Xfinity Stream App Review - Free Alternative to Expensive Cable Rental Boxes!

VIDEO INDEX:
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Xfinity Stream Background
02:01 - Features missing vs. X1 Rental Boxes
02:59 - Xfinity Stream Demo
04:07 - Channel Guide Navigation
04:41 - Setting DVR recording
05:20 - Channel Favorites
07:30 - Filters
08:32 - Search Interface
08:50 - Searching for Shows
09:27 - Watching Live TV
10:01 - Watching Recorded Content
10:58 - Which platform is best?
11:27 - Data Cap
12:48 - Advice for Returning Rental Boxes

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[jeffreykoerber]

I work in IT at a university and we use the Xfinity Stream app for our resident students and they seem to like it and rarely need help. It’s so much easier to support than our old ClearQAM setup where students had to have a TV with a ClearQAM tuner (and it’s difficult to tell if a TV supports it because it’s typically only listed in the manual and not on the box) and they have to scan for channels and lots of other problems can crop up with that kind of a system.

[eagles]

Not all heroes wear capes. You are the best Lon!

[MyYTUserID]

One thing that you did not mention is that when you are watching Live TV there is not a pause, rewind, or fast forward feature like you could with the X1 or other DVRs. It only works with recorded shows. But it will give you an option to restart a movie from the beginning if it is available to watch on demand.

[jasonsfalsetto]

I have tried both FireTV and Roku for Xfinity Stream. I do have my primary X1 box on my main TV, but use a Roku in my bedroom. It works seamlessly, and has for three years now. I tried it on the FireTV platform, which has improved but is still lagging behind in comparison to Roku. One thing to note is Xfinity Stream works really well on Fire Tablets. Recordings at times can lag, but streaming or watching OnDemand work with little issue.

[morphingtime]

Thank you for posting this video lol. Had no idea this was part of my xfinity. Only thing I noticed is that 99 percent of the live channels are not free to watch. I do like how I can watch some free movies and shows though.

[michaelkaiser]

I’m surprised that you didn’t speak about the Comcast Flex box. I believe you can drop cable if you use it. I believe you have to pay for tv if you just use the app (Roku), which I use in my bedroom. I also use a TiVo and my own modem.

[daveschmarder-]

Hey Lon, so you got Comcast's no service guarantee? Fortunately I'm with the second worst cable company, Spectrum.
In 2012 I found out that I could save $5 (at the time) if I bought my own modem, which I did. In early 2015 I discovered that I could buy a Roku box and send their stuff back to them. More savings. Between all this stuff, I have saved thousands!
One thing to do is save the return of equipment records FOREVER.

[gildaslefur]

I'm interested to see what will happen when her contract expires. If you end up switching her to something else, I will be interested to know what you have chosen.

[EthanReilly]

Why doesn't Comcast offer Xfinity Stream as a standalone without Xfinity cable Internet?

[nkkri]

Anyone that has this capability is really lucky. I have been asking COX for 5 years now for it. They always have some excuse why they can't do it. It's BS.
I have seen this several years ago visiting some relatives in Florida who have Spectrum cable. With the cost of cable TV so expensive you would think
the cable companies would want to do whatever it takes to save some money and not lose customers.

[sinusguy]

Is there no remote to directly type a channel in the stream app? Like to go from say channel 45 to channel 501?

[somemovingpictures]

I have my own cable modem and use Tivo for cable TV. It's costs much more up front, but after several years of doing so, I am on the positive side of things. But, there is a problem, as soon as my M-card goes belly up, I am out of luck. Comcast/Xfinity is no longer required by law to support or supply M-cards, and if they don't have to, you can be sure they won't. Here's hoping the thing will last a few years more.

It is well beyond me why Xfinity seems to be hell bent on remaining something that consumers want to run away from.

[bbgarnettTotallyNotABot]

Wish you could have a remote with number buttons and just type in the number of the channel. If they had that my Grandma might actually try it and like it since that's a requirement for her is being able to type in the channel number.

[jaredhuang]

Lon, you could probably take a look at another relative's bill and do the same video. I really enjoyed it and have had similar experiences with my parents. I'm sure you could churn out a series on this but I think you could limit it to 2-5 videos per year on the subject, otherwise it would get somewhat repetitive. Maybe have a look at moving your relatives over to VOIP if they're still paying for a landline.

[amorris]

I still say you could save a lot money by getting internet only from you internet provider. There would be a learning curve. But you would save a tin of money.

[AllenSchoepflin]

Warning this requires you to pay for an xfinity service to use.

[ebodelson]

Comcast (Commiecast the Communist company) I couldn’t agree more with your frustration. Comcast’s failure to acknowledge the return of your cable boxes and adjust the billing is incredibly disappointing. It’s a glaring example of the lack of effective customer service that many people experience.

As a major service provider, Comcast should prioritize customer satisfaction and support. Their track record, including their stance on net neutrality and customer service issues, raises concerns about their commitment to consumers. It’s unfortunate to see a company with such a significant role in providing internet and media services falling short in these areas.

This situation highlights the need for a broader reevaluation of how public companies, particularly those based in the U.S., approach customer service. Being publicly traded should come with a responsibility to provide excellent service and treat customers fairly, rather than focusing solely on cost-cutting measures.

Thank you for shedding light on this issue. It’s crucial for companies like Comcast to improve their practices and uphold a higher standard of customer care.

[ccacs]

Hey Lon, I may have missed something. I have Comcast Internet only and downloaded this as I was excited to see our locals. When I brought it up there were just junk channels that I would never watch. So I suspect your mom is still under contract for basic TV with Comcast. Will she keep this or will you look for another option when her contract is up?

[ricklawson]

I would use the stream app, except their are no thumbnails during rewind or fast forward, so you can’t tell when to stop.

[Eternal_Tech]

I have personally returned cable boxes to an Xfinity store, and Comcast still continued to bill me for them. Fortunately, I saved the receipts they gave me when I returned the cable boxes, so I was able to have the unjust charges removed from my bill, but of course they wasted my time with this. In addition, other people in my area (central New Jersey) have had the same problem. Furthermore, this has been an ongoing issue for years now.

At this point, I do not think it is incompetence, but criminal behavior. The federal government would do a lot of good if they spent less time, energy, and money going after TikTok, but went after Comcast instead. After all, TikTok has never unfairly charged me, over-charged me, or charged me at all. I guess TikTok has not -bribed- lobbied as much as Comcast.