With Hooq and iFlix, is there still room for Netflix?

This month, Netflix officially became available in the Philippines along with over a 130 other countries worldwide. The service offers here tiered pricing from Php370 for SD quality and one stream, Php460 for HD quality videos up to 2 streams and Php550 per month for Ultra HD quality and up to 4 streams (maximum of 6 devices per account).

The subscriptions fees are pretty much the same as in the US with $7.99 as the starting MSF.

The entry of Netflix in the Philippines has placed a lot of pressure to existing players, especially with the likes of Hooq and iFlix. Both services are barely a year in the country and are still struggling to gain a sizable market share.

Netflix being the more widely known service became an instant favorite. Even before its official entry in the Philippines a number of subscribers already have access to Netflix by using proxies and using VPN services in order to watch movies and TV series in the US library.

A lot of people we talked to keeps on asking about the future of iFlix and Hooq in the country now that Netflix is already in play. Here are some thoughts I shared with them.

* The Netflix library in the Philippines is still considerably small with only about 7% of the US library accessible by Philippine subscribers. It will take some time for Netflix to add more titles in their catalog.

* Netflix’s monthly subscription fees are still way more expensive compared to Hooq at Php149 and iFlix at Php129.

* Hooq has the support of Globe Telecom while iFlix has the full support of PLDT and Smart. Their consolidated marketing effort will continue to attract new subscribers. These services should be able to leverage their partnership with the respective telcos to offer better or more affordable cost of access. We’ve already seen them doing it but with Netflix coming in, they’re more likely to ramp up the offerings.

* No single service has a clear advantage in terms of the library of movies and TV shows. Majority of the more popular titles are not yet available in their catalog and even the episodes of our favorite TV series are not that updated.

* Netflix has a slight disadvantage in terms of local content although they can easily compensate that with their own produced original shows.

 NetflixiflixHOOQ
Hours of contentOver 30,000 hours of content including Netflix original titlesOver 20,000 hours of hit movies and TV series including local and Asian contentOver 30,000 hours of hit movies and TV series including titles from their local partners
Maximum devices per account6 devices5 devices5 devices
Simultaneous streaming on multiple devices1 device for Basic plan / 2 for Standard plan / 4 for Premium planUp to 2 devicesUp to 2 devices
Streaming qualitySD for Basic plan / HD for Standard / UHD for PremiumStandard Definition onlySD and HD
Number of downloadable content for offline viewingNot availableUp to 10 videosUp to 5 videos
App availabilityAny device with Internet connectionAndroid, iOS, desktop, and web browserAndroid, iOS, desktop, and web browser
Telco perksNoneDiscounted price for Smart and PLDT - Php99/monthCould be paid via Globe with up to 2GB allocation
Free trial1 month 30 days1 month
Starting pricePhp370/monthPhp129/monthPhp149/month

There’s no clear winner for now. Ultimately, it’s the quantity and the quality of content that will drive more interest and eventually turn them to paying subscribers. In the meantime, subscribers will just gravitate to the service that provides them with the best value for their needs.

Netflix has the experience and did well in the US but we have yet to wait if that will translate to the same results in the Philippines.

The post With Hooq and iFlix, is there still room for Netflix? appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

With Hooq and iFlix, is there still room for Netflix?

This month, Netflix officially became available in the Philippines along with over a 130 other countries worldwide. The service offers here tiered pricing from Php370 for SD quality and one stream, Php460 for HD quality videos up to 2 streams and Php550 per month for Ultra HD quality and up to 4 streams (maximum of 6 devices per account).

The subscriptions fees are pretty much the same as in the US with $7.99 as the starting MSF.

The entry of Netflix in the Philippines has placed a lot of pressure to existing players, especially with the likes of Hooq and iFlix. Both services are barely a year in the country and are still struggling to gain a sizable market share.

Netflix being the more widely known service became an instant favorite. Even before its official entry in the Philippines a number of subscribers already have access to Netflix by using proxies and using VPN services in order to watch movies and TV series in the US library.

A lot of people we talked to keeps on asking about the future of iFlix and Hooq in the country now that Netflix is already in play. Here are some thoughts I shared with them.

* The Netflix library in the Philippines is still considerably small with only about 7% of the US library accessible by Philippine subscribers. It will take some time for Netflix to add more titles in their catalog.

* Netflix’s monthly subscription fees are still way more expensive compared to Hooq at Php149 and iFlix at Php129.

* Hooq has the support of Globe Telecom while iFlix has the full support of PLDT and Smart. Their consolidated marketing effort will continue to attract new subscribers. These services should be able to leverage their partnership with the respective telcos to offer better or more affordable cost of access. We’ve already seen them doing it but with Netflix coming in, they’re more likely to ramp up the offerings.

* No single service has a clear advantage in terms of the library of movies and TV shows. Majority of the more popular titles are not yet available in their catalog and even the episodes of our favorite TV series are not that updated.

* Netflix has a slight disadvantage in terms of local content although they can easily compensate that with their own produced original shows.

 NetflixiflixHOOQ
Hours of contentOver 30,000 hours of content including Netflix original titlesOver 20,000 hours of hit movies and TV series including local and Asian contentOver 30,000 hours of hit movies and TV series including titles from their local partners
Maximum devices per account6 devices5 devices5 devices
Simultaneous streaming on multiple devices1 device for Basic plan / 2 for Standard plan / 4 for Premium planUp to 2 devicesUp to 2 devices
Streaming qualitySD for Basic plan / HD for Standard / UHD for PremiumStandard Definition onlySD and HD
Number of downloadable content for offline viewingNot availableUp to 10 videosUp to 5 videos
App availabilityAny device with Internet connectionAndroid, iOS, desktop, and web browserAndroid, iOS, desktop, and web browser
Telco perksNoneDiscounted price for Smart and PLDT - Php99/monthCould be paid via Globe with up to 2GB allocation
Free trial1 month 30 days1 month
Starting pricePhp370/monthPhp129/monthPhp149/month

There’s no clear winner for now. Ultimately, it’s the quantity and the quality of content that will drive more interest and eventually turn them to paying subscribers. In the meantime, subscribers will just gravitate to the service that provides them with the best value for their needs.

Netflix has the experience and did well in the US but we have yet to wait if that will translate to the same results in the Philippines.

The post With Hooq and iFlix, is there still room for Netflix? appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Sony announces new BRAVIA TVs with 4K HDR and Android TV support

Sony has announced at CES 2016 its new lineup of BRAVIA TVs with 4K Ultra HD resolution and support for HDR and Android TV – the XBR-X930D / XBR-X940D and the XBR-X850D series.

The XBR-X930D Series 4K HDR LCD TV comes in 55 and 65-inch models while the XBR-X940D comes in 75-inch.

Features:
* HDR compatibility to receive and process the new video standard signal
* X-tended Dynamic Range PRO for better contrast and enhancement of HDR and non-HDR content
* New Slim Backlight Drive technology
* TRILUMINOS Display
* 4K X-Reality PRO
* 4K Processor X1
* Google Android TV OS support with Google Cast
* Voice Search and Voice Command
* Sony exclusive Content Bar
* Thin body and bezel

For the XBR-X850D Series, the lineup comes in 55, 65, 75, and 85-inch models.

Features:
* HDR compatibility to receive and process the new video standard signal
* TRILUMINOS Display
* 4K X-Reality PRO
* 4K Processor X1
* Google Android TV OS support with Google Cast
* Voice Search and Voice Command
* Sony exclusive Content Bar

The new Sony 4K HDR TVs will sport the new “4K HDR Ultra HD” logo and will be available in markets early this year.

source: Sony, PR Newswire

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Fast Five: Tips for TV Shopping

Shopping for a brand new TV this holiday season? In this week’s Fast Five, we take a look at some of the most common questions any Juan asks when purchasing, and hopefully help you snag that new deal before the year ends.

f5-tv

Why not a TV? Besides preparing you for the more important ISDB-T Digital TV transmission before 2020, an LED TV has more energy and space efficiency compared to old CRT TVs of the yesteryear. It’s also a worthy investment — TVs don’t depreciate as fast as handheld gizmos do. We gained insights and narrowed down the top questions consumers ask when purchasing for one, and we hope that this would serve as a guide for those purchasing their new displays.

What size should I buy?

Screen size has to be on top of the mind for anyone who wants to purchase a new TV, as a larger or smaller screen than what is needed can affect your viewing habits, straining your eyes in the process. For starters, those who want to have a TV in their bedroom can choose a 28- to 40-inch models, while average living rooms can accommodate a 50-inch TVs and up.

If you’re still not sure, there’s a proper computation for it. Considering the resolution of your TV to be at 1080p or Full HD, you can divide the distance (in inches) between the couch and the wall/table by 1.5, the quotient being the screen size. For example, a 42-inch distance can accommodate a 28-inch screen.

Curved Screen or Flat Display?

tv1

Another common question we get from most folks is the general design of the screen. Curved screens are selling like hotcakes right now, but that doesn’t mean that the flat displays don’t offer anything much of a difference versus the other. If you like to have an aesthetically pleasing unit without minding the bulky back portion, take the curved one. Otherwise, purchase the flat one for a less space-consuming TV with less bright room reflections.

To 4K or not to 4K?

tv2

Full HD displays are common nowadays, and you can purchase one at the Php15,000-20,000 range. While 4K content remain to be scarce, it’s a great idea to invest into something that would someday be the new standard. This would make your TV set ahead for at least 2-4 years. Features such as WiFi connectivity or becoming a Smart TV are nice additions, but don’t get persuaded by just that alone unless you have a dedicated internet connection for your TV.

LED or OLED?

tv3

Here’s a tip: OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens offer darker blacks that give off a nice contrast to whatever’s playing on the screen. The better colors OLED provides doesn’t come cheap — they are costlier and the TV models available are much less compared to the cheaper. If you’re one who nitpicks on the screen colors, you may opt to choose that one. LED models are widely available, just in case your budget doesn’t fit.

Which brand should I choose?

The competition in television brands are as cutthroat as what we see in smartphone or laptop companies. No matter how one wishes for a good TV, it all boils down to the budget one has. Lots of global brands (Samsung, Sony, LG, Sharp) are available in the local market where 32-inch models start between the Php11-15K range, and some have recently marked down their prices in anticipation of the holiday rush. If your wallets are a bit light and you’re aiming to tighten the belt, there are also good television brands from other countries (Devant, TCL, Changhong) that offer almost the same features and quality without having to break the bank.

We hope that we helped you gain more insight on what television set to buy this holiday season in this week’s Fast Five. There are other factors that we might have skipped, so do hop into the comments section and we’ll try to answer your Qs (and you can share insights as well).

You can also suggest a Fast Five topic too! Tweet us @yugatech and/or @lamielcarl with the hashtag #YTFastFive.

The post Fast Five: Tips for TV Shopping appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

LG’s “World’s first” Curved 4K OLED TV launches in the country

LG has launched in the Philippines the “World’s first” Curved 4K OLED TV which boasts a 55 and 65-inch screen with Self-Lighting pixels to achieve really deep blacks, and rich colors.

LG Curved 4K OLED TV features:
55-inch, 65-inch 3840 x 2160 curved OLED display
Self-Lighting Pixels
Tru 4K Engine Pro
Triple XD Engine
2D to 3D conversion
DivX HD USB 2.0
USB 3.0
HDMI
Harman/Kardon 2Ch Speaker (20W)
WebOS 2.0 SMART TV+

The LG CUrved 4K OLED TV is priced at Php300K for the 65-inch and Php180K for the 55-inch. LG Philippines is offering up to 25% discount from the SRP of the 55-inch models from November 1 to 15, 2015.

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