New SKY streaming devices

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214 posts

Master Geek

#3032413 6-Feb-2023 10:03

I have a Mi connected to the TV as well as VTV. The latter is connected with Ethernet and the former with Wifi.

I only very occasionally use the Mi as the VTV does all that is needed.

I will see if that remains the same when Skypod appears.

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farcus

1455 posts

Uber Geek

#3032488 6-Feb-2023 14:18

prevaljo:

I've been using the Sky Pod for about a week and I have had a few thoughts about it. I guess the main thought is because it's a Google TV device the fact that Sky have Skyfied it means that many of the Google features have been changed/crippled. Having been a VTV user and having had a Chromecast I've never felt the need to explore any of the TV devices (Google, Mi etc etc). But having used the Sky Pod, it's obvious that a native Google device would offer so much more by not being crippled by Sky.

what kind of stuff has been crippled?

John19612

33 posts

Geek

#3032499 6-Feb-2023 14:55

I will shortly be taking delivery of a new Sky Pod to replace my current VFTV setup. Does anyone know if the Sky Pod and remote will function with IR or is it essentially BLE only?

Currently, HDBaseT is used to send the VFTV HDMI signal from the lounge to another room with an IR receiver and blaster to control the VFTV back in the original room. If possible I would like to continue using this arrangement. Voice control is not a viable option for the actual user.

prevaljo

164 posts

Master Geek

#3032541 6-Feb-2023 18:20

Nothing in the very limited information that comes with the Pod indicates that you can control the Pod with IR.

prevaljo

164 posts

Master Geek

#3032548 6-Feb-2023 18:40

farcus:

prevaljo:

I've been using the Sky Pod for about a week and I have had a few thoughts about it. I guess the main thought is because it's a Google TV device the fact that Sky have Skyfied it means that many of the Google features have been changed/crippled. Having been a VTV user and having had a Chromecast I've never felt the need to explore any of the TV devices (Google, Mi etc etc). But having used the Sky Pod, it's obvious that a native Google device would offer so much more by not being crippled by Sky.

what kind of stuff has been crippled?

I'm not a Google TV owner/user and I'm only just beginning to use the Pod but things I have sort of noticed are:

1. If you search for movies from the menu it seems to only search Sky movies (I don't subscribe to Sky movies), not any of the other streaming apps Netflix, Neon, etc.

2. It doesn't seem to have a "Watchlist" of what you are currently watching which I think the Google box has.

3. I'm not into sideloading but I'm fairly certain that it's pretty much locked down.

You can access the Google Play store and there doesn't seem to be a problem accessing and loading apps, I have put a VPN on and a browser.

I don't dislike the Pod, it obviously doesn't have the recording flexibility that the VTV box had, it can go back 72 hours on most (all ?) channels, and I like the built in Chromecast feature.

invisibleman18

1176 posts

Uber Geek

#3034430 10-Feb-2023 11:05

Latest email from Sky:

SouthernGeek

63 posts

Master Geek

#3034434 10-Feb-2023 11:12

Hi Guys,

Can anyone with the skypod confirm the 3 day rollback feature works on all shows, and all channels?

I like to watch some shows on TV3 & TV1 but often miss the start. I hate to wait until they are finished to use the respective apps.

stoal76

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3034635 10-Feb-2023 15:28

Did anyone else get the offer email today from Sky about a 12month 20% discount for all Vodafone TV customers that move across to the new Sky devices?

I called their service team to take up the offer and they said it didn't exist, even though there is a web page offering the same deal

https://www.sky.co.nz/vtv-sky-offer-20?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20230210_No_PreOrder_Reminder_Order_Now&utm_campaign=

I then get another email some hours later saying the previous email was a test, this seems very odd especially since the web page is still active.

They are now only offering one month free as a special offer to Vodafone TV customers.

drseuss25

71 posts

Master Geek

#3034675 10-Feb-2023 17:06

stoal76:

Did anyone else get the offer email today from Sky about a 12month 20% discount for all Vodafone TV customers that move across to the new Sky devices?

I called their service team to take up the offer and they said it didn't exist, even though there is a web page offering the same deal

https://www.sky.co.nz/vtv-sky-offer-20?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20230210_No_PreOrder_Reminder_Order_Now&utm_campaign=

I then get another email some hours later saying the previous email was a test, this seems very odd especially since the web page is still active.

They are now only offering one month free as a special offer to Vodafone TV customers.

This sounds liker an error that they were meaning to send to any Vodafone TV customer who hasnt agreed to migrate yet.

P.S Still waiting for any communication after the initial agreements to move. I emailed Sky asking whats going on.... 14 days later i get an email saying if i wanted help to call their 0800 number.... Customer service at its best...

quickymart

11225 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3035751 13-Feb-2023 09:34

arnies

491 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3036393 14-Feb-2023 13:43

I hope they 'fine tune' their pricing model too

andar

67 posts

Master Geek

#3038141 17-Feb-2023 13:24

I recevied my new Skypod today and here is my experience so far:

Plugged the Skypod in and it prompted for wifi details and then automatically upgraded and rebooted.
Wifi wouldn't connect after the restart so I connected an ethernet cable, it then went through another upgrade cycle. I removed the ethernet cable after the second upgrade and wifi was working again.

It then continued through the setup process, entered google account deatils and then it displayed a QR code for Sky account activation. I scanned this with my phone and logged in. Then on the Skypod this appeared to have activated my account. However, I could not watch any channels (apps such as netflix were working) as it stated I needed to upgrade my account.

After 30 mins on the phone with Sky support it turned out my account had not activated. So, they directed me to go into the Skypod app settings and clear the data. Then it showed another QR code along with a 8 letter code. They then directed me to browse (on another device) to login.sky.co.nz/activate and enetr the 8 letter code. Then after entering my Sky account login creds, hey presto, it works.

Initial impressions:

On the free TV channels (TV1, TV2, etc) you cannot go back or restart a program.
The TV guide is a bit clunky and not very fast.
The TV guide does not have any way to hide channels which you don't subscribe to.
You can filter the TV guide by category, eg. movies, sport, etc.
Picture quality seems quite good.
Same or less lag than VodafoneTV when changing channels.
Home page seems to have a nice layout
The remote has a button labeled MyHub, this takes you to a page which has all your recently watched channels. May be able to add favourite channels here, not tried yet.

So, not seamless but it still in beta so can't complain too much.

Although, given that it is still in beta, I would have thought that Sky would provide a mechanism to report any issues encountered. When I called Sky I was transferred a couple of times and the third person actually knew something about the Skypod.

SouthernGeek

63 posts

Master Geek

#3038148 17-Feb-2023 13:37

"On the free TV channels (TV1, TV2, etc) you cannot go back or restart a program."

This seems like a very weird omission to me.....

Wouldn't that mean the SkyPod is of little use if you don't subscribe to a Sky Paid channel such as movies or sport?

If you are only subscribing to Sky to get a skypod to replace VFTV, you would opt for "Sky Starter" this means with all the faf or paying for the hardware AND not keeping it, plus a monthly sub its getting very expensive, and you cant "Rewind" most of the channels on sky starter........

This seems very weird to me. Seems like its better functionality and much cheaper to just buy a chromecast with no ongoing fees, also has no rewind?

Im really starting to get confused as to the market they see for these devices?