Ameba TV – Reviewed and Giveaway

Television has been evolving and changing since it’s invention.  From black and white to color, antennae to cable and satellite, analog to digital, (I’m ignoring 2-D to 3-D) it never remains constant for very long.  In today’s world, you have DVR, Apple TV, Google TV, Netflix, online streaming, and like 15 other options.  You have a nearly indefinite number of ways of viewing your favorite shows and movies. This is by no means limited to just us adults, as my children are slowly becoming spoiled with the DVR and having their favorite shows/episodes readily available.  Where it used to be VHS tapes and DVDs being played over and over, it’s now the DVR, much to my dismay Dora (IF that’s even your real name!)  However, as simple and as nice as that sounds, there is still no safety net to guarantee your kids only watch what you want your kids to watch if you’re busy in the kitchen or occupied and drowning out the constant whining of Olivia. This is where Ameba TV comes in to save the day!  Designed by a parent, for parents, Ameba TV offers a set top box which allows access to a wide variety of children’s programing, offers easy controls where the children and navigate through the selections themselves, and best of all, the selection of programing on the box itself is fully controlled by the parents.

The people behind Ameba TV were kind enough to send me one of their set top box units for review.  (They also offer their service over the web and through Roku set top boxes.)  Admittedly, up front, I was a little hesitant regarding the unit, but after playing with it and using it on and off for about a month now, I have to say my initial hesitance was misplaced as not only do my kids and I both enjoy the unit, I also see great possibilities for this unit down the road if they choose to expand on it.

WHAT IS AMEBA TV? (Not an amoeba)

Ameba’s set top box is basically what would happen if Google TV and TiVo had a baby that was then adopted by Disney and Nickelodeon’s estranged cousins.  The unit itself doesn’t require any form of a cable television connection, everything viewable on the box has been predetermined by you, the parent and/or technically sound adult and is downloaded to the box via the inter-web.  This alone makes it a great unit to put in a kids room or den, where you’ll allow TV to be watched, without having to run television cable or allow access to your normal programing.

SET IT UP!!

The beauty of this thing isn’t just that it’s an ideal setup for children; or that us old parenting types have full control of the content the box offers.  No, the beauty of this thing is the simplicity in setting it up.  The box itself can connect to the internet either wired or wirelessly, determined by the model of your unit.  The programing content is selected by the parent using an online account on the AmebaTV website.  Once content is selected you’re able to download that content straight to the box, and those selections are good for a month of viewing.

So this is how it goes.  You go to the site AmebaTV.com and go to sign-up.  After filling out your information, you’re given two sign-up options.  If you own a Roku box, you have the option where you can add an Ameba channel, or if you just want to watch the programing online, you have that option, where you only pay the $9.99 $3.99 monthly subscription fee, no additional hardware is needed.  The other option is you can choose to purchase an Ameba set top box for $129 or rent it for $6 a month, along with a $35 setup fee for either option.  The box comes with a remote, composite cable, ethernet cable, and power cord.  I suggest getting the wireless adapter, especially  considering it adds flexibility to where you can put the box.  Oh, and its free, so why not?!  If you choose to get one of the Ameba set top boxes, either by purchase or rent, the box will be preconfigured for your account prior to being shipped out to you, making it even easier to set up!  (Less than 10 minutes for me)

Once you make these selections from the site, you then have the ability to start selecting programing.  You have the option to set up profiles, up to four, where you can select certain programming to be found under each profile.  The selection process is similar to something like Netflix’s queue where you sort through different selections/categories, including the newest releases, where you can select certain shows or episodes to be downloaded to your box.  You can even go as far as having certain programs to be viewable under certain profiles.  Giving your kids that extra special “I’m important” feeling.

WHAT’S THERE TO WATCH?

One draw back that worried me initially was the selection of programing available.  My kids are the Nickelodeon and Disney generation.  Where it’s the Mickey Mouse Club House, or Dora, Olivia, Bubble Guppies, Kai Lan, the norm. It’s easy to go on and on, but basically they’re accustomed to the contemporary selection of children’s programing.  Don’t get me wrong some of those shows are great.  I’m loving the Bubble Guppies, but I hate Olivia.  Regardless, these are the types of shows my kids enjoy, so I wasn’t sure how they’re react to the selections Ameba offers.  Much to my surprise, they’ve enjoyed most selections I’ve made for them, which really increases my comfort in suggesting this product.  Because let’s be honest, this unit could outshine everything out there in terms of function and technical specs, but if the selection was less than stellar, then as a parent, you’re limited by it.

Fortunately, no worries there, as the Ameba library, contains more than 1,000 hours of educational, music and multi language programming aimed at children ages 3-8, includes content from Decode Entertainment, Breakthrough New Media, Casablanca Kids, Sockeye, Marble Media, Portfolio, TVO, Compugraf, Blender, Agogo Entertainment, Ingaldson-Smith Productions, Janet’s Planet, National Film Board and many other independent producers. Commercial-free programming includes such titles as This is Daniel Cook, Mr. Furry Fur Fur, Raggs, SkinnamarinkTV, Wee Sing, Mother Goose Club, Ollivers Adventures, Rainbow Fish, Hoobs and World of Wonders. New episodes and animated shorts are being added every day.

POSSIBLE EXPANSION?

One thing I’ve picked up on regarding the set top box that Ameba doesn’t advertise, is the fact that the unit comes with USB ports, one on the front, one on the back, along with a USB option in the menu.  Something that I found as a great surprise was that using a thumb drive, that had some AVI files loaded on it, I was able to watch these right through the Ameba box as smooth as one could hope for.  What does this mean to me as a parent/geek?  Well I haven’t tested it yet, but it leads to the chance of possibly taking DVD backups I’ve made and play them from the box itself.  Giving this box a whole expansion possibility and centering itself at the core of the kids television/movie entertainment.

I’m hoping in the near future to take a spare 2.5” hard drive I have, buying an enclosure and creating a USB powered external hard drive.  If this works, I’ll be able to load backups of my kids favorite movies and have them there on the drive to load up for them.  Just the possibility of not having discs laying everywhere, of being able to save DVDs from scratches and being able to be played 6 months from now just gets me excited.  Not to mention opening up the possibility to get rid of the clutter that always surrounds the TV.

AW, THE COMMENTARY

Honestly, this is an easy no-brainer for me in terms of suggesting this.  It’s a great concept that is right up front in terms of technology.  The programming is fun, entertaining, educational, and the selection is expanding constantly, giving you a growing separation from the normal programming all of us are being treated to.  The price is great at $3.99 a month, and is worth every penny.  The expansion possibilities and overall horizon for this product and this concept is so bright, I think some will be sorry if they sit and wait on jumping on.  Best of all, they are offering a free month trail, so you have absolutely nothing to lose by checking them out.  Ameba definitely gets the seal of approval.

Geekasm’s Ameba Set Top Box Stat Sheet

Pros

• Monthly price point for unlimited programming
• Parents have full control over the content selection
• Expansion possibilities
• Only requirements are a TV and internet

Cons

• Unit Runs Hot
• No mainstream programming options might cause warming up to  it to take a while for kids
• Limited to only 4 profiles
• Lacks parental controls such as daily time limits

I give it a 4 out of 5

***GIVEAWAY***

As a bonus, Ameba is allowing me to give away a FREE Ameba TV set top box as well as a 3 month free unlimited content subscription!  The contest runs from now until April 16th at midnight EST.  You have four different ways to enter:

1. Tweet about the giveaway.  “Enter to win an Ameba STB from @AmebaTV and @Geekasms http://bit.ly/fOtaVm “

2. Follow @AmebaTV and/or @Geekasms on Twitter.  Leave a comment with the hashtag #AmebaTV

3. Become a fan on Facebook and leave us a message to enter you into the giveaway

4. Leave a comment here and tell us why Ameba TV would be a great addition to your home.

Enter once or enter all four times, doesn’t matter!  A winner will be randomly selected and announced here, Facebook and Twitter by Monday, April 18th.