Everyone who knows me knows I am a big fan of the Apple TV and Roku 3 streaming devices. A streaming device is basically a little computer which is used (attached to your Television) to stream data from another source.

The Apple TV and Roku do not actually store any media like video, photos or music, but rather download it from another source and display it on your TV.

There have been a lot of startups and devices popping up all over the internet and Ebay the last few years but the Roku and Apple TV devices have been the main two heavy weights.

Using these devices you are able to watch services such as Netflix, Hulu, ESPN and Youtube. Apple only allow a certain amount of Apps installed (around 50) but the Roku hows 1000’s!

Telstras Presto Service

Recently Telstra released its own Movie playing as streaming service called Presto.

Presto is a SVOD  (Subscription Video on Demand) service like Netflix where the subscriber pays a subscription fee each months and can watch any movie in the library whenever they want.

These services run over your existing internet and do use a lot of data. The more Movies you watch the more data you will use, so it is important to have a Internet Plan with your ISP that will support your streaming need.  Or you might go over your limit in the first few days and needs to buy more or wait to the next billing month.

Telstra TV

To accomodate the new Telstra Presto service Telstra have partnered with Roku and came up with their very own streaming device called Telstra TV.

Telstra TV is only available for Telstra Bigpond Fixed Line Rental customers and internet but reports indicate the device might be able to be used with other internet services.

To promote the launch of the Telstra TV streaming device Telstra are offering 3 free months subsctiption to all new users to Presto and Foxtel Streaming Service and $15 to spend before Christmas on Bigpond movies.

Telstra TV is pretty simple to setup and only requires to cables to be plugged in. One that runs to your power int he wall and the second is the HDMI which goes from your Telstra TV box to your Television Set. Once your are connected all you have to do is connect the device to your internet and you are on.

If you already have a Netflix account, once you are in  the Apple TV all you need to do is click on the Netflix App and enter your existing Netflix details and of you will go using your existing Netflix account.

Both US and Australian Netflix account will work on the Apple TV but unfortunately, much like the Roku 3 you will be unable to alter or hack the DNS services the Telstra TV uses.

Pros and Cons

I love the Apple TV but the great thing about the Telstra TV is it is a lot easier to use.

Anyone who was having problems using the Apple TV will probably find it a lot easier to use the Telstra TV much like all the Roku devices.

Not being able to change the DNS settings to access foreign geo blocked content like Hulu will be the main reason a lot of people wont get the Apple TV and stick with the Apple TV.

Over all I think it is a sound device and I can see why a lot of people already want to use it.