DirecTV launches Nomad TV service
DirecTV’s long-awaited Nomad TV service has launched today. It’s not a streaming service like Slingbox, so you can’t watch live DirecTV content, but Nomad will allow you to watch anything that’s recorded on your DVR on up to five connected mobile or PC devices. On its website, DirecTV lists the cost of the device at $149. There’s also a monthly fee of $5 to use the service.
With most cellular providers except Sprint removing unlimited data DirecTV feels that it’s method of delivering content to your devices over the home network will be a better solution than SlingBox, which uses data and also needs an internet connection to stream content. Nomad uses no data since the content is loaded into your device’s hard drive, very Apple-like. That’s fine by us, but we would like to see DirecTV allow streaming of its live content, via the home network WiFi, as well.
As it is, Nomad lets customers watch recorded shows and movies from their HD DVRs on their cell phones, laptops or tablet computers. It can automatically make new shows available to view on your devices as soon as the DVR records them and it is compatible with PC, iPhone and iPod Touch. The iPhone version will work on iPad. DirecTV says Mac, Android and iPad-optimized version is launching soon.
To use Nomad, your DirecTV DVR must be connected to the internet with the Nomad unit plugged into your router via an ethernet cable. Mobile users will also need to download the DirecTV Nomad app. Shows will take about an hour to download and apparently can only be transferred to your device over your home network. After you get them downloaded, you can play the shows anywhere for up to 30 days from the time you moved them over.
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The Nomad sounds like a starter mobile device for DirecTV
customers but it does not stack up well with DISH Network Sling adapter which
has been available for DISH customers for a while now. Working for DISH Network
I can say the Sling adapter streams all your programming that you get at home
plus your DVR recordings while the Nomad only downloads up to 20 hours of
programming and then at that their is some programs you cannot watch on your
mobile device. The Nomad does not show live TV like the Sling adapter does and
you can only use your home internet connection to download on the Nomad and
with the sling adapter you can use any Wi-Fi connection or a 3G cellular
connection. The best part about the Sling adapter is there is no monthly fee’s
with this adapter and it cost $50 cheaper than the Nomad.