Still, the Stream+ has some major omissions. Google’s Android TV software can help supplement over-the-air shows with streaming video apps and games. By combining Stream+ with other channel bundles like Sling TV, premium video services like HBO Now, and free apps such as Pluto TV, you can put together a lot of programming without a cable subscription. Because it runs Google’s Android TV software, it can also download apps and games from the Google Play Store and provide video rentals from Google Play Movies & TV. These shortcomings are no surprise to Channel Master, which documents most of them on its support website, but because Google is in charge of the Live Channels app, there’s only so much Channel Master can do to improve the experience on its own. Outside the live TV guide, Google’s voice search is the only way to find programs to record. You can use Google’s voice search with Live Channels, which covers up to 14 days of future programming, but that only works when you know exactly what to look for. You can pause a live TV program and fast forward through it, but the cached programming is automatically deleted when you change channels.įinding things to record can be somewhat of a hassle as well, because the Live Channels app has no search tool or way to browse upcoming programs by genre, and the live programming guide only covers two days of upcoming guide data. That means you can’t set the DVR for a primetime show, then tune in 15 minutes later to skip all the commercials. The Stream+ also does not let you start watching a recording while it’s still in progress. The Stream+ supports series recording, but without features like buffer times or automatic removal of older episodes. There’s no way to set start and stop buffer times, schedule manual recordings, record only new episodes, or automatically delete older episodes. You can adjust the priority of recordings, limit recordings to specific channels, and get notified when you’ve created a scheduling conflict, but that’s about it. Still, compared to subscription-based DVR services, your options for managing recordings are more limited. You’ll also never experience any buffering or hangups while fast forwarding or rewinding through a program. That means every live TV channel and recording looks as smooth and sharp as it would with direct antenna input, and channels take only a second or two to load. Like TiVo, Channel Master records the native broadcast signal and stores it on the Stream+ itself. Google’s Live Channels app is easy to scroll through and provides rich cover art. When you select a program, you can record the entire series with a couple of clicks. Visually, this is a major upgrade over Channel Master’s older DVRs, with rich cover art, smooth animations, and text descriptions that appear as you scroll through the guide. There’s a hint of choppiness as you scroll through the TV program guide or use demanding apps like PlayStation Vue, but it’s never enough to get in the way of navigation.Īfter setting everything up, you can use Google’s Live Channels app to view the TV guide and set up recordings. Jared Newman / TechHiveĪlthough it’s not as zippy as an Nvidia Shield TV, the Stream+ handles Google’s Android TV software admirably, with smooth transitions and fast loading times for apps. Having all all those live-TV shortcuts is actually quite nice, and while the remote’s plastic enclosure feels cheap, the rubberized buttons make a satisfying click and are easy to press. Beyond the usual navigation and playback controls, there are shortcuts for the TV guide and DVR list, volume and channel buttons, a number pad, an “info” button, and a power button for the TV. The Stream+ remote has both an IR blaster and Bluetooth, the latter of which allows you to navigate without pointing the remote directly at the Stream+ box. The Stream+ has ports for an antenna, USB 3.0, digital optical audio, and HDMI in back.
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