Skip to main content

WebTuner bundles live TV with streaming services for a new breed of set-top ‘box’

We’re likely to see these kinds of products pick up more and more steam as the cord-cutting movement progresses: set-top boxes that don’t inherently lack native support for live TV. Instead, just as Mohu — one of the leaders in the HDTV antenna game — is poised to do with its Channels device, a few companies and startups have wisened up to the idea of harkening back to the good old days of simple remote-mashing and channel-surfing by bundling classic live TV in with the slew of streaming and on-demand capabilities that consumers have come to expect from today’s set-top boxes. But with WebTuner — a new breed of “box,” if you can even call it that — this all-in-one bundle concept is turned on its head.

WebTuner (a product from Redmond, WA-based WebTuner Corp.) was unveiled today and is being showcased this week at the 2014 National Association of Broadcasters conference in Las Vegas. It offers a single interface for all content types, meaning users will be able to search for content from live television, streaming, and on-demand sources, simultaneously — with one device and one remote. As the startup behind WebTuner puts it, “the killer application for the television is watching TV.”

As advanced and streamlined as the big set-top boxes — Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon’s new Fire TV — have become, they’ve at the same time neglected their original inspiration for all of this: the simple act of watching TV. WebTuner claims that such a platform will allow broadcasters and advertisers to hyper-target ads through the use of even more individualized data and delivery methods.

Physically, the device is simplistic and smartly designed. The box itself doesn’t appear to be much more than a small AC adapter that one might use to connect their iPhone to a wall socket. But the WebTuner box covertly houses an HDMI port and an Ethernet jack. Once the WebTuner is connected to an HDTV (via HDMI) and the Internet (via Wi-Fi or its Ethernet jack), you’re ready to rock. And navigating content should be a breeze with the included two-sided remote —one for simple channel surfing, the other with a QWERTY keyboard for “interactivity.”

But keep in mind that even though WebTuners’ makers are showing off the device at the NAB convention right now, the device doesn’t appear to be ready for the public. WebTuner’s website doesn’t mention anything in terms of beta, release dates, etc. So for now, you’ll have to wait patiently with your Roku and flip back and forth between inputs for your live TV fix.

Editors' Recommendations

This LG 75-inch 4K TV is a steal at $580 at Best Buy — save $220
55 inch lg 4k tv deal um7300 walmart october sale

You deserve a massive TV. If you find some good TV deals, you don't even have to feel guilty about dropping a bunch of cash on one. Take this deal on the 75-inch LG 4K TV. Right now you can buy it for $580 after a $220 discount. We're not sure how long this deal will stick around, so grab it before it's gone.

Why you should buy the 75-inch LG 4K TV
This LG 4K TV, officially named the LG 75UP7300PUC 4K TV, features a 75-inch screen -- you'll have to check out guide on what size TV to buy if it will fit where you're planning to place it. If that's a yes, get ready to watch your favorite content with vivid colors and sharp details because of its 4K Ultra HD resolution, as the TV is powered by LG's Quad Core Processor 4K.

Read more
Perfect for March Madness, this Samsung 85-inch 4K TV is $300 off
Samsung 82-inch 4K smart TV.

March Madness is well underway. Are you finding that the games just aren't popping off your TV the way you want them to? Maybe it's time to upgrade to a massive 4K TV. Best Buy is the place to look, since they have crazy deals. We recommend this 85-inch Samsung 4K TV. It's $300 off right now, making it just $1,100. You'll feel like you're sitting courtside once you mount this 85-inch behemoth on your wall. Grab it while it still have a discount.

Why you should get the Samsung 85-inch TU690T LED 4K Smart TV
Whether you spend most of your time in front of your home theater setup watching movies, sporting events, or playing video games, there’s few digital experiences that can match the immersion of an 85-inch screen. The Samsung TU69OT 4K Smart TV makes a great portal. It offers a premium 4K picture that displays content more crisply, vividly, and with sharper clarity than HD, and with a Crystal Processor 4K, it can even upscale older content into the modern quality of 4K in real time. HDR technology also allows you to enjoy a wide spectrum of colors and visual details, even in darker scenes.

Read more
It may not be Samsung or LG, but this 70-inch QLED TV is $480 today
Insignia F50 QLED TV placed on a TV stand displaying streaming apps.

If you want to upgrade to a QLED TV, but still want to pay regular 4K TV prices, look away from the big brands like LG and Samsung. Insignia is a great budget brand, and they have QLED TV deals that will knock you socks off. Take this 70-inch Insignia F50 QLED TV for instance. Right now it's only $480 after a $270 discount. A QLED TV this big for under $500 is one of the best TV deals we've seen in a while. Read all about this great TV below.

Why you should buy the Insignia 70-inch Insignia F50 QLED 4K TV
Regardless of the brand manufacturing it, QLED TV picture quality is one of the highest picture qualities you’ll find in a TV. And if you prefer a combination of quality and size in your home theater, this Insignia F50 4K TV is the TV made just for you. Coming in at a head-turning 70-inches, the QLED screen presents content in stunning 4K quality. It utilizes HDR technology to produce a wide ranger of color details and sharper contrast, Dolby Vision chips in for color precisions and more lifelike images. This TV can even upscaled older content to 4K in real time, ensuring you’ll never have to watch grainy, pixelated content again.

Read more