This week on TechHive: DVR options for streaming video

Over the course of writing my column and this newsletter, one question has come up repeatedly: Is it possible to record streaming video, like you can with cable or over-the-air television?

This might seem like a straightforward question, but the answer is complicated. Some streaming services do offer DVR, but with restrictions that don’t apply to cable. Others, such as Netflix, don’t allow you to record shows, but offer all their content on-demand anyway. And while a workaround exists for streaming services that don’t offer DVR, this brings its own set of trade-offs.

This week, I decided to dive into the topic once and for all. Read the full column on TechHive.

Weekly rewind

Netflix’s new look: If you’ve opened Netflix on your television in the last day or two, you might have noticed a difference. The app now includes a sidebar, from which you can quickly access search, your profiles, and more. (On the devices I’ve tried, the sidebar includes a link to video categories, but the images in Netflix’s blog post have distinct buttons for TV shows, movies, and the watchlist instead.)

This is a welcome improvement over Netflix’s old interface, and as I noted over at Fast Company, you might see it as an admission that algorithms aren’t always the best way to sift through the service’s vast catalog. Sometimes you just want to watch something specific, and the new interface makes it easier to say so. Unfortunately, Netflix still isn’t nixing auto-playing trailers with audio, which continue to annoy pretty much everyone.

Roku is making speakers now: When Roku reached out a couple weeks ago about some upcoming product news, I thought we might hear more about the smart speaker and voice assistant plans the company teased back in January. Instead, Roku announced a pair of wireless speakers that work exclusively with Roku-powered smart TVs. Because Roku controls the software in both the TV and the speakers, it’s promising easy setup and sync, along with the ability to dampen audio during commercials and boost dialog volume. The speakers also come with a funky puck-shaped remote with volume and playback controls, a voice command button, and programmable app launch buttons.

Roku isn’t shipping the speakers just yet, though. They’ll arrive in late October for $200, and it sounds like we’ll also hear more about Roku’s voice assistant ambitions then. For now, you can pre-order a pair of the speakers for $150. (The price will rise to $180 after July 23.)

More catch-up

Hulu’s live TV grid guide arrives on Roku.
Walmart might be plotting a subscription streaming service.
Comcast officially bows out of the bidding war with Disney for Fox assets.

Save more money

Amazon’s Prime Day is over, but you can still get a couple of device deals. On the low end, Roku’s Streaming Stick (my pick for best budget streaming device) remains on sale for $35 from Amazon and other major retailers. That’s a $15 discount and the device’s lowest price yet.

On the high end, the Nvidia Shield TV is a fine 4K HDR streaming box for power users. Use it with Plex to record over-the-air TV, turn it into a smart home hub, or play a respectable selection of games. It’s on sale through Amazon for $180 with a remote and game controller, for a $20 discount.

Both deals are good until tomorrow (Saturday).

Thanks for reading!

This week was sort of a slow one in the cord-cutting world–I blame the summer–which is why I’m always grateful for questions that I can turn into evergreen story ideas, like the one that ran this week. To send more, just reply to this email. And you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider sharing the sign up link with some other folks who might.

Until next week,
Jared