Chaz Adams

Cutting the Cord (That cord being Cable TV)

So three months ago I was faced with a choice, pay the crazy rate for cable at my new apartment or take the plunge and go without. As you can probably guess I took the plunge so here is my story. So if you do not know I am a very tech savy person so I knew there were several ways to go about getting the programing I wanted. My setup is as follows:

Hardware:
32” HDTV
Xbox 360
Mac Mini (Late 2010 Refresh)
RCA Flat Pannel Antenna
Software/Services:
Boxee
Hulu
Netflix

Now I bought a Mac Mini as my streaming/internet connected device of choice because it gives me the option to use any and all web based services without fear of them getting blocked by providers like Boxee originally faced with Hulu before promising Hulu+ support and like how Google TV has faced thus far.

For the most part the mini runs the Boxee software which I can then control using my ultra basic apple remote or the more robust boxee remote app that is available for iOS devices. Boxee allows me to play dvds, my downloaded content and most importantly gives me a clean interface with “app” support for some of my favorite internet tv (mainly Revision3)

My biggest fear about giving up cable was sports of course and thats where the antenna comes in, as well as for all of your basic network programing on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. Now the antenna I purchased set me back about $30 and works beautifully, if you didn’t know you can get HD programming easily over the air for free so I never miss football games outside of those silly thursday games and monday night football. Sometimes I do dable and turn to online streaming sites to watch a hockey game or network tv game but for the most part the antenna does a great job.

Since taking the plunge I have recommended it to several people looking to save money, it is simply outrageous that people pay $60 or more a month for a bunch of channels you never watch anyways especially when so many tv series are available on both hulu and netflix as it is.

So go forth friends, free yourself from the cable/satellite giants it is way easier than you think!

iPad

So the iPad, I have mixed feelings on this device.

First off, the fact that it didn’t run iPhone OS 4.0 puzzles me, we know 4.0 is coming in a few months with a new phone so why wasn’t it shown off now? What other secrets is 4.0 hiding that the iPad might get?

The lack of flash could REALLY hurt this product. Look on my phone I want nothing to do with flash but on a web browsing device, you need flash, it has plenty of power so lets see flash on this puppy.

Wheres the front facing camera and built in video chat? is this the sorta app that is coming in 4.0?

If this thing didn’t get a Verizon option I highly doubt the next iPhone will either.

Now lets talk potential. Magazine/Newspaper/Comic apps could really make this a must have device. The New York Times app shows the potential is there for rich content in this realm so now lets see it from the developers. I really hope the iPhone event in a few months shows off some more mature apps for the iPad.

Love the no-contract data part, not so much on the 250mb option, dont people use that in a day on the modern web?

All of this being said, I stand mixed on if I want this device, well I want it, but do I need it, to me this device says wait for the 2nd gen version all the way. I cant wait to get my hands on one though to see just what the experience is really like. Touch computing is clearly where we are headed after all.

So what do you out there think of this device?