But instead of using the built-in download function in those services’ mobile apps, I’m using a program called PlayOn to make recordings of each video. That means I can keep the recordings indefinitely, transfer them to practically any device, and feed them into my whole-home DVR.

Although PlayOn isn’t new—it’s been around for well over a decade—the reason I’m gorging on it now is because of a couple big updates to the service: Its desktop PC software no longer requires Adobe Flash to function, and the cloud-based version now integrates with Channels DVR, which provides a slick interface for viewing all of PlayOn’s recordings.

Those two changes turn PlayOn into a much more viable way for cord-cutters to record video from Netflix and other on-demand streaming sources. While not everyone needs what PlayOn has to offer, it’s worth considering if you want more control over your cord-cutting setup. Read the full column on TechHive.

This approach does bring some trade-offs, though. The Dual HDMI doesn’t stream local channels to as many device types—phones, tablets, and laptops are big omissions—and you can’t stream video outside the home. Nuvyyo also doesn’t offer a lifetime DVR service option with this device, and you’ll need more Wi-Fi bandwidth to stream at home compared to Tablo’s other tuners.

I still like the device overall, though. It’s simpler to set up than Tablo’s networked tuners, and it offers lots of powerful features for managing your recordings. If you’re a stickler for video quality and don’t want to mess around with roll-your-own DVR solutions like Channels, this is the over-the-air DVR to get.

Tablo’s lifetime price hike: In less-exciting Tablo news, Nuvyyo has announced that the price of lifetime DVR subscriptions are increasing to $180 on April 6, up from the current $150. Existing lifetime subscription holders won’t have to pay extra, of course, and Nuvyyo says recurring subscriptions will remain priced at $5 per month or $50 per year. But if you plan to use a Tablo over the long haul and don’t have a lifetime subscription now, consider this your last chance to upgrade at the lower price.

Comcast delays data caps (in some places): Comcast customers in several northeastern and mid-Atlantic states now have until July to live without the tyranny of data caps. This is apparently thanks to Pennsylvania’s attorney general, who convinced the ISP to give customers some more time to adjust to their new harsh reality. Customers outside those markets aren’t so lucky, though, as Comcast will continue to enforce 1.2 TB data caps as planned. You can avoid the limit by signing up for Comcast’s xFi Complete Wi-Fi package at $25 per month, or you can risk paying $10 per 50 GB in overage fees.

What fascinates me about this little reprieve is how it illustrates what even a teeny bit of political pressure can do. Home internet data caps are technically unnecessary—they’re really just a way for Comcast to extract greater profits under the guise of “fairness”—and the only thing stopping Comcast from implementing them is either competition (which largely doesn’t exist) or regulation. Imagine what could happen if state and federal governments took this monopolistic behavior more seriously.

Android TV, now more like Google TV: Okay, so to clarify right out of the gate, Android TV is Google’s operating system for streaming video. If you have a recent Sony smart TV, an Nvidia Shield streaming box, or proprietary-ish streaming players like the T-Mobile TVision Hub or AT&T TV box, it’s running Android TV.

“Google TV,” by contrast, is a menu layer that exists on top of Android TV, providing recommendations from different streaming services without making you jump in and out of different apps. Today you’ll find it on the Chromecast with Google TV streaming dongle, but eventually it’ll arrive on other devices that might otherwise just run Android TV.

That said, Google is now making Android TV devices act more like Google TV devices, with a “Discovery” section of recommendations you can access straight from the home screen. Google says this update is rolling out now, though it’s unclear which specific smart TVs and streaming boxes are receiving it and when.

• Roku Streaming Stick+ for $39, down from $50. Amazon Prime cardholders can also get 10% cash back. (My review.)
• Roku Ultra for $80, down from $100, also with 10% back. (My review.)
• Roku Streambar for $109, down from $130, again with 10% back. (TechHive’s review.)
• Amazon Fire TV Stick for $30, down from $40. (My review.)
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $40, down from $30. Some Prime members may get another $10 off with the code 4K21FTV at checkout. (My review.)
• Amazon Fire TV Cube for $105, down from $120. (My review.)
• Apple TV 4K for $150, down from $180. (My review.)