Having an over-the-air antenna takes some of the sting out of dumping pay TV. However, a lot of those penny-pinchers are having a bigger problem saying goodbye to that beloved DVR. After all, having a DVR allows you to watch what you want whenever you want.
Last year, Channel Master introduced the Channel Master TV, which provides DVR service to OTA users. TiVo followed shortly after, with its TiVo Premiere HD DVR. We liked what both of these boxes had to offer (which you can see in our Channel Master TV Review and TiVo Premiere HD DVR Review). However, the problem with both boxes is that they weren't very cheap -- which is sort of the idea when you cut the cord to pay TV. Oh sure, either option could save you in the long run. However, the new Boxee Cloud DVR is designed to be cheap from the get-go.
Previously known as the Boxee TV, the new Boxee Cloud DVR is a mere $99 and is designed to work with your OTA antenna. The biggest perk is that initial cost. There are also a few interesting add-ons, but those will cost you.
Basic service is absolutely free, with a few restrictions. For instance, Basic users can find and record programs via free channel listings, but this option only allows for recordings to be stored for up to 90 days. That may work out well for your viewing needs, until you realize that you'll only get up to 5 hours of DVR playback each month.
If you're willing to pay $9.99 per month, the All-access service allows for unlimited DVR space, unlimited viewing, and the option to stream all of that content to anything with a web connection.That means that All-access users can tap into live and recorded TV from smartphones and/or tablets. It's going to be hard not to get hooked on that type of service, especially since each Boxee Cloud DVR comes with a free All-access trial.
To use the Boxee Cloud DVR, you'll need an HDTV, an HDMI cable and a broadband Internet connection. Once everything is hooked up, the box also provides access to a slew of popular apps, including Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Pandora, and several others.
Boxee is currently selling the Boxee Cloud DVR, but says that Cloud DVR coverage is currently limited. At last peek, it was only available in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.
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