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 Post subject: Chromecast, and things like it
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 18:44 
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Joined: 31st Mar, 2008
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What is this? (Eurogamer article)

This is the first time I hear of any of this.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 19:38 
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Well Amazon are one of the few companies I'd credit with the ability to make a success of a "lite" console and media system, so it will be interesting to see what comes of it.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 22:01 
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Goth

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Looks like the pad will be perfectly designed to be impossible to use effectively without severe pain.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 22:10 
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Paws for thought

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I agree with The man with the christmas name Nijel Henge

It looks mighty uncomfortably.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 10:14 
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Goth

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Hmm. My name really ought to be changed back now shouldn't it? Where's the mods when you need them?

Though actually I still have my christmas tree up in my living room...

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:46 
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I, er, what?
Eurogamer wrote:
What if Amazon isn't making a set-top box but a USB dongle-stick-thing instead?

That's what TechCrunch has heard from "multiple sources familiar with the device".

One source said the dongle-stick-thing will support streaming of full PC game titles. Amazon already sells PC and Mac games for download.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:48 
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Derek The Halls wrote:
Hmm. My name really ought to be changed back now shouldn't it? Where's the mods when you need them?

Though actually I still have my christmas tree up in my living room...


What would you like to change it to?


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:49 
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Oh, it seems Eurogamer got it a bit wrong, it would be a HDMI dongle, not a USB one, which makes a lot more sense.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:50 
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Why's that weird? The Google ChromeCast is a dongle.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:51 
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Commander-in-Cheese

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Ah, yes. I see your confusion now.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:55 
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This is actually also the first time my attention has been brought to Chromecast. I think I'm getting old or something.

But yes, it makes perfect sense that Amazon would want to compete with that, especially with all their new Amazon Prime stuff going on.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:08 
SupaMod
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Chromecast is rather lovely.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:14 
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Grim... wrote:
Chromecast is rather lovely.

Want one


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:17 
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that does look funky

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:19 
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If someone would buy me one... that would be lovely.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:25 
SupaMod
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DavPaz wrote:
If someone would buy me one... that would be lovely.

They come out tomorrow, say the papers. They're ever so cheap, so just buy one yourself.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:26 
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Well... if you insist.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:41 
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For some reason* I keep struggling to understand Chromecast. Does it do anything on it's own at all, or do you always need another device to stream stuff from? Obviously if you're 'casting' the view of a Chrome tab from your PC or whatever you're doing so from a separate device but do things like Netflix run on the dongle itself or are you always streaming from a separate device?

*Because I'm quite stupid, obviously.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:44 
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Using Plex or YouTube (and Netflix, I believe) you need a phone (or something) to control it and choose what you want to watch, but once this is done you can then use the phone for something else, as the ChromeCast App connects directly to the source.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:54 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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I want to want one, but as much as I try and find a use, I just can't think of why I would need one! :D


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 13:00 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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Trooper wrote:
I want to want one, but as much as I try and find a use, I just can't think of why I would need one! :D


Oh... wait. Plex casting is now free? That might make a difference. I could bin the Boxee Box connected to the bedroom tv in that case.

Hmmm...

What I really want is the ability to send stuff from my sky box to the bedroom tv really, is there a better way to do that these days than my old slingbox?


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 13:04 
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Trooper wrote:
I want to want one, but as much as I try and find a use, I just can't think of why I would need one! :D


Like that ever stops you.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 13:09 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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Curiosity wrote:
Trooper wrote:
I want to want one, but as much as I try and find a use, I just can't think of why I would need one! :D


Like that ever stops you.


I only buy this sort of shit as a service to the forum, you think I want to buy random useless tech?


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 13:12 
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Trooper wrote:
Curiosity wrote:
Trooper wrote:
I want to want one, but as much as I try and find a use, I just can't think of why I would need one! :D


Like that ever stops you.


I only buy this sort of shit as a service to the forum, you think I want to buy random useless tech?

All seven of us thank you!

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:00 
SupaMod
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Trooper wrote:
What I really want is the ability to send stuff from my sky box to the bedroom tv really, is there a better way to do that these days than my old slingbox?

A long cable?

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:05 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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Grim... wrote:
Trooper wrote:
What I really want is the ability to send stuff from my sky box to the bedroom tv really, is there a better way to do that these days than my old slingbox?

A long cable?


Can a HDMI signal stretch that far? I expect I would need 30m+ if I wanted to chase the cable around the walls rather than across the middle of the floor.
Not an awful idea though, I have a HDMI splitter already, and you can control your sky box from the sky app these days!


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:17 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-Exte ... B002ECYEYA

Ooooh! I already have Cat5 run to the room.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:18 
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Master of dodgy spelling....

Joined: 25th Sep, 2008
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Those are neat....

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:21 
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Yes

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Make sure you get the gold-plated version.

Mrs Grim... can advise further.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 17:04 
SupaMod
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Est. 1978

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Sky boxes provide for an additional TV, don't they? Our old one did - it had an IO socket and we just had a little box in the bedroom connected to it.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 17:55 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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No RF out on the HD boxes anymore.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:45 
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would http://www.skifta.com/ work for your set up?


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:54 
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Can you dig it?

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Trooper wrote:
No RF out on the HD boxes anymore.


Really? What a swiz. A long RF cable and the in-line 'sky-eye' remote sensor was a quick and easy way to get sky up to the bedroom telly.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:56 
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Master of dodgy spelling....

Joined: 25th Sep, 2008
Posts: 22533
Location: shropshire, uk
Cant you use sky go, and plug that device into a tv?

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:09 
SupaMod
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Commander-in-Cheese

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Sky Go blocks Airplay, irritatingly.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:19 
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Cras wrote:
Sky Go blocks Airplay, irritatingly.

Really? What a cunt.

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:22 
SupaMod
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To be fair, I'm willing to bet 80% of Sky Go usage is by people who are just using it because the account holder doesn't. It makes sense to restrict it in that way.

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Drunk, pulled Craster's pork, waiting for brdyime story,reading nuts. Xz


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:23 
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Master of dodgy spelling....

Joined: 25th Sep, 2008
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Location: shropshire, uk
Cras wrote:
To be fair, I'm willing to bet 80% of Sky Go usage is by people who are just using it because the account holder doesn't. It makes sense to restrict it in that way.


*looks sheepish*

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Kovacs: From 'unresponsive' to 'kebab' in 3.5 seconds


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 14:50 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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Sky go doesn't let you play the content that is saved on your sky box though, that's what we really want.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 14:51 
SupaMod
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No help to you, but you can to that with Virgin.

Anyway, surely "big cable" is the best bet (although I have no idea if you are allowed to drill holes or anything).

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 14:52 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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Bobbyaro wrote:
would http://www.skifta.com/ work for your set up?


Nope, I can already do all that. It doesn't solve my problem ;)


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 14:54 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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Grim... wrote:
No help to you, but you can to that with Virgin.

Anyway, surely "big cable" is the best bet (although I have no idea if you are allowed to drill holes or anything).


Heh, no Virgin in my block of flats :hat:

Big cable is the best bet, I agree.
I'm pretty certain I'm allowed to drill holes, i'll ask the owner though... Apparently I said it is fine :D


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 15:04 
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Unpossible!

Joined: 27th Jun, 2008
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Bed in the living room.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 15:06 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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DavPaz wrote:
Bed in the living room.


We have had the living room for a while now, it's pretty well understood and settled.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 15:22 
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Unpossible!

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Trooper wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Bed in the living room.


We have had the living room for a while now, it's pretty well understood and settled.

:applauds:

Grim... wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
If someone would buy me one... that would be lovely.

They come out tomorrow, say the papers. They're ever so cheap, so just buy one yourself.


Done.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 15:24 
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Master of dodgy spelling....

Joined: 25th Sep, 2008
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Trooper wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Bed in the living room.


We have had the living room for a while now, it's pretty well understood and settled.


:DD

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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 13:44 
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Unpossible!

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Got my Chromecast this morning. I've had a quick play in the office and it's pretty nifty. It should be perfect for the second tv.


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 13:50 
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ugvm'er at heart...

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"In practice, the video quality is low and the display can lag and skip frames."

These sort of comments in online press reviews i've read worry me. I'd be interested in a proper review if you get the time :)


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 13:55 
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Unpossible!

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I didn't see any lag in the few youtube vids and netflix stuff I've tried, but i've literally only tried it for 10 minutes. The boss told me to turn it off. Fair do's, I was watching Avengers on work time :D


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 Post subject: Re: Amazon set-top box?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 14:01 
SupaMod
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Trooper wrote:
"In practice, the video quality is low and the display can lag and skip frames."

These sort of comments in online press reviews i've read worry me. I'd be interested in a proper review if you get the time :)

I've not seen any difference between streaming to Chromecast and my (wired) TV's built in app at all, except Chromecast is faster.

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