Ok maybe in the wrong catagory but here goes. I currently have Sky Q with 1 mini box. The issue is that the main box is constantly dropping off the virgin media wifi and you have to put the password back in which is a total pain. This is at least once a month. So thinking of swapping to Sky Stream. From research it looks like we do have accessibility like voice guidance etc. So, have any of you got it and does it work as well as Sky Q or as well as the description suggests it will? Thanks for any thoughts and for those overseas feel free to chip in!
Comments
when i tried it
i enjoyed sky stream, but you can't unless changed) access the in-built apps with the screenreader like netflix etc. which just seems pointless.
Sky stream
I have had sky stream for about a year now, one of the main differences to Sky Q is that you cannot record programmes, you can watch live TV channels but have to use the streaming apps to access catch-up and on-demand content. Some of these streaming apps now work with voice guidance, including Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and I think Disney plus so some improvements are being made on that score and some Sky on-demand content now also has audio description.
Recordings
My understanding from reading the blurb is that you can record but not locally. Stuff is saved to the cloud. Is this not the case? and if it is didn't work out how to access them. Elliot, would you say it is worth moving across please\?
Sky stream
Its difficult to say because it depends on your viewing habits, if you record a lot of programmes to watch later with audio description I would say no I'd stick with Sky Q until more streaming apps such as BBC iPlayer work with voice guidance. However if you have an Apple TV or fire stick where more sstreaming apps work with voiceover and voice guidance and you just want Sky stream for watching live TV its worth the switch. With stream nothing is recorded, programmes are just added to a playlist in the cloud.
Sky stream issues
I switched to Sky stream in December and I find it very laggy compared to Sky Q. I have gigabyte fibre so very fast, and yet often I find voice guidance stop speaking. The voice sounds fantastic and being able to access more of the apps is great. Sounds fantastic in principle but so far I’ve not had the best experience. How does everyone else find the latency.
Agreed on latency
I would agree on latency, i do find voice guidance quite laggy and juddery on Sky stream, I like how you can change the voice rate but although its great to have the voice guidance I do hope it can be improved so it is a smoother user experience overall
Dropping off the wireless network?
I'm not a streamer as yet but your SkyQ shouldn't be dropping off your wireless network. Might be worth replacing the box? granted, I have Sky as my broadband provider rather than Virgin Media, but that shouldn't be an issue. Reading the comments here my thinking is it's only a matter of time before stream, and glass for that matter, are ahead of Q. on skyQ we still can't use streaming apps with Voice Guidance. Mind you, I still like the recording functionality. I also don't like the sound of the latency some of you are experiencing. I, too, have Sky Gigafest full fiber so latency should not be on the menu at all.
Virgin Media and Sky Q
Apparently this is a known issue with VM. Something to do with the wifi gubbings. 1 uses 5GHS and the other 2.4GHS or something and they can clash with each other. There is a complicated way to apparently solve this but seems more hassle than it is worth. I am baffled by the lag issue which is now putting me off.
agree with Lee
I agree, Lee. Lag is simply a deal-breaker for me. Having full fiber broadband and still having lag/latency is like buying a heat pump and still having to keep your gas boiler. Not that I'm buying a heat pump, mind. Not sold on that nonsense at all.
Stream is the long term choice
Until a few months ago I worked for Sky, and am now a mere customer. I have Sky Stream myself.
Accessibility features like the Voice Guidance screen reader are definitely developing more for Sky Stream than for Sky Q, it's the product of the future in reality. This is at least in part, maybe entirely, because it is built on a more modern infrastructure and operating system.
For example, Voice Guidance has speech rate adjustment on Stream but not on Q. If other enhancements come along, they are likely to be on Stream only too. Apps like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and YouTube work with Voice Guidance on Stream, but not on Q. Again this is related to modern versus legacy infrastructure etc.
For low vision folks, there's also now a screen magnifier which works across the full UI on Stream, whereas on Q it just increases font size a bit in the TV Guide.
Some apps like BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 do not yet work with Voice Guidance, even on Stream, but that is largely outside of Sky's direct control. It is no different to an app being inaccessible with VoiceOver on iOS. I'm sure they will get there though in time, on Stream.
It's definitely a laggy and sometimes frustrating screen reader when compared to something like VoiceOver on Apple TV, or I'd imagine TalkBack on Android TV boxes. I'd say it's more comparable to the screen reader on Samsung and LG TVs. It's in the cloud rather than on device. I'm not sure if there's a big difference between performance on Q versus Stream; there shouldn't be.
On balance, I'd personally lean towards Stream; I like the user interface and deeper integration of Sky and apps. However there are definitely good reasons to stick with Q for a while longer. For shows on Sky's own channels, and so not in third party streaming apps, Sky on demand does now have AD, but much of the back catalogue has not got it. With Stream, that's too bad, with Q you can at least record them if they are repeated on a broadcast channel.
For those in Ireland, like me, there is an additional wrinkle. We don't have BBC iPlayer. If you're on Q, you can record, but if you're on Stream, well, you're up the creek without a paddle if you have plans on Saturday night and are going to miss Gladiators!
Dave
what about Glass?
Hi Dave,
I'm interested in why you haven't mentioned Glass. Is this because Glass is just Stream but with a TV thrown in and your Stream device built in, or is it because Glass is not on a par with Stream in terms of accessibility? When one of our TVs gives up the ghost, you see, we really would consider glass.
The rest of what you say is very useful. It confirms what I thought - Stream is the way things are going. I'll wait a bit longer, though. Q is fine for the moment and I can live without having the streaming apps through the telly for now. Mrs Bingo is fully sighted and loves watching her Amazon Prime and stuff through the TV - she's quite into Death In Paradise at the moment. seriously, how much death is there on that island? It's like Midsummer Murders all over again - who would go and live in a small village with a murder rate as high as that? Our setup fully loaded with SkyQ and SkyQ Mini box at least means all that stuff can be carrying on while Bingo kicks back and watches the darts. 180!
Re Glass
My apologies, Glass and Stream are indeed identical. Glass is just Stream built in to a TV. I think it’s a good option. Glass actually has a couple of extras too, like Bluetooth audio output.
I won’t argue with you about Midsummer! Just as I’d have run a mile back in the day if I ever ran into Jessica Fletcher!