Does It Live Up to the Cha?
Are you looking for a high-performance Digital Video Recorder (DVR) for your TV? Simple.TV 2 might just be the perfect choice for you. The cord-cutting DVR is the latest iteration of Simple.TV and looks quite like a streaming box now. The original device looked like something Apple would make. It is larger than a Roku but doesn’t take up much space.
First things first, you will notice that there is a cooling fan inside the grille. The issue is that the fan does make some noise and if the sound is turned down, it is quite audible. This is the biggest drawback of the Simple.TV 2. Because of the fan, you get the feeling you have turned on a PC when you switch the DVR on. There are some firmware updates you can download and install to minimize the noise.
The price has been hiked, as was expected, and the Simple.TV 2 costs $200, $50 more than its predecessor. The software featured in the device enables you to use a range of platforms, from Android to iOS, and also multiple browsers. According to the makers, using the Android app offers the most stable performance. You can also stream shows outside your home through the Whole-Planet Remote Access feature. It costs $150 for lifetime subscription.
You can also download offline content. Click on the ‘Download’ icon and the program will be uploaded to the server and converted so you can watch it. It does take a long time to download high-quality videos but that is the case with most DVRs. Also, you cannot share videos across multiple networks. You will get an error if you try to do so.
Regarding performance, the picture quality gets compromised when you view the content on a larger screen. Also, optimal functionality is limited to two users at a time. As far as the price is concerned, the $150 lifetime fee is economical and proves quite cost-effective in the long run.
