davidcole:
JarrodM: it will have airplay compatibility according to their facebook page

so that sorts out IOS...now what about everything else?

Yes and no.

My experience with Airplay is that it is an extremely unreliable streaming protocol. Often when using Airplay to stream from my iPhone 5S or iPad Air, to my Apple TV 3, the content will fail to stream correctly. Sometimes an Apple TV reboot fixes this. Sometimes I need to reboot our router (Apple Airport Extreme 5th gen). Sometimes I need to reboot both.

And in some cases (NBC app), Airplay will only stream the audio, with video only shown on the source device. In this case it is doubly frustrating, because the ads preceding the content stream with no issues. But as soon as the actual content is due to stream, only the audio is streamed to my ATV.

tl;dr: Airplay is a poor workaround until native apps for common set top boxes & TVs are available.

Stu

Hammered
8345 posts

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#1073946 25-Jun-2014 09:15

Android isn't mentioned at all. Not a good start! Also seems those who signed up to receive updates on ShowMeTV are automatically signed up to get updates from Lightbox. I received an email this morning. Doesn't give any further details away.

davidcole

6037 posts

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Trusted

#1073947 25-Jun-2014 09:16

dclegg:
davidcole:
JarrodM: it will have airplay compatibility according to their facebook page

so that sorts out IOS...now what about everything else?

Yes and no.

My experience with Airplay is that it is an extremely unreliable streaming protocol. Often when using Airplay to stream from my iPhone 5S or iPad Air, to my Apple TV 3, the content will fail to stream correctly. Sometimes an Apple TV reboot fixes this. Sometimes I need to reboot our router (Apple Airport Extreme 5th gen). Sometimes I need to reboot both.

And in some cases (NBC app), Airplay will only stream the audio, with video only shown on the source device. In this case it is doubly frustrating, because the ads preceding the content stream with no issues. But as soon as the actual content is due to stream, only the audio is streamed to my ATV.

tl;dr: Airplay is a poor workaround until native apps for common set top boxes & TVs are available.

Oh yes, sorry, airplay is a very poor mans substitute - I personally find it annoying. But given this is one of the only ways to get the content on a telly, short of physically connecting a laptop....and an airplay equivalent is mostly not available on the android or windows side shows the narrow mindness of some of these places.

I'd much rather apps were built, for wd tv, for apple tv, for roku - or if you don't want to pay for those, let the open source communities...for roku, for xbmc, for plex etc develop them.

Basically we end up saying the same conversations for every service - ezyflix, quickflix, EPL, TVNZ ondemand, TV3 Now, sky.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1073960 25-Jun-2014 09:42

The press release:

A new online service is about to give New Zealanders a lot more choice over how they watch TV shows.

Telecom has today confirmed that Lightbox will launch in the coming weeks offering people with a broadband connection the opportunity to choose what they watch, when they like, with no ads or interruptions.

TV shows available to New Zealanders on Lightbox will include the highly-anticipated series 24 – Live Another Day, starring Kiefer Sutherland as the legendary Jack Bauer.

Hit drama series Vikings, currently in production on its third season, also features in the Lightbox line-up.

Drama series Mad Men is also confirmed as part of the line-up. Since the show’s US premiere in 2007, it’s received four Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and three Golden Globe® Awards for Best Television Drama Series.

While the full line-up of shows won't be revealed until the service goes live, Simon Hoegsbro, Launch Director for Lightbox, says viewers can look forward to entertainment the whole family will enjoy.

“We’re launching with around 5000 hours of award winning TV shows that span all genres – whether you’re into drama, comedy, sci fi, fantasy, reality or kids shows, there’s something for everyone.”

A free 30-day trial will allow TV lovers to explore the service thoroughly before they make their first payment of just $15.

HOW LIGHTBOX WORKS

The service can be used across multiple devices, including laptop, desktop, iPad and Airplay on Apple TV.

Up to five devices can be registered to each Lightbox account, and two shows can be played at once, so you can watch the latest drama series in the living room while your kids sing along to their cartoon favourites in their bedroom. A parental control function enables parents to filter out content playback according to rating.

Set up is easy. There are no contracts or installation visits required and membership is available to all New Zealanders, regardless of their broadband service provider.

“Our aim is to bring our service to as many homes as possible,” says Hoegsbro. “We want viewers to discover shows they’ll love, and have the freedom to watch them on their own terms. Lightbox enables exactly that.

“We hope New Zealanders will take advantage of our free 30-day trial to check out what we’re offering and watch some great TV shows. To pre-register, visit lightbox.co.nz and enter your email address.”

Compatible device and broadband required. Your ISP charges apply. Lightbox is $15 per 30 days after the 30 day free trial. Terms of use apply.

turb

881 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1074025 25-Jun-2014 10:44

davidcole:
dclegg:
davidcole:
JarrodM: it will have airplay compatibility according to their facebook page

so that sorts out IOS...now what about everything else?

Yes and no.

My experience with Airplay is that it is an extremely unreliable streaming protocol. Often when using Airplay to stream from my iPhone 5S or iPad Air, to my Apple TV 3, the content will fail to stream correctly. Sometimes an Apple TV reboot fixes this. Sometimes I need to reboot our router (Apple Airport Extreme 5th gen). Sometimes I need to reboot both.

And in some cases (NBC app), Airplay will only stream the audio, with video only shown on the source device. In this case it is doubly frustrating, because the ads preceding the content stream with no issues. But as soon as the actual content is due to stream, only the audio is streamed to my ATV.

tl;dr: Airplay is a poor workaround until native apps for common set top boxes & TVs are available.

Oh yes, sorry, airplay is a very poor mans substitute - I personally find it annoying. But given this is one of the only ways to get the content on a telly, short of physically connecting a laptop....and an airplay equivalent is mostly not available on the android or windows side shows the narrow mindness of some of these places.

I'd much rather apps were built, for wd tv, for apple tv, for roku - or if you don't want to pay for those, let the open source communities...for roku, for xbmc, for plex etc develop them.

Basically we end up saying the same conversations for every service - ezyflix, quickflix, EPL, TVNZ ondemand, TV3 Now, sky.

If you can afford the upfront cost of an HTPC, it seems to be the most powerful, adaptable and flexible solution every time.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

sdav

846 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1074033 25-Jun-2014 10:55

I know it's very early days but I'm not sure these companies get it.

I don't watch TV on my computer, phone or ipad. I watch TV shows on TV. I like Netflix because I can hook it up to my TV and that's exactly what I do. Look at the devices that Hulu, Netflix etc support. Look at the services Apple TV, Roku etc support. Hope I'm wrong and that support for consoles, network bluray players, Apple TV, Roku etc is coming...

/rant

davidcole

6037 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1074034 25-Jun-2014 10:57

turb:
davidcole:
dclegg:
davidcole:
JarrodM: it will have airplay compatibility according to their facebook page

so that sorts out IOS...now what about everything else?

Yes and no.

My experience with Airplay is that it is an extremely unreliable streaming protocol. Often when using Airplay to stream from my iPhone 5S or iPad Air, to my Apple TV 3, the content will fail to stream correctly. Sometimes an Apple TV reboot fixes this. Sometimes I need to reboot our router (Apple Airport Extreme 5th gen). Sometimes I need to reboot both.

And in some cases (NBC app), Airplay will only stream the audio, with video only shown on the source device. In this case it is doubly frustrating, because the ads preceding the content stream with no issues. But as soon as the actual content is due to stream, only the audio is streamed to my ATV.

tl;dr: Airplay is a poor workaround until native apps for common set top boxes & TVs are available.

Oh yes, sorry, airplay is a very poor mans substitute - I personally find it annoying. But given this is one of the only ways to get the content on a telly, short of physically connecting a laptop....and an airplay equivalent is mostly not available on the android or windows side shows the narrow mindness of some of these places.

I'd much rather apps were built, for wd tv, for apple tv, for roku - or if you don't want to pay for those, let the open source communities...for roku, for xbmc, for plex etc develop them.

Basically we end up saying the same conversations for every service - ezyflix, quickflix, EPL, TVNZ ondemand, TV3 Now, sky.

If you can afford the upfront cost of an HTPC, it seems to be the most powerful, adaptable and flexible solution every time.

You can't control websites (via ie, firefox or chrome) by remote. The WAF drops if you have to pull out a keyboard and navigate from 5m away a fiddly browser interface.

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