What exactly is a Kodi box and why do I need one?

[MagSeven]

Hey gang,

My wife came home from a bartending shift all agog telling me about a Kodi box one of her customers uses to watch programs. He told her that he watches anything he wants including first run movies still showing at the theaters. She kept saying that all he did was buy a box on Amazon and has no other expenses or fees. I'm skeptical and can't find a lot of beginner info on google. Anyone out there with pros and cons about the box? Thanks!!

[johnnya24]

Big deal over in UK and EU. Laws being passed left, right and centre to ban / limit their content. Basically illegal online streaming for the technologically illiterate.

Sucks really. As long as online streaming was a small niche, they'd leave it alone. Things like Kodi made it mainstream, visible, and now they are cracking down heavily.

[cardboardbox]

as johnny said, its definitely illegal, but i'm not sure anyone would get caught and punished.

Also, the quality ranges from pitiful (sports streaming) to approx netflix HD quality.

[Fresno Bob]

peer to peer online streaming

[Sam]

Hey gang,

My wife came home from a bartending shift all agog telling me about a Kodi box one of her customers uses to watch programs. He told her that he watches anything he wants including first run movies still showing at the theaters. She kept saying that all he did was buy a box on Amazon and has no other expenses or fees. I'm skeptical and can't find a lot of beginner info on google. Anyone out there with pros and cons about the box? Thanks!!

We use this which is a one time up front purchase with no additional costs, subscriptions etc. - http://atvbstreaming.com/

It uses Kodi as it's backbone and as you mention, you can get a gazillion tv shows, movies, etc. Occasionally it'll go through some buffering or a show won't be available but if you try later in the day or a different day, you'll usually be able to get it work. I've had brand new movies, tv shows, mlb network, etc. all come in with crisp HD quality. We supplemented it with an HD Antenna to get the basic channels for live sports on ABC, NBC, etc.

[cardboardbox]

We use this which is a one time up front purchase with no additional costs, subscriptions etc. - http://atvbstreaming.com/

It uses Kodi as it's backbone and as you mention, you can get a gazillion tv shows, movies, etc. Occasionally it'll go through some buffering or a show won't be available but if you try later in the day or a different day, you'll usually be able to get it work. I've had brand new movies, tv shows, mlb network, etc. all come in with crisp HD quality. We supplemented it with an HD Antenna to get the basic channels for live sports on ABC, NBC, etc.

but its $400?

[johnnya24]

as johnny said, its definitely illegal, but i'm not sure anyone would get caught and punished.

Also, the quality ranges from pitiful (sports streaming) to approx netflix HD quality.

Just to clarify, they will go after the people selling and distributing these, not the users. They were being sold here on big retailers like Amazon etc. So as CBB said, you should be able to use it without much problem as long as it's not too expensive. I believe you can get a box or converted Amazon Fire stick for like 50 quid, so I imagine it pays for itself in no time.

Also, it's not just Kodi ... there are lot's of other "channels" / providers that provide the same sort of content. Most boxes come equipped with several of the providers.

The one box I saw was horrible to use ... the components must be from the bargain basement and thing was a complete pain in the ass to use ... like trying to run Windows 10 on a 1998 laptop. Then again, my parents pay a fortune for cable and the friggin cable box takes 2 minutes+ to load up if you switch it off.

[Sam]

but its $400?

Yea it's not cheap but if you were paying $50-$100/month on tv and sports channels and movie channels, etc then it pays for itself pretty quickly! And unlike a lot of other ones, you don't need to pay monthly costs for Amazon, Hulu, hbo now, etc so it truly is a one time cost.

[johnnya24]

400 bucks ... geez ... I guess none of you guys know a guy who knows a guy.

[cardboardbox]

Yea it's not cheap but if you were paying $50-$100/month on tv and sports channels and movie channels, etc then it pays for itself pretty quickly! And unlike a lot of other ones, you don't need to pay monthly costs for Amazon, Hulu, hbo now, etc so it truly is a one time cost.

A $40 Amazon Fire TV stick will run Kodi and all its addons. I'm sure your box is more powerful but the tv shows and movies will look the same so it doesnt really matter.

Unless it does something more than Kodi I dont see the point. And sorry in advance if this is upsetting... I know I hate to spend too much on just about anything.

[cardboardbox]

Just to clarify, they will go after the people selling and distributing these, not the users. They were being sold here on big retailers like Amazon etc. So as CBB said, you should be able to use it without much problem as long as it's not too expensive. I believe you can get a box or converted Amazon Fire stick for like 50 quid, so I imagine it pays for itself in no time.

Downloaders have gotten warnings from ISP's with threats to cut off their internet, also heard of fines way beyond the value of the content. Probably rare though...

I have 4 Amazon Fire TV's running Kodi, all rooted but I'm kind of tired of dealing with rooted devices. Might go back to stock.

[Hornsby]

People thought the same thing with music downloading a decade ago...it was FREE, and it would last forever. Yeah, not so much. These are gigantic corporations who invest a ton of money into their product, and every free download is money out of their pockets. It's now getting big enough, and commercial enough, to go after people hard.

I suspect that what CBB has heard is just the tip of the spear in this case...