I'm using HTPCs, throughout my home, connected via HDMI to TVs, running Windows / Kodi. In the past, Kodi was mostly used for movies / tv shows stored on my NAS, Netflix and some streaming... but NOW it is the center-point of the our entertainment system, and we're loving it. I recently cut the cord with U-Verse when YouTube TV became available in my area.
I did give Sling a 7 day free trial... but cancelled it because the interface sucked, in both the Windows app & Chrome, because there was no good way to use the remote. Sadly, I was very impressed with the value for the offerings / service / dvr capabilities, but found it unusable for my setup. Had the same issues with DirectTV Now, as far as the interface goes... plus, they haven't even got DVR functionality going yet.
While YouTube TV has its own issues, thus far I've been VERY impressed. Unlimited DVR, on-demand access to previous episodes of shows, and it ALMOST has all the channels we need, with the exception of a few oversights (CNN, Comedy Central & Cartoon Network). They also provide four additional accounts, with individual logins, with their own, unlimited, DVR... which is VERY nice.
The most idiotic decision though, which I CANNOT understand, was that they did not use the 10 foot "lean back" interface that they already had in place, which works well with a remote. See http://youtube.com/tv if you don't know what I'm talking about. If you're offering a replacement for cable, then offer it in an interface that works on the big screen.
As it is, I've got it working fairly well in Chrome, running in Kiosk mode, and, other than having to use the mouse function of the remote to get around more than I like, it's been workable, and even my wife and daughters have managed to figure it out.
However, as is always the case, I want better... and, in this case, that would be a Kodi integrated solution.
If any of the cord-cutting options, YouTube TV, Sling, DirectTV Now, etc. had a supported Kodi add-on, that would be perfect. For example, the @Karellen-removed / guide works GREAT, and, if the service itself offered a better selection of channels (pulling from the networks rather than random local affiliates) and on-demand access to shows, then they could be a contender. However, at $39 a month for the current offering, even with the Kodi interface, it's just not there.
With all that said, I do have a proposition. If there are any developers willing to tackle creating / supporting a YouTube TV add-on, then I'll supply one of my accounts for them to work with.
I think the aforementioned @Karellen-removed / Guide add-on would be a good model to emulate. The difference, however, may be that @Karellen-removed provides m3u data, and I don't know if YouTube TV does.
Thoughts?
I did give Sling a 7 day free trial... but cancelled it because the interface sucked, in both the Windows app & Chrome, because there was no good way to use the remote. Sadly, I was very impressed with the value for the offerings / service / dvr capabilities, but found it unusable for my setup. Had the same issues with DirectTV Now, as far as the interface goes... plus, they haven't even got DVR functionality going yet.
While YouTube TV has its own issues, thus far I've been VERY impressed. Unlimited DVR, on-demand access to previous episodes of shows, and it ALMOST has all the channels we need, with the exception of a few oversights (CNN, Comedy Central & Cartoon Network). They also provide four additional accounts, with individual logins, with their own, unlimited, DVR... which is VERY nice.
The most idiotic decision though, which I CANNOT understand, was that they did not use the 10 foot "lean back" interface that they already had in place, which works well with a remote. See http://youtube.com/tv if you don't know what I'm talking about. If you're offering a replacement for cable, then offer it in an interface that works on the big screen.
As it is, I've got it working fairly well in Chrome, running in Kiosk mode, and, other than having to use the mouse function of the remote to get around more than I like, it's been workable, and even my wife and daughters have managed to figure it out.
However, as is always the case, I want better... and, in this case, that would be a Kodi integrated solution.
If any of the cord-cutting options, YouTube TV, Sling, DirectTV Now, etc. had a supported Kodi add-on, that would be perfect. For example, the @Karellen-removed / guide works GREAT, and, if the service itself offered a better selection of channels (pulling from the networks rather than random local affiliates) and on-demand access to shows, then they could be a contender. However, at $39 a month for the current offering, even with the Kodi interface, it's just not there.
With all that said, I do have a proposition. If there are any developers willing to tackle creating / supporting a YouTube TV add-on, then I'll supply one of my accounts for them to work with.
I think the aforementioned @Karellen-removed / Guide add-on would be a good model to emulate. The difference, however, may be that @Karellen-removed provides m3u data, and I don't know if YouTube TV does.
Thoughts?
