If you find that there are dozens of WiFi networks that show up when you go to connect your wireless devices, the Portal Router may be for you. In congested areas, like apartment buildings, dozens of users may be fighting to get an internet signal over the same channel on the same band (either 5 GHz or the extremely crowded 2.4 GHz band). The Portal router offers technology that can move you away from the crowds to get the best internet access possible.
Known for their flat, hang on the wall antennas, Mohu has again innovated a new antenna, streaming combo device that shows that the company understands what cord cutters want—free live TV along with their streaming services. The AirWave is a wireless antenna. It is connected to your home wifi network and streams the live TV to an AirWave app on your Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, iPhone, iPad, Android, or over the web.
LG brings new features to their premium smart TVs that includes a newly designed remote control. The remote control brings fast access to your favorite streaming services and includes a button to bring up info about the current show you are watching. It also makes it possible to view 360 photos and video and record a zoomed-in image.
In the next six months, Dish users will be able to control their Hopper 3 using Amazon’s Alexa voice control. Tuning into a specific channel, search and showing the program guide will be the first commands available on the Amazon Echo, Tap, or Dot.
Terk has redesigned the antenna. The Omni may be the perfect shape to receive all of your channels. If you use an indoor, tabletop antenna to get over-the-air local broadcasts, it’s likely that you needed to physically turn the antenna to pick up different channels.
Samsung continues to redesign and refine its smart TV experience. Last year the company released TVs with the Tizen powered smart TV hub and one remote with voice control. In 2017 Samsung has three goals for their streaming and entertainment experience—a unified experience across all devices, improved personal discovery of content, and expanded 4K UHD HDR content availability.
The TV App on Apple TV makes it easier to find what you want to watch. Movies and TV Shows from all apps are listed together for easy access. Apple is finally getting it right.
AT&T has released the live TV and VOD streaming app, DIRECTV NOW. While the app has many problems at launch, AT&T is offering some attractive incentives to lure new subscribers.