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ukbobboy
Legend

New Tech/Equipment I want to get

@Mark_Weinreb   @RoyB  @dr_necessitor  @schnapps @gavs82008 

 

and any other interested forum members.

 

 

Hi Guys

 

One of the things I've recently noticed, although it seems obvious now, is that from time to time most of us are on the look out for new tech equipment to add to or enhance our respective entertainment systems.

 

Apart from my Covid-19 equipment binge of the recent past, I'm looking to either buy myself a new set of stereo speakers and or a stereo equalizer, even though I don't honestly need them (I'm getting that brain itch).

 

So guys, what have you recently bought or what are you looking to get and, if your willing to say, why?

 

 

UK Bob

 

 

 

 

32 REPLIES 32
ukbobboy
Legend

@gavs82008  @Saint1976  @schnapps  @gavs82008  @commanda6  @Simon-J 

 

Guys

 

HEADPHONES

 

I know that most of you like them and, I must admit, I use them from time to time myself but ear-buds, c'mon now, those things were designed by some evil (humanity hating) genius, possibly specialising in sensory depravation.

 

As you guys can probably guess, I do love listening to music but to be cut off from the world while having my favourite tunes piped directly into my head, that is just all sorts of wrong.

 

While I do agree in "different strokes", but ear-buds just aren't it for me.

 

It's hot and I'm listening to some cool music with a likewise cool alcoholic beverage, yeah that the way.

 

 

UK Bob

 

PS.  Summer Breeze

 

 

 

 

Amiga1200
Scholar 2

I'd like one single device that can access all streaming services that doesn't have noisey fans (games console) or cost the earth (apple tv) or require a third party account

(roku). There always seems to be one service that you'd need another device for. The standard nowtv stick is good value and I also use a chromecast but one device with a remote that can access them all would be good. 

 

I think a newer firestick might do this but it's controlled by Amazon and they stalk you across the Internet enough as it is without giving them access to all your viewing habits.

 

ukbobboy
Legend

@Amiga1200 

 

Yeah Amiga

 

I see where you're coming from but, yeah there'll always be a "but", what you're wishing for, i.e. One Ring To Rule Them All, sounds good but not practical because as long as you have multiple companies competing for the same "market space" you'll always have fragmentation.

 

Also, you complain about Amazon tracking users across the Internet, do you honestly think this "tracking" would stop if another one or two companies had the whole streaming TV market space?  Tracking users viewing and searching habits is an economic gold mine worth millions to advertisers, no company in business to make money is going to let that go.

 

This is now the way it is, so get use to it and protect yourself the best way you can.

 

 

UK Bob

 

gavs82008
Legend 5
Legend 5

@Amiga1200 

To follow up from what @ukbobboy  mentioned, if you want to protect yourself on the internet then I would recommend getting a VPN.

 

Amazon fire sticks allow VPN apps to be installed, most Android TVs also allow VPN apps to be installed. 

Personally I have a VPN, but not for protection, however for the wonderful grey area of unlocking Disney+ and Netflix regions outside the UK.

FYI that I do not work for NOW, just a NOW customer trying to help
Amiga1200
Scholar 2

Yeah I've used VPNs before for Netflix but I'm not so bothered about tracking to use one all the time. I tend to avoid Google for casual browsing and searching and always reject cookies and hunt down the legitimate interest settings etc. I see people in work clicking ok every cookie pop up then complaining about adverts following them around the Internet.

 

The one device thing is just a minor annoyance too. For example I had britbox but there was no app for the Now stick so I couldn't watch it in another room without moving my chromecast.

 

One thing that annoys me is if I watch a movie from the Play Store, like an UV Digital copy or just a previous purchase on there they use that view to market other movies to you. You get because you watched... sections. That's a bit too stalky for my liking. You dont get that with disc movies but then you have to get up and put the disc in the player with them! 

gavs82008
Legend 5
Legend 5

@Amiga1200 

As for “one device to rule them all”, my understanding is that the Amazon fire stick has all apps that NOW and Roku do not.

 

FYI that I do not work for NOW, just a NOW customer trying to help
Amiga1200
Scholar 2

I think the cheapest solution is to have two devices like a chromecast and router but it's not a real big issue. I always have things to watch which ever room I'm in as I have access to a few streaming services. It's just in the past I've looked around for one that has all the major streaming services and there's always a but, always one like Apple TV not being on it. I'd quite like to watch the Ewan Mcgregor and Charlie Boorman Livewire bike trip series but that's about all I'd watch on Apple TV so I'd just drop in for a month. I still can watch it on my PS4 but that sounds like a jet engine this time of year.

Amiga1200
Scholar 2

Roku not router BTW! Good old auto correct!

gavs82008
Legend 5
Legend 5

@Amiga1200 
The thing is, devices will always be personally preference.

 

For me outside my Sony Bravia Android TV, the Amazon fire stick is the device for me. 
Can get BritBox, Apple TV, NOW, BT Sport, VPN apps, My5, Disney+, ITV hub, All4, iPlayer, Amazon (obviously).

It has even allowed me to get Paramount+ and Peacock TV, and for a brief period Hulu all US apps. 

So whereas I know the Amazon Fire stick isn’t “missing” any apps for me it won’t be everyone’s cut of tea.

Plus you time it right during sales it’ll generally only cost you £20-£30 so definitely more cost effective than 2 devices.

FYI that I do not work for NOW, just a NOW customer trying to help
ukbobboy
Legend

@gavs82008  @Amiga1200 

 

You now guys

 

I agree with Amiga about the annoyance caused by Google, and the like, asking you to answer questions so that they can better track you. For example, my new android tablet just arrived, about an hour or so ago, and for most of the time I had to answer a plethora of questions before I could actually start using the thing.

 

And those "so-called" helpful questions are not really there for my benefit, it's all part of their data gathering mission.

 

Remember the time Google said that they accidentally gathered all the wi-fi details thoughout the UK by accident, an (unnamed) engineer had overstepped his authority. That was a lie, gathering wi-fi data was all part of their work plan simply because data can be monetised and Google knows how to do that.

 

Yeah, I like new IT kit as much as the next man but those infernal (tracking) questions that have to be filled in before the device will work is becoming too much.

 

 

UK Bob