Dabby - Streaming Services Integration

[NetworkGuy]

It appears the race is on to build a device that integrates all streaming services.

https://www.techhive.com/article/351...ide-is-on.html

https://www.heydabby.com/

[pjpjpjpj]

It's almost like people on this forum are 5-10 years ahead of the tech curve.

I have an LG OLED TV which comes with webOS and the "magic remote". I can speak any show or movie name and it pulls up all the various streaming services where it's available (Amazon, Netflix, Google Play, etc.). It doesn't know which you have, but if you have any of them and click on it, it opens the show or movie in that app. A little bit of the same thing discussed here, but not a "guide", more of a smart search. I guess the difference is that it shows you where it's located and opens it; whereas what people dream of is a guide where all the various services you have are hidden within it, and when you pick a show, it just plays it from a service (without telling you which, because you don't care).

[wayner]

I wonder how much the services will push back and not allow this to happen. From the article it sounds like Netflix is one of the companies pushing back on this idea.

It doesn't mention it but I think Roku does something like this as well.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

It's almost like people on this forum are 5-10 years ahead of the tech curve.

And some of this was implemented in SageTV many years ago with integration of RecordedTV, ripped content, plus Netflix, Hulu etc via PlayOn.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by wayner

And some of this was implemented in SageTV many years ago with integration of RecordedTV, ripped content, plus Netflix, Hulu etc via PlayOn.

Wait, it was? I know you can combine recorded TV and your other media (ripped movies, etc.) but where, when, and how could you get PlayOn stuff to show up in "listings"? Was that a plugin I missed somehow?

[wayner]

I thought that there was a unified search, but I could be wrong. Certainly after you recorded something with PlayOn it was integrated into Sage.

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

It's almost like people on this forum are 5-10 years ahead of the tech curve.

I think the developers and plugin creators are probably way ahead, yeah. I just stumbled in and rode the light.

[wayner]

To be using devices like extenders was ahead of its time.

[stuckless]

I think I'd be happy if an app like plex/emby could allow me to search/browse across services and track what I've watched and have these shows show up in my "unwatched" list and have the ability to "play next".

AndroidTV can do this a little provided the service integrates with android's play next bar.

Services like https://www.justwatch.com/ do a great job in aggregating what is available on all services by country, and Trakt can track what you watch... so there might be hope that someday some service will provide a unified search and watched status. Plex is starting to push in this area with the addition now of streaming it's own tv/movies. I wonder if over time plex will make deals to offer in-plex ability to search/play from different providers.

My bet is that just how "cable" came along and started bundling channels and networks, we'll see someday the online equivalant of that for 150/month you'll pick your bundles and we'll come full circle back to the cable/sat, except with streaming services instead of signals and wires.

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by wayner

To be using devices like extenders was ahead of its time.

For sure!

It seems that most providers now have a system that includes "extenders" but back in the day SageTV was certainly alone in this regard. At best you could have multiple DVR boxes provided by your service provider, but there wasn't any way to get recordings from one device to another, and you had a rental fee for each box.

Actually this is the main reason I'm still on cable. I don't rent or pay for a single cable box. I only pay a $2 monthly cable card rental fee and use SageTV and extenders to watch content on all my TVs. I probably save $40-75 a month compared to my neighbors who have to rent boxes for each TV and pay for their DVR service. Obviously I have to pay for the standard service, but not paying box rentals definitely makes it more affordable.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by sic0048

I don't rent or pay for a single cable box. I only pay a $2 monthly cable card rental fee and use SageTV and extenders to watch content on all my TVs.

I wish it was that easy with Comcast. They REQUIRE you to have at least one cable box. Typical monthly fee:

$5.00 Cable Box
$9.50 2 Cablecards
$11.90 Broadcast TV Fee
$8.75 Regional Sports Fee

For a grand total of $35.55 on top of your monthly subscription fee.

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I wish it was that easy with Comcast. They REQUIRE you to have at least one cable box. Typical monthly fee:

$5.00 Cable Box
$9.50 2 Cablecards
$11.90 Broadcast TV Fee
$8.75 Regional Sports Fee

For a grand total of $35.55 on top of your monthly subscription fee.

Yeah, we all pay that (except I don't need a cable box). The thing that's frustrating is that the costs they advertise don't include one penny of those costs you mention, so they always appear competitive, until you get the first bill.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

Yeah, we all pay that (except I don't need a cable box). The thing that's frustrating is that the costs they advertise don't include one penny of those costs you mention, so they always appear competitive, until you get the first bill.

I have been playing with OTA so I can drop their cable TV, but have not found an antenna that will pull in all the channels unless I want to have it mounted on the roof.

[farscapesg1]

Interesting. Caavo does some similar integration (Netflix, Amazon, Plex, etc.) but not as far reaching as Dabby is suggesting.

Unfortunately... I'm too old The big reason I bought a Caavo wasn't for integration but for a single remote. When I sit down to watch TV, the last thing I want to to have to grab a tablet/phone/etc. to control what I watch. There's a special place in my heart and a warm feeling I get sitting back in my recliner with a remote in my hand, LOL. Not to mention, with two kids in the house that love to watch Youtube and Netflix.. it wouldn't be a week before I found that tablet in the bathroom (I've already had to make them "no laptop" zones).

[KryptoNyte]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I have been playing with OTA so I can drop their cable TV, but have not found an antenna that will pull in all the channels unless I want to have it mounted on the roof.

SHS keeps pointing us towards those Clearstream antennas. I may have to get one of those and try it in the attic. The one I have in the attic right now pulls in channels okay, as long as the weather is just right. Well, that and I couldn't resist the Chinese name they branded it with:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748KYTZN/

[SHS]

Originally Posted by KryptoNyte

SHS keeps pointing us towards those Clearstream antennas. I may have to get one of those and try it in the attic. The one I have in the attic right now pulls in channels okay, as long as the weather is just right. Well, that and I couldn't resist the Chinese name they branded it with:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748KYTZN/

HaHa very funny

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I wish it was that easy with Comcast. They REQUIRE you to have at least one cable box. Typical monthly fee:

$5.00 Cable Box
$9.50 2 Cablecards
$11.90 Broadcast TV Fee
$8.75 Regional Sports Fee

For a grand total of $35.55 on top of your monthly subscription fee.

I called my Cox folks this week and asked they explain the ‘regional’ Sports fee of $9. They couldn’t. All i asked was “which channel triggers the charge”. They couldn’t even tell me that. Complete and utter cash-grab.