Comcast preparing tablet TV streaming app, for home use only

[Shawn Knight]

Comcast is working on a tablet app for Xfinity customers that would allow them to stream live television to select tablets. The app was originally announced by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts in January at the annual Citi Conference for Media, Entertainment and Telecommunications.

The service will require proprietary hardware from the cable provider and as such, will only work on your home network, as first reported by Mac Rumors. The site acquired a leaked photo detailing the device which will be called AirPlay. The unit will connect to your home wireless network and allow you to stream live TV to one tablet at a time, although you can register up to 10 tablets with the service.

There is no mention on which tablets are supported but Mac Rumors seems to think the iPad will be one of them. The slide doesn’t reveal when the service will launch or how much it might cost but we do know that subscribers will be able to stream all television services with the exception of On Demand programming and Pay-Per-View purchases.

In the interim, Comcast customers can use the currently-available Xfinity TV app to watch On Demand programming, schedule DVR recordings and search channel listings. Other television apps like the NBC, TBS and TNT ones that we highlighted last week allow you to watch On Demand programming as well, but you can only unlock full content in these appls if they are part of your cable package.

Comcast and Panasonic announced a portable DVR called AnyPlay at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show but the device never made it to market.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/45612-comcast-preparing-tablet-tv-streaming-app-for-home-use-only.html

 

[Lurker101]

A home use only, tablet app?
Congratulations Comcast!!
You have defeated The Purpose!!
EXP gained : 50,000!!
Gold gained : 5,000!!
You gained a level!

 

[Guest]

having worked with comcast in the past six years on two separate ventures; if its comcast, it will be crap

 

[gwailo247]

Lurker101 said:
A home use only, tablet app?
Congratulations Comcast!!
You have defeated The Purpose!!
EXP gained : 50,000!!
Gold gained : 5,000!!
You gained a level!

Hehehehe.

Introducing the new Comcast tablet:

- LCD screen
- Available in sizes up to 52"
- No touch screen (but comes with IR multi button input device)
- Avoids battery problems by being plugged into the wall
- Avoids WiFi connectivity issues by having a physical cable connecting it to the cable box
- A bit heavy, but heavy is good, heavy is reliable

 

[Guest]

Oh yea just what every person that has an iPad wants, to stream limited channels on their iPad when they are in their house. We could look at it this way, with the television on that tiny screen, that does free up the 52 inch television for video games. I might have just found the only benefit, maybe not though. The sad part is, its just not Comcast pushing this type of app on customers, it is almost every provider doing it. I think they believe that if they trivialize streaming into an after thought that people will forget about it and just watch television again. Working at DISH I watched all the apps get released, i thought maybe it was coincidence the first time, but then it became laughable as one after one they all did the same app. The one thing that all these apps have done for me is reinforce the decision I made to purchase a sling adapter and hook it up to my DISH receiver, at least with it I can stream all of my live channels and recorded shows to my iPad no matter where I am.