cutting the (cable TV) cord with free/basic TV & streaming

So, now with the phone bill gone, it was time to get rid of the high cost of cable TV. Now. think about it, with so much content available online, the traditional distribution model of entertainment content finding its way to your home through a dedicated pipe is so 2008.

You have two options to get local network channels like CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX & PBS, without the high cost of cable:

• HD Antenna: With all TV broadcasts now in digital, there are numerous free-to-air HD channels that you can grab out of thin air with relatively inexpensive indoor antennas such as a paper thin Leaf Antenna or this wickedly popular Terk Antenna..One-time prices range from $20-$50 (about $100 if you need an external antenna due to distance from broadcast towers). 
• Switch to Basic Cable: a little known (and not advertised) option that the FCC requires cable companies to offer so everyone in America can afford to have access to local news and educational programming.  Prices range from $15 - $22/month and usually comes with kids' programming, educational channels, local governmental programming along with the big name local and national  networks. 

After comparing the different options, I decided to cut the cord only partially by opting for Basic Cable. But I wanted something that gave me a lot more flexibility and a broader range of content. That made me look at options such as dedicated streaming devices such as Roku, Boxee and even Apple TV as well as software  that could be installed on sleek little computers like the Lenovo IdeaCenter with 1080p HDMI output. Of all these choices, Roku seemed to be the best choice for me given its relatively low price (ranging  from about $50 to $100) and its wide range of content options (or channels).

Roku's Netflix Interface - Select a title to see  a brief summary  like in the browser version 

What finally clinched the deal for Roku was its ability to play Amazon Instant Video, a Netflix like service that costs $80/year and Roku's beautiful and intuitive Netflix interface. Roku's take on the Netflix interface beats all other options available today including the one on AppleTV. Yes, the AppleTv "Coverflow" is cute, but I find the the quick movie summaries on browse mode provided by Roku to be more functional, time saving and useful.

Roku's numerous "channels" include these services plus live TV 

After comparing the different models, I settled for the $99 Roku 2 XS as it offered an Ethernet connection (in addition to the standard wifi connectivity on others), full HD 1080p video and 5.1 Surround Sound audio. Some of you may also like the free complete edition of Angry Birds game. Additional "seasons" can be purchased via Roku's content store.

Setting up is a breeze and in no time, you could be up and running with premium content providers such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video as well as  tons of free news and entertainment content including Crackle's free TV and movie content, Pandora Internet Radio, Disney shows, TED videos, You Tube, Vimeo, Khan Academy,  CNN podcasts, BBC News summaries, Wall Street Journal Live and more.

So, now with Obi110 helping to reduce my phone bill and Roku+basic cable bringing down the cable TV expense, my monthly bill from the cable company is down from $160/month to about $55/month, I now have  access to better entertainment options with premium options Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus for a lot less. Thank you Roku!

cutting the (phone) cord with Obi110 & Google Voice

My cable company always had me believe that I was getting a great deal if I had their "triple play" for $99/month. That was before their promotional period ended and my monthly cable bill jumped to over $160. The "triple play" was suddenly gone and the three services (Phone, Cable TV and Internet) were now billed as separate services.

Enter Google Voice. Google's interpretation of what a phone service should be like with free local numbers for life (even when you are not local), call screening, mobile apps and more. I personally like GV (as it is commonly known) for its cheap international calling and voice mail transcriptions. I have been using GV for over 3 years to make international calls using my BlackBerry when the above sticker shock forced me to look for ways to ditch my landline.  

My key criteria were to keep my existing phone number and keep the costs low. That was when I chanced upon a little known device called Obi110 from ObiHai Technology, Inc. Obi110 acts as a bridge between your cordless or corded phone and your internet connection.  Amazon sells the device for about $50 and it is very easy to set up. View the below video to see how easy it is to configure Google Voice on Obi110. 

And here's what I got 

• a working landline without a monthly phone bill
• get a dialtone by just picking up the handset like your good old phone/cable company phone 
• an actual US phone number with an area code of your liking (Beverley Hills, anyone?)   
• Obi110 even lets you add additional  phone lines on the same device so you can connect to multiple VoIP providers to the same phone.

As of now, Google Voice calls within US & Cananda are free. So, give it a spin. IMO, the one time cost of $50 for Obi110 is well worth its weight in cable/phone company monthly bills! 

So, now with the "phone bill" disappearing, it was time to eliminate Cable TV. More about that in my next post.