TV Box for free Movies etc.

[italiansport]

Anyone have one of these TV boxes that are being advertised for around $100 currently hooked to your TV? If you do how well does it work?
Jim

Make Your TV Smart, Watch TV and Movie - 4K Ultra HD Home Theatre Box – icoolgadgets.com

 

[Alpo]

If it's like the boxes that were around in the 90s, it unscrambles the signal, allowing you to steal the premium cable channels.

 

[Kanewpadle]

There's much more to it than that.

Six strikes and you're screwed: What the upcoming piracy crackdown means for you | Digital Trends

How to Get Around Comcast's BitTorrent Crackdown | The Philly Post | News | Philadelphia Magazine

The boxes seem to work well. But there could be consequences. I stress could. It wouldn't deter me from giving it a try. But do your homework first.

I bought this one but haven't tried it yet. Must work because they sell a lot of them. TechBox TV Kodi Box with Remote

 

[SOS24]

I'm not sure it is the same thing, but I use a Roku which I really like and it works well. There are various different free and paid channels that you can download to it for movies and TV.

 

[FifthWheel]

I also have a ROKU. Lots of free movies, news, etc..

 

[misswired]

I've had a box about three years now.
It used to be the cats meow, not so much now.
Content providers would upload content to the
cloud' and the box would let you view it...
kinda like YouTube content. This involved nothing illegal as long as you paid for internet
service. Cable companies, YouTube and Google are the big players trying to stop it by threatening individual content uploaders with lawsuits. A lot of them ceased providing content
while some of the less intimidated continue.
One of the providers recently won his lawsuit against the big players and may pave the way for the little players to start uploading again.

A friend has set-up a virtual computer solely
dedicated to streaming Kodi free from the
internet.... an old computer will get you started without purchasing a box...or download Kodi and watch it on your regular computer to check it out.

Google and research Kodi Free TV...that's what
its all about.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Semi-confused like always.
Will these boxes -computers provide any content that you can't get with a Smart TV and a Internet Connection via WiFi?

 

[Kanewpadle]

Products such as a smart TV, Apple TV, or Amazon Firestick give you access to content which you have to pay for.

"Jail Broken" Firesticks and proprietary "boxes" give you access to the same content without having to pay for them.
AMAZON FIRESTICK JAILBROKEN WITH KODI 17.4

They claim that it is not illegal to ADD software to the Firestick. But they don't tell you that it is illegal to stream content without paying for it. They sell you the product and you accept the liability. People have been getting away with it for years but it's getting more difficult to do.
How to Get Around Comcast's BitTorrent Crackdown | The Philly Post | News | Philadelphia Magazine

According to the above article people have found a way to "hide" from those trying to catch them by using a VPN (virtual private network). Who knows if it really works.

Other products such as Roku and Slingbox allow you access to content which you have to pay for and these devices can record that content.

I think sooner or later the industry will find a way to better protect their content and/or catch those that steal it.

 

[FifthWheel]

There is also plenty of free content on Roku as long as you have wifi. I can't say about the other brands but I have 2 roku's.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Neighbor has one of the jailbroke sticks. He called me over to check it out when he first got it. It's true he can get about any programing including cable channels and new release movies still in the theatre. The downside is that the search function is horrible. Search a movie title and get a list of dozens of different channels to watch the movie. It often takes several tries before getting one with a decent picture because so many have downgraded resolution.

Putting aside any legalities, to me it looked to be much more of a hassle than it was worth to save a few bucks a month.

Been watching Vikings on Amazon Prime in 4k. Good stuff.

 

[susieqz]

there are more free movies i get on roku than i will be able to watch in this lifetime.
by the way, youtube is free.
i pay for internet access for other reasons, so the movies are effectively free.