Dish network $20 per month streaming package...

[2010mini]

...No Apple TV support though 🙁

Dish says Apple is too inflexible on the UI design.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...-month-internet-tv-service-with-espn-cnn-more

 

[sodapop1]

Wow, sign me up. This looks very promising!

 

[campyguy]

I see this 3 different ways.

First, a sports-lovers & cord-cutter's way out of the cable clusterfsck, with the caveat that DISH hasn't offered any details as to whether they're going to stick with the pricing over time.

Second, they offered a great "teaser" by indicating additional "packages" will be offered in the future.

Third, it gives cable subs like me a means to beat my TV provider over the head with a much cheaper programming alternative to get their their pricing down, given that I'm not interested in endless reruns of "The Golden Girls meet with Fat Duck Hoarders In The Woods at Dives & Diners, with special guest Anthony Bourdain".

That written, I'll be interested to see whether ISPs - like Comcast, which I use - "optimizes" their network to ensure they throttle the h3ll out of DISH IPTV to make sure its users receive the service they expect (and the crappy service we actually receive until the content providers pay an extortion fee...). My first year just ended and my cable TV cost just doubled - the timing here for me is impeccable.

Dish says Apple is too inflexible on the UI design.

While I agree with the premise of what you wrote, what you wrote is not true and that's not what was written in the AI post. DISH has offered no comment to date regarding their new product relative to the Apple TV and whether or not it will be offered on Apple TV in the future.

 

[Michael CM1]

OK, Imma side with Dish on this one. Open up an app store for the Apple TV and let people put whatever they want in there according to a set of rules like you have for iOS. If this will be available for iOS, then it's kind of dumb to have stricter rules for ATV. It's not like that design is some thing of beauty.

Won't stop me. Just get the service and use AirPlay. That's what many of us did with HBO Go for a year or so.

 

[2010mini]

...While I agree with the premise of what you wrote, what you wrote is not true and that's not what was written in the AI post. DISH has offered no comment to date regarding their new product relative to the Apple TV and whether or not it will be offered on Apple TV in the future.

As stated in the article:

"...Dish is unwilling to bend to Apple's design restrictions for Apple TV apps."

 

[brand]

As stated in the article:

"...Dish is unwilling to bend to Apple's design restrictions for Apple TV apps."

How about you quote the whole sentence instead of omitting the part that contradicts what you are trying to say.

Users will be able to access the service on Macs and iOS devices, but the Apple TV remains unsupported, reportedly because Dish is unwilling to bend to Apple's design restrictions for Apple TV apps.

reportedly
adverb [ sentence adverb ]
according to what some say (used to express the speaker's belief that the information given is not necessarily true)



Then on the article on Recode that AppleInsider links to there is a footnote to the article that points out that there are lots of AppleTV partners that have been able to deal with the design restrictions.

I’ve heard other Apple TV partners gripe about Apple’s design edicts as well. On the other hand, plenty of Apple TV partners, from ESPN to HBO to CBS, seem to be able to deal with them.

Given that it would seem that the issue for the Disk Network Streaming Package not being released on the AppleTV at launch is not an AppleTV UI restriction.

 

[StinDaWg]

I can see Apple not allowing this because they want you to buy shows off their itunes store. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Either that or they are going to do their own streaming tv service as rumored. The "app design restriction" sounds like nonsense".

 

[2010mini]

How about you quote the whole sentence instead of omitting the part that contradicts what you are trying to say.



reportedly
adverb [ sentence adverb ]
according to what some say (used to express the speaker's belief that the information given is not necessarily true)



Then on the article on Recode that AppleInsider links to there is a footnote to the article that points out that there are lots of AppleTV partners that have been able to deal with the design restrictions.





Given that it would seem that the issue for the Disk Network Streaming Package not being released on the AppleTV at launch is not an AppleTV UI restriction.

seriously? EVERYONE knows how strict Apple is on UI design. We have plenty on proof of that from all of the apps being pulled for silly reasons then being reinstated after user outcry.

 

[brand]

seriously? EVERYONE knows how strict Apple is on UI design. We have plenty on proof of that from all of the apps being pulled for silly reasons then being reinstated after user outcry.

It is well known that Apple has UI guidelines for iOS on the iPhone and iPad and they Apple has pulled apps on both of those platforms. Fortunately the AppleTV is not the same as the iPhone and iPad and so far has not played by the same rules. Blaming the reason on UI design for not being on the AppleTV is a very weak argument. In both of the articles both of the authors even mentioned that the source was likely not credible or that the UI excuse did not seem credible when you weight it against all of the other Apps that are currently on the AppleTV.

 

[oneMadRssn]

This looks promising. Especially since I currently have no other way to get a bunch of those channels: ABC Family, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Food Network, HGTV, Maker, TBS, TNT, and Travel Channel. The other channels are already on AppleTV, as long as you have a friend of relative willing to share their cable company login information: ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel.

However, even as a recent cord-cutter, I will stay away from this for now for a few reasons:
- No AppleTV support
- Some games will be blacked out due to contractual restrictions dealing with Verizon's exclusive on mobile NFL games. This makes me suspect other stuff might be blacked out for other contractual restrictions as well, without warning.
- Dish is notorious for letting content deals expire and leaving their subscribers in the dark.

 

[campyguy]

As stated in the article:

"...Dish is unwilling to bend to Apple's design restrictions for Apple TV apps."

And that statement is conjecture... DISH has never gone on the record about designing for the ATV.

 

[littlepooch21]

This is going to be really nice. I can finally have sports without a cable or directv service. Wish I would have known about this before I moved into a new apartment complex that includes both cable and internet with rent. We don't have an option not to have it now.

 

[tbayrgs]

I can see Apple not allowing this because they want you to buy shows off their itunes store. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Either that or they are going to do their own streaming tv service as rumored. The "app design restriction" sounds like nonsense".

A few years ago I might've agreed but the presence of apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus contradict this assumption--both requiring paid subscriptions that allow access to content also available on iTunes.

 

[sodapop1]

It looks like tomorrow is the official release date for Sling TV. I've long been considering getting a Roku 3 to play content from Amazon Prime and UV movies since it appears to be a more robust and reliable platform than the apps on my Samsung Smart TV or Blu-ray player. Sling TV gives me a third reason to purchase the device and if Sling TV doesn't work out, I can just cancel the service.

The Apple TV will still remain my primary device for playing movies, streamed locally of course, since I prefer not to rely heavily on content streamed from the cloud.

Next, I need to try out an HD Antenna for receiving local channels but now I'm at least one step closer to cutting the chord and ditching DirecTV. It will be nice to get my monthly costs for TV entertainment down from around $150 to $50 🙂

 

[jk73]

I pre-registered for this a couple weeks ago and was invited to join today. Sign-up took about 5 minutes by phone. (No online sign-up yet.)

The iOS app ("Sling TV") isn't the most cutting-edge app, but it works very well on both iPhone and iPad.

There's also an OS X app ("DishWorld"), with which I'm having problems. I was able to launch it and log in, but I keep getting the same "allow incoming network requests?" dialog box, which is quickly followed by a "npMoveMediaPlayer unexpectedly quit" error, with "plug-in failed" visible in the player window (just like when you try to watch a Flash video with an expired version of Flash).

I've read that some people are having the same "allow incoming network requests?" error with the latest iTunes update, so I wonder if it relates to this week's Mac OS X update and not to the Sling TV app.

Anyone have any ideas? I probably won't use the OS X app much anyway, but it would be nice if it worked when I want to use it. Thanks.

 

[campyguy]

There's also an OS X app ("DishWorld"), with which I'm having problems. I was able to launch it and log in, but I keep getting the same "allow incoming network requests?" dialog box, which is quickly followed by a "npMoveMediaPlayer unexpectedly quit" error, with "plug-in failed" visible in the player window (just like when you try to watch a Flash video with an expired version of Flash).

I've read that some people are having the same "allow incoming network requests?" error with the latest iTunes update, so I wonder if it relates to this week's Mac OS X update and not to the Sling TV app.

Anyone have any ideas? I probably won't use the OS X app much anyway, but it would be nice if it worked when I want to use it. Thanks.

FYI, DishWorld isn't attached to the new streaming package. DishWorld is Dish Network's international programming package service here in the US, over IP and it's been around for years - a few people I know get their Hindi/Arabic channels this way, and it's about the only decent way to get Euro sports without spending and arm and a leg. DishWorld works best on a Roku IMO...

I'm guessing that the $5 sports "package" that's still not announced is a subset of channels of the $15 Dish World sports package that includes Universal Sports and BeIn Sports - about the only way to watch cycling, rugby, and more soccer events here in the US without having to spend $200 on cable.

 

[brianlbaker]

Just subscribed to Sling TV - nice picture on the iPad, but want to get it up on the TV via AirPlay or mirroring or Chromecast. I'm struggling to get that to happen. Anyone done it?

Any hints?

 

[csarran]

Just subscribed to Sling TV - nice picture on the iPad, but want to get it up on the TV via AirPlay or mirroring or Chromecast. I'm struggling to get that to happen. Anyone done it?

Any hints?

It works great for me. The content won't show on the iPad once it is streaming on Airplay though. I have 50mpbs speed so maybe that helps.

 

[brianlbaker]

It works great for me. The content won't show on the iPad once it is streaming on Airplay though. I have 50mpbs speed so maybe that helps.

I don't see an AirPlay icon to mirror it. Where is the icon?

 

[csarran]

I don't see an AirPlay icon to mirror it. Where is the icon?

You just swipe up from iPad and it's there on bottom. I'm trying to attach picture.

 

[brianlbaker]

Well that makes sense, thank you. It still isn't working on the TV, but I at least know how to make it try.

I'm getting an error, saying try again later.

Thank you though. Sorry, I missed the obvious. 🙂

 

[csarran]

Well that makes sense, thank you. It still isn't working on the TV, but I at least know how to make it try.

I'm getting an error, saying try again later.

Thank you though. Sorry, I missed the obvious. 🙂

No problem. I got the error message the first day, but I just restarted the app and it worked fine. It should work well for you if your internet speed is decent.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

seriously? EVERYONE knows how strict Apple is on UI design. We have plenty on proof of that from all of the apps being pulled for silly reasons then being reinstated after user outcry.

Yes, that's not the "reportedly" part. The "reportedly" part is DirecTV being unwilling to bend.

I would wager that DTV will bend, and there will be an AppleTV app. Especially if the very next sentence in TFA is correct - that Apple is moving to negotiations with carriers (like DirecTV) instead of content providers.

 

[cynics]

How about you quote the whole sentence instead of omitting the part that contradicts what you are trying to say.



reportedly
adverb [ sentence adverb ]
according to what some say (used to express the speaker's belief that the information given is not necessarily true)



Then on the article on Recode that AppleInsider links to there is a footnote to the article that points out that there are lots of AppleTV partners that have been able to deal with the design restrictions.





Given that it would seem that the issue for the Disk Network Streaming Package not being released on the AppleTV at launch is not an AppleTV UI restriction.

What does all this matter? You actually defined the word "reportedly", I nearly fell over.

Here is quote that matters, "....the Apple TV remains unsupported...". Thats not editorial speak, thats a fact you and I can both verify.

Unless you find some solace in blaming someone other then Apple what does it matter? Its not available as an AppleTV app currently and maybe forever, the end.

And lets not overlook the obvious. Dish Network is a business that is offering a service that is perfect for the AppleTV i.e. LOTS of customers. There has to be a pretty big hurdle in front of them in the shape of an Apple to stop them. Like mentioned they will eventually bend to Apples will regardless of what it is since Apple doesn't take the ATV too seriously so its unlikely they will flex.

 

[jk73]

FYI, DishWorld isn't attached to the new streaming package. DishWorld is Dish Network's international programming package service here in the US, ...

Thanks. I guess I signed up so early that they had me download the wrong app. I noticed they now have a dedicated Sling TV OS X app, which is properly linked on the Sling FAQ page. I just installed it and it seems to work fine.

I'm guessing that the $5 sports "package" that's still not announced is a subset of channels of the $15 Dish World sports package that includes Universal Sports and BeIn Sports - about the only way to watch cycling, rugby, and more soccer events here in the US without having to spend $200 on cable.

At least some of the Sports Extra channels are now listed on the FAQ page. It looks like a decent lineup, although I was hoping for the MLB Network and it's not listed. (They have a bunch of ESPN channels, BeIn, some Spanish-language channels from Univision, etc.)