DirecTV debuted its iPad app in February with an impressive suite of remote control and content browsing options, but one of the few missing features was the ability to watch TV on it, which has now been added. Like similar apps from Cablevision and Time Warner Cable, v1.3.1 adds the ability to watch 38 channels live on the tablet, provided you’re connected to the same home network as your DirecTV Plus HD DVR. That home restriction, plus being limited to only live TV streams and not DVRed programming separates it from Sling’s apps, but at least it’s still a free add-on. If you want to watch recorded shows or take them on the go you’ll still need the Nomad box for that. Check below for a link to one of DBSTalk’s usual thorough walkthrough PDFs breaking down the new features, a few screengrabs sent in by a reader, and the complete channel list after the break.
Gallery: DirecTV iPad app streaming live TV
[Thanks, Will & Jon]
Continue reading DirecTV’s iPad app updated with live TV streaming, as long as you stay at home
DirecTV’s iPad app updated with live TV streaming, as long as you stay at home originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST.
Good for DirecTV for finally allowing some sort of live TV viewing on their iPad app, but that and the whole Nomad thing they came out with are still severely lacking. It definitely separates itself from Sling technologies because it doesn’t do nearly any of what sling does. I have a Sling Adapter and the DISH Remote Access app from my TV provider/employer DISH Network and with that I can manage/schedule recordings and watch all of my subscribed programming live or recorded anywhere I want, so I’m definitely not limited to my house. I’m huge on live TV on the go so the DirecTV app and Nomad definitely wouldn’t be a good thing for me, especially since I’ve heard it takes the entire time of the movie or TV show you want to transfer over. Oh well, maybe they will figure it out one day, but I’ll happily be sticking with my DRA and Sling Adapter. It’s awesome! Check it out over at dish.com. 🙂