How to Turn an Android Box into a DVR

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Android STB maker Tablo announces a solution for customers wanting to record over-the-air (OTA) TV using their Android TV box-- the Tablo Tuner and Tablo Engine app combo.

Tablo First previewed back at CES 2016, the Tablo Tuner is a dual-tuner USB adapter connecting a TV adapter to the Android TV box in question (such as the Nvidia shield). Once connected, users need to install the Tablo Engine app on their STB, transforming it into a means to discover, watch and record live HDTV without need for DVR hardware or an always-on PC.

According to the company, the combo is ideal for cord cutters wanting to watch content on a main TV screen connected to an Android TV STB via HDMI. The Engine app has all necessary features, including the pausing and rewinding of TV (in MPEG-2 quality), fast channel changes, recording and time shifting, advert skipping and even a Netflix-style program discovery feature. On the audio side it also enables Dolby 5.1 surround pass-through.

In addition, users connected to LAN can access a companion browser-based app to manage recordings and adjust settings remotely. All said, one has to keep in mind use of the Tablo Engine app requires a monthly subscription.

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