Comcast’s Flex box that is streaming free, nonetheless it might not be.
A year ago, Comcast jumped to the streaming-box company, offering a product that is intriguing Xfinity Flex. It promised to put all your preferred streaming apps in one single spot, having a software that’s comparable to that available on its popular X1 cable television field.
For cordcutters whom escaped from high Comcast cable TV bills to get all-streaming, it offered ground that is familiar. For Comcast, it had been equipment that may keep clients within the fold. And offered it could be alluring for internet-only customers who hadn’t yet settled on a way to stream shows and movies that it only cost $5 a month.
And it had drawbacks as I wrote in my initial review of the Flex last June. It needed that you use Comcast’s very own modem/router combination, also it didn’t provide apps for solutions made to change the cable bundle, for instance the U.S. Form of Sling television or YouTube television. And therefore $5 fee that is monthly that will be reasonable, added as much as $60 per year, ten dollars significantly more than the expense of a contending Amazon Fire television Stick.
But Comcast is currently giving out the Flex package 100% free. (if you like several in your house, extra devices continue to be $5 per month each. ) The business additionally not any longer calls for you to definitely utilize its modem/router combination – it really works with your equipment.
The business has kicked down an advertising campaign for the Flex, focusing on its internet-only clients. This has evidently been effective: Comcast announced the other day it now has 1 million Flex users on its community.
As a consequence of the push, I’ve heard from lots of people who need to know if it is well worth getting one, even when they curently have ways to stream.
My admittedly glib response has been, “Hey, it is free, you will want to? ” In reality, I ordered one for myself because it cost nothing.
This will be even though i take advantage of a fourth-generation Apple TV, which can be attached with a circa-2011 samsung HDTV. The Samsung is not 4K, however the photo is great and we are content with our alternatives.
Installation is straightforward and fairly painless, with plain-language, step-by-step directions onscreen.
The picture the Flex delivers is gorgeous – in reality, it seems a lot better than the Apple TV’s image. It nearly appears want it’s 4K, but to my HDTV, it is perhaps not. For a time I was thinking it had been utilizing motion-smoothing, the function entirely on modern TVs that may make movie appear to be it absolutely was shot on video clip. But Comcast assures me personally it is perhaps perhaps not doing such a thing fancy with all the sign. It is video hardware that is just great.
For apps, the Flex has got the typical suspects. There’s Netflix, Amazon Prime movie, Hulu, CBS All Access, YouTube and so many more 
. But as whenever I first looked over Flex, here remains lot missing.
There’s still no ESPN, simply ESPN3, the lower-tier form of that recreations solution. And, in the event that you’ve got young ones or Star Wars/Marvel fans in the home, there’s no Disney+. No Baby Yoda for you personally!
First and foremost, the Flex continues to be lacking the bundled-channel apps which are an option to a cable-TV package. There’s no Sling TV, YouTube television, AT&T television Now, Philo, fubo or Hulu with real time television. The apparent assumption is Comcast does not desire any application on the Flex that competes along with its cable-TV solution.
Steve Meyer, Comcast’s vice president for Xfinity Flex, explained so it’s “not policy” that is keeping these cable-alternatives from the Flex field. He pointed out of the existence for the version that is international of television, and said that Comcast comes with an agreement with Sling. Whenever I asked if that meant it absolutely was only a matter of the time through to the U.S. Software caused it to be, he stated that “we are onboarding apps once we get along. ” So, perhaps.
One application it can have, which for the time being you can’t get any place else, is Peacock, the brand new service that is streaming NBCUniversal, which can be owned by Comcast. That may be more widely accessible come july 1st, however it’s “premium” tier is absolve to Flex users.
Peacock attracts in the rich archive of NBCUniversal content. Wondering where “The Office” went when it vanished from Netflix? It is here, along side “Parks and Recreation, ” “House, ” “Downton Abbey, ” “Cheers” and substantially more.
Regrettably, however, the variation you can get on Flex is certainly not ad-free. With films, 160 moments of adverts are stacked in the beginning of the movie. With television shows, you will find standard advertisement breaks, though with less commercials than the thing is on system television. And you also cannot fast-forward last them, so time your bathrooms breaks correctly.
You are able to, but, spend an additional $5 an and not see ads month.
The program is, when I published early in the day, just like the X1 package. Apps you employ frequently and demonstrates to you view frequently bubble as much as the top the house display, as well as the sound remote stays the way that is best to navigate the solution. It’s one of many voice controls that are best I’ve utilized.
In my own review that is initial I in regards to the slew of free television shows and films which are included. The easiest way to get them is by using the vocals remote, with lets you request things in various means. You can easily require children programs, horror, comedy as well as other genres. You are able to request every thing that’s free, or all content available in 4K. I must say I don’t make use of the display layout to get material, We simply utilize my voice.
There’s one change that is big the way in which Flex works: It no further calls for that you apply Comcast’s xFi modem/router equipment. You can make use of your very own gear, though you won’t get some good for the niftier features, such as for example seeing which products are attached to your house network or use of your smart house abilities. But you’ll save the rental charge for the xFi, which will be $14 per month.
In the event that you decide you don’t actually want to drop cable television for streaming all things considered, it is possible to re-sign up for Comcast’s cable-TV solution and employ the Flex as your set-top package. This ability is created to the Flex, enabling the ongoing business to capture cable cutters that have regrets. You’ll need the xFi Gateway to work on this, but Meyer stated Comcast will quickly enable you to take action together with your modem that is own and.
After managing the Flex for a time, switching between it and also the Apple television, I’m happy We have it however if I’d to abandon it, we might not miss it. I possibly could not endorse the Flex to those people who are not used to cord-cutting and who would like a cable-alternative software, because Comcast just isn’t publicly investing in including them.
But if you need free usage of Peacock; desire the familiarity of Comcast’s Xfinity television program; just desire to use the most-common streaming solution apps; or perhaps want to buy as it’s free — try using it.
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