Check out our full written Nuvyyo Tablo review.
Nuvyyo, a Canadian startup based in Ottawa, has officially launched the Tablo to the U.S. market, a set-top box with DVR capabilities that can record and stream free over-the-air (OTA) TV channels to the iPad, Android tablets, PCs, Macs, and other set-top boxes like the Roku and Apple TV. With it, users can theoretically use one antenna to serve up broadcast TV to any television in the home.
The box, roughly the size of two Apple TVs side-by-side, connects directly to a digital antenna and your home Internet connection via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. With two USB ports in the back, the unit can format external hard drives plugged into it and save recorded programming to them. The second key feature is that the Tablo can stream live and recorded programs over to the iPad, Android tablets and PCs and Macs. It also works with HTML5 browsers on other smartphones, tablets, computers and Internet-connected set-top boxes like the Roku or Apple TV.
With a dual-tuner built-in, it’s possible to simultaneously record one show while watching another. You can schedule it to record only the newest episodes of a TV show, or all of them. Rather than use an included remote, users control and manage the Tablo via an app for iPad and Android tablets, or a Web-based app on computers and other mobile devices. The grid-like interface, complete with cover art, info blurbs and TV guide data, is complemented by search capabilities to find a show or movie that might be airing.
Aside from watching anywhere within the home on a tablet, phone or laptop, the Tablo can also work with other cord-cutter-friendly devices like the Apple TV, Roku and Google Chromecast. There’s also the option of using screen mirroring software on a computer or simply plug it in to a TV directly with an HDMI cable. The interesting thing is that the Tablo itself doesn’t have to be installed anywhere near a TV, so one antenna could potentially cover every TV in a home.
The Tablo box itself costs $219, though gaining access to all of its features will require a subscription on top of that. For either $5 per month, $50 per year or $150 for life, users will have unfettered access to all of Tablo’s features, including remote access (called Tablo Connect), recording by series, TV guide data for two weeks in advance and all metadata (cover art, info blurbs, etc.).
With such functionality, the Tablo could become a key implement in the cord-cutter’s toolkit. We already have a review unit in hand and will be putting the Tablo to the test. Check back for our full review.
