Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Dish’s AirTV Player might be the best streaming box for cord cutters yet

Kris Wouk
By

dish airtv reveal ces 2017
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In December, details of Dish’s rumored AirTV Player leaked, revealing that the device had been redesigned as an Android TV-powered streaming media player with an extra twist in the form of support for over-the-air (OTA) TV. Now Dish has officially unveiled the device at CES and it looks like it could be one of the best streaming boxes for cord cutters yet.

Many of the features here are what you would expect in any Android TV-powered streaming box or TV, with not only preloaded apps like Sling TV and Netflix but full access to the Google Play Store for a ton of other streaming apps. Where the AirTV makes the experience its own is by attempting to seamlessly integrate OTA TV right into its user interface.

Recommended Videos

“AirTV Player simplifies what has been a fragmented viewing experience and integrates a customer’s entertainment options in one easy-to-navigate app,” director of product development for AirTV Mitch Weinraub said in a statement. “AirTV Player is a versatile platform that unites live, local over-the-air channels, Netflix, Sling TV, YouTube and the Google Play Store with the click of a button.”

The AirTV Player is 4K-compatible, which is important since Google recently introduced 4K movies and TV shows into its Google Play Movies store. The player also features an integrated voice remote, similar to those offered by some Roku models and Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The remote features dedicated buttons for Sling TV, Netflix, and Google, making finding something to watch even easier.

While the OTA TV aspect of the AirTV Player is what makes it unique, not everyone lives in an area where broadcast TV is easily available. Because of this, OTA functionality isn’t built directly into the player. Instead, the AirTV Adapter, available separately, handles this functionality, and still requires an antenna, which is also sold separately.

The AirTV Player is available in two configurations, with the player itself being sold for $100 and a bundle with the player and the AirTV Adapter available for $130. The adapter is also available as a $40 purchase on its own in case you want to add OTA functionality later on. No matter which version of the player you buy, a $50 Sling TV credit is included, available to both new and existing subscribers.

Finally, for those opting to use an antenna, AirTV Pro Install is available, which will connect you with a local installer to determine where to place an antenna and then install it for you. Single-room installation starts at $100 for an indoor antenna, or $150 for an outdoor antenna. For more information, see the AirTV website.

Topics
Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
HD to 4K: these home theater projectors are up to $2,000 off
The Optoma UHD55 projector.

While TVs are great, if you want to have a large screen TV that goes over 80 inches, you're liable to spend thousands of dollars, and if you want to go over 100 inches, you may not even find any options at all, especially at the consumer level. Luckily, there are a lot of great projectors that can not only hit those targets but exceed them and do it at a much cheaper cost than a regular TV. Even better, there is quite a big sale right now at Crutchfield on home theater projectors, with everything from budget-friendly options to top-of-the-range stuff.

What you should buy in Crutchfield's projector sale
Not all projectors have to be incredibly expensive, and you can grab a great project for a good price with the Optoma HZ40HDR, which is , saving you a solid $450 in the process. It's an FHD projector, although it can handle 4k and HDR sources,  and the bulb has a 30,000-hour life span, which is pretty great for a budget-oriented projector. On the other hand, if you want 4k, Optomo has a good budget option for that too, the Optoma UHD35STx, which is a 4k short-throw projector with HDR10 and HLG HDR going , which isn't a massive discount on the usual $1,549, but it's still pretty good.

Read more
Best AirPods Max deals: New and refurbished for $440
A woman wearing the Apple AirPods Max.

Shopping the best headphone deals will turn up a number of options from a wide variety of headphone brands, but if you’re interested in what Apple has to offer in terms of premium audio, the Apple AirPods Max are where you’ll want to turn. The AirPods Max are Apple’s top-of-the-line headphones, and while they churn out some impressive audio experiences, they also churn out a hefty price point. With the rumors of AirPods Max 2 going on you’ll be able to find some decent AirPods Max deals out there. We’ve done that hefty lifting for you, however, and have laid out the best AirPods Max deals below. You’ll find deals on both new and refurbished AirPods Max, but click quickly if one of these deals works for you, as Apple deals can be unpredictable and we don’t know how long these will last.
AirPods Max -- $519, were $549

The AirPods Max are Apple's first attempt at a set of over-the-ear headphones. They got a lot of things right. We love these headphones, even when compared against some audiophile options that prioritize sound quality. The AirPods Max have awesome noise cancelling. Everything Apple learned with the earbud-style AirPods works even better with the cup style of the AirPods Max. Along with great ANC comes a great transparency mode. With a twist of the Max's massive knob, you'll go from complete silence to feeling like you're not wearing headphones at all. The audio on phone calls is great as well, and they pair better with the iPhone than any non-Apple headphones could ever hope to.

Read more
Best AirPods Pro deals: Get Apple’s flagship earbuds for $122
The Apple Airpods Pro in their charging case.

Apple’s lineup of headphones has grown over the years. It currently makes a number of AirPods models that can be talked about among the best wireless earbuds. Among them are the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro are regularly in contention to be among the best headphones overall as well, and because of their popularity it can be difficult to track down AirPods Pro deals worth shopping. We’ve managed to find some out there, however, and below we’ve rounded up all of the best AirPods Pro deals you can shop right now. You’ll find discounts on both new and refurbished AirPods Pro models, as well as some information on why each model might be best for you.
Apple AirPods Pro (Refurbished) — $122, was $220

While there’s a newer model of AirPods Pro available, the first generation Apple AirPods Pro can still hold their own against some of the best wireless earbuds. Made for a slightly more premium user than something like the Apple AirPods 3, the AirPods Pro have higher end features, including active noise cancellation and a transparency mode, which allows you to hear and interact with the world around you while you have the headphones on. Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking is another impressive feature. This makes watching movies and other content a truly immersive experience. This refurbished model of the Apple AirPods Pro comes with free 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty.

Read more