Tablo User Reviews

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Only allows watching live while recording event

App version: 1.4.3 iPad
Device: Tablo 4th gen two tuner
Firmware: 2.2.52

I scheduled a recorded event about a week ago. The event was scheduled to start at 12pm and end at 2pm. Recording options were set to extend the event by 30 minutes.

I tried to start watching the event at approximately 2:05pm. The iPad app would only allow me to watch the live event. I was unable to rewind. The device only allowed rewinding to the point where I had begun watching live at 2:05pm. Backing out and selecting “watch from beginning” had the same result.

Only after stopping the recording would Tablo allow me to watch from the beginning.

The device firmware was updated yesterday from 2.2.50 to 2.2.52. Prior to the firmware update, I would be able to watch an from the beginning while it was recording.

Unacceptable. Very frustrated.
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Not ready for market release

This software is not ready; the hardware is terrific. 1) The app does not support picture-in-picture functionality … four years after other streaming apps figured it out. 2) CAN NOT start from beginning until recording is finished. You can watch what is being taped, as it is being taped. This makes it no better than a VCR. This is not because I ran out of tuners. I checked. This is because the coders are soft-handed scum that told the incompetent middle management @ Tablo that the job was done. 3) customer service is manned by the missing link of hominid morphology. I did receive a “reply”, but it showed zero indication of having read my really ke ticket. I solved the problem on my own.

I did not intend to drop $140 for a VCR. Should have done more research.
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Great idea…..weak performance

I purchased the TABLO gizmo to cut the cord and use an antenna to view local stations. While I’m able to very some stations regularly that’s not the case with others even if they have a strong antenna signal. I have also checked my WiFi signal where my TABLO unit is located and it is very good. Some stations with very strong antenna signals at times visually freeze and only the audio plays. Some times they drop off completely and immediately the unit takes me to the station guide. If I select the same station using the guide it plays instantly for a period of time only to drop off again. Some stations also seem to buffer frequently and then drop off. Seems like others have had issues with TABLO. While it may work for some without issues, its my opinion that these units are finicky and need all the stars aligned in a given manner for it to work without interruption.
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Love Tablo but…

Love Tablo but… I wish I could watch on a browser at home or do a Picture in Picture so that I can multitask on my ipad while I watch shows. Otherwise, the picture is good, sound is good, I’ve only had one issue with a show not recording and everything else is great. I love being able to watch from my tv or phone or ipad.

Also, we need a notification so that if a show is failing to record due to poor reception!!
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Love the concept, hope it gets better

So far the only app that works well is on fire TV. The iOS app worked well for a few minutes and now it says it can’t find my Tablo. It is suggesting that I go reset the box but since the Tablo box is working for my fire TV, I probably won’t.
The Roku app also crashes every few minutes, but that’s a review for another place
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No AppleTV

I purchased the 4th gen Tablo over 6 months ago for my AppleTV but have not been able to use it because there is no App for it. When I bought this they said coming soon to AppleTV, so I went to the App Store and saw a Tablo app so I bought the Tablo only to find out it was only for the old ones.
Why would I want to watch TV on my iPhone when I have a TV.
I just purchased an iPad so I can watch on that but
MAKE An AppleTV APP
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Unable to get the new app to work

Have been using Tablo with the legacy app for years with no problem. Still works perfectly for local and remote streaming. Have downloaded new app and tried multiple times to set up. Have never been able to get it to work.

App was good until latest update

I’ve been using the app for a little under a year but after this latest update allowing the use of portrait mode, that’s all it will allow me to use unless I am actually watching live tv or a recording. There needs to be an option, like it used to do, where it follows the orientation of my iPad unless I want it to be in portrait mode. When my IPad is attached to my keyboard in landscape orientation the app still shows portrait mode.
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Problems with version 1.4.2

Since I installed version 1.4.2, when I launch it on my iPad Pro 12 inch, it seems to launch first in portrait mode, despite the iPad being positioned in landscape, then it flips to landscape mode, but the window is still narrow and portrait sized and cannot be resized to fullscreen for the channel guide. ALSO, and more bothersome, when watching recorded network channels, when fast forwarding through them it now pauses, and you have to manually press play after each press of the fast-forward button. I assume this is a bug, not a feature, but I sure hate the way it works.
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It has worked for me

I have used this to watch over the air tv from a rural location. The app works for me, though it has been far from perfect. At one time, a certain station was not viewable, but the others were. This seems to have resolved itself, not sure if it was an app problem or a device problem (as the device has had firmware upgraded multiple times since, and the problem has not re-occured.

The reason I only give this 3 stars is because of:
1. You can’t switch away from this app and have the video collapse to the thumbnail, which you get from about every streaming video app.
2. related to this, it doesn’t even keep the audio going if you switch away from the full screen video. So there is no way to switch to a different app while you wait for the weather or sports in a newscast, for example.

I haven’t tested the recording and playback enough to evaluate it.

As far as the device, if I realized it didn’t support streaming to windows devices, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. Otherwise, it seems functional.
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