Has Aereo solved the cord-cutters' dilemma- (hands-on)

Has Aereo solved the cord-cutters' dilemma? (hands-on)
It's tempting to think you can ditch your cable subscription, relying instead on a hodgepodge of content sources like Netflix and iTunes, but live TV is harder to replace. Many cord-cutters (including myself) get their live TV using free, over-the-air TV signals, but the hassle of dealing with an antenna and limited DVR options have left over-the-air TV as a niche (albeit seemingly growing) market.Aereo is a startup looking to make over-the-air TV easier and in February the company announced its $12/month service that lets you stream live and recorded over-the-air TV using an iOS device or your browser.There's no futzing with an antenna or need to configure your own over-the-air DVR; simply touch a show and live TV starts streaming. (The big catch for many is that service is limited to New York City at the moment.)Leaving Aereo's legal issues aside, I've had the chance to demo Aereo's service over the last few weeks, ahead of Aereo's official March 14 launch date. (Disclosure: CBS, parent company of CNET, is one of the broadcasters currently in litigation with Aereo over the service.) And while Aereo might not make cord-cutting truly mainstream, it's a fascinating and impressive option for the growing cord-cutter movement.Over-the-air TV in your lapExplaining exactly what Aereo is to someone who's never heard of it isn't easy, but makes a lot more sense if you just play with it for a few minutes. Point your iPad's browser at Aereo.com and you're greeted with a customized, HTML5 interface. Pick a show for the program guide, hit watch, and within a few seconds you're watching live TV. Yes, the technical back story is that Aereo has a legion of tiny antennas in Brooklyn--and that video is being streamed to you over the Internet in real-time--but Aereo thankfully makes it simple as just watching TV.Aereo's interface lets your browse recording programs on the left, while the programs currently airing are available via the program guide on the right.Matthew Moskovciak/CNETYou can pause live TV just like on a DVR, plus you can do some other DVR-like functions, such as skip back 5 seconds or skip ahead 30 seconds, although those require exiting "full-screen" mode on the app. Aereo's service includes dual-tuner DVR capability, which means you can record two TV shows playing at the same time (or watch a live program while another is recording), although that functionality wasn't turned on for my demo period. That's wasn't a big loss in my case; over-the-air TV is typically limited to the major TV networks (CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox), PBS, and a smattering of other channels, so there's not much to record as a full cable TV package. The DVR also lets you record an entire series of a show, with the option to record only new episodes.Aereo allows for "Season Pass"-like recordings.Matthew Moskovciak/CNETYou may have noticed I've been using iPad screenshots of the user interface and that's because to really take advantage of Aereo (at least in its initial state) you kind of need an iPad. If you're satisfied watching on a laptop (running Safari), that's all you need, but watching on a TV currently requires an iPad streaming video to an Apple TV using AirPlay. There's more than a little irony that cord-cutters running away from pricey cable bills need a $400 luxury device to really take advantage of Aereo. (You can theoretically use AirPlay to stream from an iPhone, but it doesn't work well--more on that later. Alternatively, you can connect your laptop to a TV via an HDMI cable, but that's a hassle for every time you want to watch TV.)Does streaming TV look as good as real TV?In short, Aereo's image quality is generally "good enough," although it can veer towards poor and definitely isn't for high-def lovers.For sitcoms, like "Parks and Recreation," the image quality is definitely a step-down from true high-def, but not enough to bother me. Really intrusive video artifacts (like noticeable blockiness) are rare and it's easier to get accustomed to the softer picture. The experience was generally the same watching dramatic shows and documentaries. I'm not even sure the average person would necessarily notice it's not regular TV, especially on TVs smaller than my 50-inch plasma.While Aereo's image quality is passable to good for most sitcoms and dramas, sports veered closer to unacceptable. College basketball has a lot of fast motion, and Aereo's picture had that low-resolution, not-quite-smooth quality that can make Web video so unsatisfying. As a cord-cutter myself, I already have an antenna set up in my apartment, so I was able to easily switch inputs between live TV straight from my antenna and live TV streamed from Aereo. The difference was fairly drastic and it would be a pretty serious sacrifice to go through an entire NFL season watching Aereo rather than true over-the-air TV.Surprisingly, the inferior audio quality is actually what ended up bothering me the most when watching Aereo through my home sound system. The basketball game sounded particularly compressed, but other TV programs also just didn't sound nearly as rich. Flipping between Aereo and a standard over-the-air TV signal made the difference very obvious, but I noticed the downgraded audio even before I directly compared it to straight over-the-air TV. And that's comparing both Aereo and over-the-air sound in stereo; over-the-air TV can sound fantastic in Dolby Digital surround sound, while Aereo is only stereo at the moment.You essentially need an iPad if you want to watch video on your TV.Matthew Moskovciak/CNETAll of this so far assumes best case scenarios: you're using an iPad to stream to an Apple TV, you have a robust wireless home network and a broadband connection capable of handling Aereo's highest video quality setting. Using an iPhone to stream results in essentially unwatchable video, while any kind of a network bottleneck or instability (either on your home network or broadband connection) is going to diminish the experience.And even with close to ideal situations in my apartment, I was somewhat surprised to see recorded programs on Aereo exhibit the kind of occasional break-up that happens with over-the-air TV signals. (To be fair, I only noticed it twice.) However, short of perhaps FiOS, no TV watching experience is truly seamless. My over-the-air signal breaks up sometimes, but not anymore than friends who have cable. The only interruptions that really felt unacceptable were the infrequent, but frustrating, buffering delays. When you're watching a basketball game and all of a sudden it stops to rebuffer the video--taking as along as a full minute or two to start again--it can make a cord-cutter long for that cord. Or at least a real antenna.Is Aereo really iPad TV?The best place to watch Aereo is right on your iPad.Matthew Moskovciak/CNETThe more I sat on my couch watching (and listening) to compressed TV, the more I felt compelled to just watch Aereo on the iPad. And that's really where the Aereo shines. The lower quality video isn't as apparent on the iPad's screen and its speakers aren't good enough to make you notice the compressed audio. It's perfect propped up in on the kitchen table to watch news in the morning or in a secondary room where you might not have a TV. There was definitely some disappointment watching Aereo in a home theater environment, but as an iPad TV-watching experience, it's fantastic. (The same can be said about laptop viewing, to a lesser extent.)If you already find yourself watching TV and streaming video on an iPad or laptop, Aereo makes a lot more sense. (I still prefer like the old-fashioned "couch + TV" experience.)Is it worth $12 a month?There's no doubt that Aereo's streaming TV technology is polished and impressive, but whether it's worth $12 a month is another question. The market is already somewhat limited: cable-cutters who own an iPad, want live TV, but aren't willing to hook-up their own antenna. And they'll have to be willing to put up with a subpar experience on sports, especially if they own a large TV.Aereo could make the barrier to entry a lot lower by designing native apps for platforms like Roku's boxes, Blu-ray players, and game consoles. With dedicated apps, Aereo could ditch the need to do all the navigating on an iPad, letting users simply pick shows and navigate a program guide on the TV, like you do on a traditional DVR. That would make Aereo much more attractive for budget-minded cord-cutters, especially for those who don't get great reception with a traditional antenna.Aereo has a brilliant idea, but right now the execution feels just short of where it needs to be to truly take off. Luckily, Aereo is accepting invitations for a 30-day free trial starting Wednesday, so you can check out the service yourself if you live in the New York City area.

The 404 592- Where this might have a virus (podcast)

The 404 592: Where this might have a virus (podcast)
While everyone else in the tri-state region spent Memorial Day weekend outside in 90-degree bliss, Wilson locked himself in his house for three days playing Batman: Arkham Asylum.Wilson runs down his favorite elements of gameplay (immersive environments, challenging combat, and Mark Hamill) that roped him into what the industry calls "the video game bender."Strangely enough, Jeff coincidentally had his own run-in with the winged rodent avenger while watching the 1966 film starring Adam West and Burt Ward as a very out-of-shape crime-fighting duo. No offense to West, but even Alfred would've looked more imposing in the Batsuit than those fools.Even after last week's story about the growing popularity of high heels for men, we're still surprised to hear that "shapewear" is becoming the latest trend for men who want a "smoother body silhouette."Users claim the Spanx T-shirts give them pecs, definition, and confidence, although we'd rather hear from the angry women who feel betrayed when the Spanx comes off. Luckily, there's a new fashion statement for women to adopt, as well: the fake-nipple bra. Tune into the show for the whole filthy story.Spanx for Men: Who's in?SpanxFinally, a woman in Utah is suing Google after she was struck by a car while crossing a busy highway. In her defense, the Google Maps walking directions told her to cross the street and she's currently suing Google in excess of $100,000 for careless, reckless, and negligent directions.Analysts predict this will force the service to display a warning at the top of every result that will read: Before embarking on your journey, please don't forget the first rule of navigation--LOOK UP.We've been talking about his reappearance on the show for some time now, but it's actually happening tomorrow: The Sleep Doctor, aka Dr. Michael Breus, will be in the chair to answer all your questions about how to get a better night's rest. If you have a specific questions for the good doctor, we'd love to hear it--leave us a message at 1-866-404-CNET or shoot us an e-mail to the404(at)cnet[dot]com and we'll read ask Dr. Breus on the air!EPISODE 592PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang

How do I look- Glasses.com app lets you try on shades at home

How do I look? Glasses.com app lets you try on shades at home
Here's a common scenario: You're looking for new frames at your optometrist or local sunglasses shop, and you realize you don't like anything in stock. You could look through their additional catalogs, but you're wary of ordering anything that's not in front of you.You could also sign up for those try-at-home sites that send sample frames to you, like Warby Parker. But with all that back-and-forth, getting a new frame might take a while. And, you know, "seeing things" is sort of a priority.To solve this problem, Jonathan Coon -- CEO of 1-800 Contacts and founder of Glasses.com -- and a team of developers created an iPad app that scans your face and renders a 3D image.Called Glasses.com 3D Fit, the app will enable you to try on and compare different frames with a digital image of your face. It'll be available for free on iTunes in May, and will launch on Android and desktops soon after.Users will need to hold the tablet in front of them, and then slowly rotate their face from side to side. When I tried it, I had someone else hold the iPad, and there was a voice command that played so I could listen to instructions.Afterward, the iPad had to scan an image of me holding a QR code on my forehead for scaling purposes, but users will not have to go through this (rather awkward-looking) process. All in all, it took about a minute or two to finish rendering the final image.Previewing and comparing different shades with the app. DEAL WITH IT.Lynn La/CNETUsers can then try on thousands of sunglasses and frames through Glasses.com's online inventory. You can filter by brand, color, and style, and compare up to four frames at the same time. There's also the obligatory social-networking feature, where you can ask your friends to chime in on Facebook and Twitter about your next pair of glasses.If you like a frame, you can order the glasses and return them within 30 days, regardless if it's a prescription pair.While the idea of a virtual fitting isn't altogether novel (Ditto.com, for example, does the same thing), it's interesting to see another eyewear company move toward a more interactive online retail space.For the most part, trying on glasses is still a physical, real-life endeavor. And while there's still a large gap between online shopping and eyewear, Glasses.com's app aims to make that gap narrower. And, with its large inventory and 1-800 Contacts branding behind it, it has the potential to be successful.