DirecTV for Android Homescreen
I have been a DirecTV customer for 5 years. They haven’t always been the most advanced when it came to features or capabilities but I have stuck with them for the sports packages they offer. One thing that I have never liked is the internet connectivity. If your receiver isn’t close to an Ethernet port, you had to buy an $80 wireless adapter for each receiver. Nahgunnahappen. They are now starting to offer receivers with built in wireless adapters but that doesn’t really help me as a current customer. Having your receiver connected meant On Demand access, and setting your box to record from any computer. Well, I haven’t remedied the On Demand situation but now, thanks to DirecTV’s Android App, I can do a lot more than I could before!
I knew that DirecTV had an app for the iPhone for awhile and the Android version has probably been out longer than I know, but I just now downloaded it, so I’m just now revuing it. I figured that since my DirecTV wasn’t connected to the internet, it really wouldn’t do me any good so I had put off downloading it. Boy was I wrong.
- DirecTV Android App Info Page
I used the app with a wifi connection on my HTC EVO but it also works fine over 3G or 4G. I typed in “The League” and quickly it pulled up all the matching results. (Side note: If you are an American male with any sense of humor and you like sports, watch The League on FX. I will guarantee you will not be disappointed. If you are, send me your comments and I will make a note never to hang out with you). From there it will give you a list of upcoming episodes and what date they will air. You can get even more info about each episode just like the Info button on your remote. Here is where I pulled an Andy Sandberg and “jizzed in my pants.” I hit “record show” just to see the error message it would give me. To my utter delight, however, a message displayed telling me my episode had successfully been set to record. Quickly I grabbed my remote, hit guide, and scrolled to the showing. Sure enough, that little orange R popped up. Eureka!! It works! My wife did not share the same enthusiasm as I demonstrated my new found power but I know she’ll come around. You can also choose to record an entire series and can set the recording options just you like you would from your TV.
- Recording Options Screen
Remember how I told you all of your information was stored in the app? Well, this comes in handy if you have more than one DVR in your home/apt/condo/parent’s basement. When you record a show, you have the option to tell it which DVR you would like to use. This may not be as big of a deal to those of you that share your recordings with any room in the house, but it was great for me. Now when I am away from the house and I realize that I forgot to set “Butt Bongo Fiesta” to record in the bedroom and “Desperate Housewives” to record in the living room, I can just reach for my phone, problem solved.
The app also gives you the option to order a movie or event. You need to be in front of your TV to do this. Not because it magically links to your screen or something awesome like that, it just needs the code that pops up when you tune to the channel you want to watch. I haven’t tried this feature yet but this has to be easier than calling customer service. Plus, who wants some stranger judging you when you tell them you want to order “Butt Bongo Fiesta” anyway?
I downloaded this app for directly to my tv and I still can not record on my VHS’s. Is the Internet broken down?
Check your Flux Capacitor, it might be out of Plutonium.
I think it is cool that DirecTV finally came out with an app that will work with its receivers. However, just looking over the features of the app, I can’t help but feel the app is lacking in so many ways. Sure you can order movies and have them show up on TV, and as a remote, but it doesn’t give you the full experience. I am an employee and customer of DISH Network, I can say that DISH has the best app among the pay TV providers. The DISH Remote Access app allows me to stream my recorded shows or live TV from my Sling connected 722k receiver. I also don’t have to be at home just to do this. Wherever I have a 3G connection with my phone, I can stream shows to my MyTouch phone. TV is so much better when you can watch when and where you want.