The TabletTV Plus, a device that merges free over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV channels with Internet streaming services, is available now for pre-order, with a new app for iOS already rolled out.
A joint venture between Motive Television and Granite Broadcasting Corporation, the TabletTV Plus is a hardware-software combination made up of a small set-top box called the TPod that connects with an ATSC digital antenna and a home network to pull in OTA and over-the-top (OTT) content, streaming it to the iPad through the free TabletTV Plus app. There is a TabletTV app currently available for Android tablets, but the Plus version won’t launch until 2016.
Using the product and service incurs no subscription, though is also limited to whatever content it can capture locally. Major networks generally broadcast freely over the air, allowing users with compatible antennas to pull in the signals without paying to watch them.
Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime, Sling TV and Showtime are among the streaming services the device is able to support.
The service will also offer split screen viewing, along with a single-tuner digital video recorder (DVR) to record live OTA programming. The device has 7GB of internal storage, plus an 8GB microSD card that comes with the unit to kick things off. The 15GB cumulative total is good for about eight hours of recorded footage in HD. The card slot is expandable up to 132GB.
An HDMI output in the back can plug directly to a TV, and there is open support for AirPlay via Apple TV and Chromecast to cast to a TV wirelessly. The TPod will also allow users to simultaneously browse the Internet, social media and check emails while watching TV.
The device is available for pre-order now at $90, with shipping being handled by Amazon, though delivery dates haven’t been confirmed yet.
