Movies Download and Buy

Review by Jeffrey L. Ashley for FLO TV Personal Television PTV 350
Rating:
The device itself is impressive. However: BEWARE!

I reviewed the product website before purchasing, verified that my area has service, checked the features, etc. BUT: whadyaknow? On the program guide, there is a drop-down for ‘Filter channels by …’ I guessed that would allow me to choose ‘family’ and ‘music’ and ‘news’, but NO! It filters by DEVICE, and if ALL your are doing is giving them $250 for their device, you have access to only a SUBSET of their channels! They claim to provide 20 channels of viewing, but if ALL you have is their $250 device, you get … NINE. That’s right: NINE! The remainder of their channels are reserved for people watching on their TELEPHONES, i.e., people who did NOT give them $250 for their device.

Also of note: There is no manual with the device. To sign up you need an access code, but nowhere are you told where to find the access code. (I called India and the person there told me it is three menus deep inside the device.) There are ZERO instructions for charging the device (it uses a USB -> wall outlet system); those instructions are available on the website.

Further: The contract booklet (about 40 pages) includes the notation that if you pay for a plan in advance and Flotv goes bankrupt or otherwise liquidates, you’ve lost your cash, don’t even ask.

Otherwise, it’s just fine.

UPDATE with a week’s experience: The content offerings are just bizarre. I tuned in to 60 Minutes at the regular time on Sunday and got … the PREVIOUS WEEK’S SHOW! On Thursday on their NBC channel, they showed Community, Parks & Rec, Blind Date, and 30 Rock. Read that carefully: instead of The Office, they substituted some silly reality half-hour. Make no plans and have no expectations with this product!

They have added more channels, including ESPN and Disney, and there’s some good college hoops on live this T’giving weekend.

Still, unless a lot changes in the next few months, when the 6 months free service expires, I will NOT be purchasing the service. I may have bought a $250 paperweight.

Review by Dave for FLO TV Personal Television PTV 350
Rating:
I’d have to say that this device has really exceeded my expectations so far. The picture quality is really impressive and I’ve had no problem at all getting clear reception. The screen size is perfect for keeping the device mobile but still plenty large enough to be easy on the eyes.

A couple of things that really jump out at me are:

-Instant channel changing-

It really is like a regular TV. This is where I was most skeptical because I have tried various mobile video products in the past and they all have connecton issues of some sort. But the FLO TV has no buffering, skipping, or sync issues between the video and audio. That alone is worth the money.

-Built in speakers-

You can actually hear this thing without having to crank it up to full volume. Very unusual for any mobile device that has built in speakers. Good sound quality as well.

-Touch screen-

The touch screen is really responsive. You don’t have to use two hands and press down with all your might just to make something happen.

-Battery life-

It is so nice to not have to carry a charger around everywhere. Getting 5 hours worth of battery life versus the standard 1 or 2 hours on other mobile devices will be great.

So far so good. Highly recommended.

Review by Michael Ashe for FLO TV Personal Television PTV 350
Rating:
My Dad was asking for a portable tv for Christmas because his old portable tv became obsolete when tv went digital. He likes Fox news and ESPN so I figured this flo tv unit would be perfect. I set the device up in SF (Dad is in LA) so I could make sure it works before giving it to him. I was mostly impressed with the picture. There were some minor artifacts but I was blown away by the color. The device itself is very sleek. I watched the device in a cab ride to the BART station and it maintained a signal throughout. It also worked at SFO as well as the car ride from LAX to Santa Monica. My Mom and Sister were oohing and aahing. I gave it to my Dad at a house near Lake Castaic where cell phone service is pretty crappy. It even worked there but it was skipping slightly at times. When we got it back to my Dad’s house in Malibu however the picture looked better than I’d ever seen it. He used the word “amazing” several times. The picture really does look spectacular there. It’s incredibly sharp and crisp and the colors are phenomenal, just like cable tv quality. I was able to read all the text that appeared on the screen, even tiny words moving across the bottom during the news. He was blown away by the picture too, especially since he was comparing it to his old portable tv. (Which happened to be a great model he got about a year before tv went to digital)

I think he was slightly disappointed that it doesn’t get local tv channels but when he saw it gets Fox news live (about a 12 second delay) he said that sold him on it.

Pros: Outstanding picture in strong signal areas and good picture in most other areas. Sleek, pocket friendly design. I like the built in stand design. Great speakers for such a small device.

Cons: No local channels available (as of the writing of this review). After the 6 month free period is over, it will cost $14.99/month. That’s kind of steep considering there are so few channels available. (I think there are about 15) I’m guessing they will offer a better package deal when the 6 months is up. I read somewhere that more channels will be added.

Review by Watchez for FLO TV Personal Television PTV 350
Rating:
I bought this product on Amazon with mostly the hope I could pass to the kids in the backseat on trips. Whether this product will work in this regard still remains to be seen and will likely depend on coverage as I drive around. Out of the box, the PTV-350 looks well made and was easy to activate. It comes with headphones and a polishing cloth. It doesn’t appear to be supported with a case or screen guard just yet but I suppose that will come. As a TV I have to admit I expected better video quality. Although I’m in the burbs outside NYC I do see my fair share of pixelation and artifacts. I was hoping for better. The quality of video doesn’t match downloaded video of an iphone from say itunes but it is TV and sometimes live depending on channel. In the settings it tells me my signal quality is low which is surprizing. Sound is good and changing channels easy. Perhaps the video will get better and hopefully not worse. Overall I see promise. I hope my testing in next few days will reveal it can be used driving around in my area. Update: Drove around and this unit held a signal really good. I also experienced better video once in a stronger signal -much improved. I’m giving it four stars as of now. It looks like it is a keeper.

Review by Michael P. Strolla for FLO TV Personal Television PTV 350
Rating:
If you are a person that loves T.V. like I do, then you will really enjoy the Flo TV….it is a well built unit, compact and sturdy out of the box…..

It was easy to set up…I followed the advice on their web site, and in 10 minutes I was watching TV…..I did call customer service for an unrelated question, and they were very responsive, knowledgeable, and appeared to be from this country….( A big plus for me…)

Before purchasing, check the coverage area to see if it is available in your area….I live in an area were it was a strong signal….and when I turned it on, that’s what it was, a strong signal…the picture was great, and at times can blur for a second, but it never made viewing an issue….and the sound was excellent…..

The channel line-up is limited to 14 at this time, but more are to come per the customer service representative I spoke with, and since I purchased it, another channel has been added (the food network….) but let me say that the 14 channels they provide are all excellent, with a combo of sports, news, prime time programming, and children shows…a wide variety, and I never have had a problem finding something to watch….

Again, if you love T.V., this unit is for you….anywhere I go something is on…went to get my oil changed this past weekend, and sat at the service station for an hour, but instead of being bored, watched and the time flew by….

It does not come with a case….but I went to Best Buy and bought one from the GPS section….made by “Lowepro”…it is the perfect size,and compliments it well…..

I felt the need to write a review because some people on here are harsh…this is a great item that is worth the price….and could be the future of portable T.V., and if you are a gadget person, then this is a must for your collection….Plus you get 6 months to try it out and see if it is something you like…

I am sure you will not be disappointed…