[Electronics-Talk] some success running Sling TV and HULU Live on Fire TV

Mon Aug 14 14:09:43 UTC 2017

Liz:

Thanks for the useful info on the topic. I also find that Sling TV does 
not announce channel names on the Apple TV. I will be interested in your 
experience with Sling TV on the Fire. Also appreciated the Directv Now 
observations. If you like Directv Now in other respects, making the 
change to Sling TV may not be worth loosing that local content. to my 
knowledge Sling has no plans for local coverage. Hulu Live includes 
local stations, and if I recall you're in the Dallas metroplex. I expect 
that might be one of the current Hulu Live markets.

As I think I mentioned one other person and I had differing experiences 
with Hulu Live on Fire. My unit did not announce channel names, 
mirroring your Directv Now experience, while, for him Hulu Live did 
announce those channel names.

Best,

Brad

On 8/14/2017 9:01 AM, Elizabeth Campbell via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Sorry to take so long to respond to this thread! I tried Sling TV on my
> iPhone 6s, but I didn't have any success in using it. I have Amazon fire TV
> with VoiceView, and I will see if that service works for me. I appreciate
> the information about Voiceview reading channel names, titles, etc.
>
> Since I am an AT&T customer for my cell phone and Internet, I am using its
> streaming service, Direct tv now with fairly good results.
> In some ways, it is easier to use Direct tv now in conjunction with Fire TV
> rather than via the iPhone app.
>
> VoiceView doesn't read the channel names, but it does read the title of the
> current program so it's not too hard to figure out the channels.
> Also, Direct tv has a good deal where one can get HBO and other premium
> channels for $5 each. I chose HBO as that has the programming that is most
> interesting to me.
>
> Also, Direct tv now is carrying several local stations, and I don't think
> that option was available when I checked in to Sling tv.
> So, things are working pretty well for me since I decided to cut the
> cord,and I am definitely saving money. I have a Samsung TV with voice guide
> with an HD antenna, Amazon fire tv and the fiber Internet from AT&T.
> If you are considering cutting the cord, it is also important to have an
> Internet speed that is fast enough to stream content without much buffering.
>
> HTH
>
> Liz
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Lori Motis via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, August 6, 2017 10:36 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Lori Motis <ljm2561 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] some success running Sling TV and HULU Live
> on Fire TV
>
> Thank you for this great info. I was just looking into Sling TV this
> afternoon because I wanted to be able to get the Hallmark movie mysteries
> channel. I like the sound of the Amazon Firestick device you mentioned. I
> did discover that You tube had the Hallmark movie mysteries channel there
> and you can wathc/listen to episodes there. Not sure about described shows
> there though.
> If anyone has any experince getting shows other ways, I would greatly
> appreciate it.
> Lori AKA food Lady
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 6, 2017, at 4:52 PM, Brad Hodges via Electronics-Talk
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Colleagues:
>>
>>
>> This message is to share some experience I have had this afternoon
>> playing with Sling TV and Hulu Live TV on an Amazon Fire TV.
>>
>>
>> I am pleased to let you know that the Sling TV app for Fire TV appears
>> to work well with Voice View. Specifically, it announces channel names
>> as you move back and forth across the row of your channels. Moving
>> down from a particular channel takes you to the now playing row of
>> info, where the current program is highlighted and announced. Press
>> the Select button to begin watching either in real time or from the
>> beginning of the current program. Moving down one more row places you
>> in an alphabetized list of on demand content associated with that channel.
>>
>>
>> This is the same behavior the app exhibits on ROKU, but the Voice View
>> experience using Fire TV is vastly superior.
>>
>>
>> I have not checked the current Sling TV app on Apple TV, 4th Gen.
>>
>>
>> The Hulu Live TV app works reasonably well on Apple TV, 4th gen. It is
>> rather verbose, to my years. You can browse the alphabetical list of
>> your channels. They are displayed in a 2 column format so as you move
>> back and forth from the top your channels can be navigated predictably.
>>
>>
>> A friend who is also testing Hulu Live TV and I had differing
>> experiences using the Fire TV app. For me, it did not read channel
>> names as they gained focus. He reported that they did. The layout is
>> the same using the double column layout.
>>
>>
>> So, for what it's worth, if your looking for an accessible way to cut
>> the cable or satellite cord, one of these services on Fire TV or Apple
>> TV, 4th gen, might be worth exploring.
>>
>>
>> You can get a 5 day free trial for both services. Navigating the
>> signup pages may not be accessible, so having a reader handy may be a
>> good way to keep the aggravation level down.
>>
>>
>> With respect to phone apps, that is a horse of a different color. Last
>> time I checked Sling TV didn't announce channel names. Hulu Live will
>> do so, but the playback controls defied my best efforts to stop play
>> and return to the list of channels. I could do this only by closing
>> and reopening the app. The video controls appeared very different from
>> the standard Apple controls, according to a knowledgeable visual user I
> asked.
>>
>> Of the 2 hardware options, at $39 the Fire TV Stick can't be beat.
>>
>>
>> This is not a very comprehensive evaluation, I know, but I am glad to
>> deliver some modestly good news for once. I'll be playing with Youtube
>> TV and perhaps Directv Now next        .
>>
>>
>> Brad
>>
>>
>>
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