Neon - Is it just me?

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Neon - Is it just me?

alisam

878 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 83

#185389 20-Nov-2015 17:34

I have Neon courtesy of Vodafone for a year.
So far I haven't found anything I want to watch (and haven't).
Perhaps I don't fit the demographics (far side of 50) for their typical viewers and that is perhaps my problem.
I typically watch BBC iPlayer, TV One and Netflix.
The web site appears to be so slow (I am on VDSL) and sites usually zip along nicely.
I am not trying to 'bag' Neon, but I am glad I am not forking out for their monthly fee.

PC: Dell Inspiron 16 5640 (Windows 11 Home), Dell Inspiron 7591 2n1 (Windows 11 Pro), HP ProBook 470G1 (Windows 10 Pro), Intel NUC7I5BNH (Zorin)
Net: Grandstream 1 x GWN7062 Router, 1 x GWN7665 Access Point
Storage: Synology DS216play NAS, 2 x 6TB
Media: 3 x Amazon FireTV. Echo, Dot, Spot
TV: 2 x Samsung H6400 55" LED TV, Panasonic TH-P50G10Z 50" Plasma TV
Mobile: Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Wearable: Gear S3 Frontier

ech3lon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 123

#1431898 20-Nov-2015 18:28

Got the same offer, I did watch some movies and following "Episodes" . Matt LeBlanc actually fits his role (playing himself!)

But I do agree the website seems to load rather tardy, especially in the beginning.

I reckon nothing could get close to where Netflix is in terms of content.

quickymart

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13954

ID Verified

#1434273 25-Nov-2015 06:04

Do you think you'll keep it when your free year is up?

dpw

843 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

ID Verified

Trusted

#1434299 25-Nov-2015 07:37

I agree, the offering and functionality are both rather limited. We watch our streaming two ways: Chromecast and Samsung TV. We currently have free subs for Netflix, Lightbox, and Neon. That's pretty much in order of "polishedness", in terms of functionality and usability. Since Neon does not have a Samsung TV app yet we're forced to watch it over Chromecast, which is on our smaller TV in the bedroom. It keeps dropping connection with the Chromecast for some reason. The others are not doing that :( We have a few TV series we'd like to watch on Neon but having disconnections is a real pain. Also, the video quality seems lacking... I should check one of these days if Neon streams HD or not.

Android user, software developer, a semi-typical (not a gamer) geek, and a Bernese Mountain Dog nut!

http://savitarbernese.com | https://nz.linkedin.com/in/danywu

dpw

843 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 16

ID Verified

Trusted

#1434303 25-Nov-2015 07:50

quickymart: Do you think you'll keep it when your free year is up?

In its current state, no. However, they mentioned Samsung app is next cab off the rank. If they also improve streaming quality then we'd definitely consider them.

Android user, software developer, a semi-typical (not a gamer) geek, and a Bernese Mountain Dog nut!

http://savitarbernese.com | https://nz.linkedin.com/in/danywu

richms

29099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10210

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1434315 25-Nov-2015 08:21

Ive had a bit of a look at their range, and there is a few things I would watch if it was presented in a watchable format. But till they leave the resolutions established with the invention of colour TV behind I cant justify paying for it. I dont even watch SD when it's free to air, stuff paying money to see it.

Richard rich.ms

leo0787sx

407 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 25

#1434380 25-Nov-2015 10:09

For me it was Fear the Walking Dead. Soon Penny Dreadful Season 2 and Game of Thrones.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

ech3lon

386 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 123

#1434425 25-Nov-2015 10:58

It keeps dropping connection with the Chromecast for some reason. The others are not doing that :( We have a few TV series we'd like to watch on Neon but having disconnections is a real pain. Also, the video quality seems lacking... I should check one of these days if Neon streams HD or not.

No HD! a shame really as this is quite a big minus in my book, probly based on a decision by some dinosaur at sky.
I found the chromecast support is rather flaky as well, sometimes the cast button doesn't even show up on the Android app.

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
1935 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 640

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#1434443 25-Nov-2015 11:29

ech3lon:

No HD! a shame really as this is quite a big minus in my book, probly based on a decision by some dinosaur at sky.
I found the chromecast support is rather flaky as well, sometimes the cast button doesn't even show up on the Android app.

No HD is the killer for me too (and the price).

I figure they don't do HD as they believe if you really want the quality you would get Sky + Soho, or they are scared of the cost of delivering HD content via the Akamai CDN. (Akamai charge per Mbyte served).

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 537
Inactive user

#1435119 26-Nov-2015 12:37

I watched GoT and that was it, cancelled after the season finished.

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#1435127 26-Nov-2015 12:44

My understanding is no HD and almost twice the price of any other equivalent offering. Do they have any paying customers?

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

andrew027

1286 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 557

#1435174 26-Nov-2015 13:07

scuwp: My understanding is no HD and almost twice the price of any other equivalent offering. Do they have any paying customers?

That's what I was wondering. When I saw the thread title "Neon - is it just me?" my thought was: Probably, yes.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

toejam316

1516 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 888

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1435197 26-Nov-2015 13:32

Sure as hell the only reason I have a Neon subscription is because 2Degrees rolled it into my plan - were I given the choice, I'd take any discount I could and drop the service, as I just don't use it.

Like everyone else has already said, the service just isn't polished enough, and has arbitrary limitations (only 5 registered devices and 2 streams at once? Why do both those restrictions need to exist? One of the other, please, along with resolutions greater than the average smart phone!)

Join Quic Broadband with my referral - no sign up fee and gives me account credit

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.