Altech recently launched their new Video-on-demand device, and quite frankly, it seems amazing. There isn’t a lot of info available about it online anywhere, but I have summed up everything that I could find, and will jot them all down here for you.
The Node has several uses, apart from being a VOD device. Firstly, you need to buy the node, for the reasonable price of R 3,499.00, and will need to have a satellite dish or quad LNB installed on your current DSTv dish. Don’t fret though, as you get a voucher for this install to be done for free. You will also need an active internet connection, be it ASDL or 3g, it is a requirement.
What you will get for that reprehensible amount of money though, is more than 700 hours of movies, and series. When you want to watch something, it is requested via the active internet connection, and then downloaded via the satellite connection. So it takes a few minutes but it is all downloaded in HD, and will give your eyes the beauty that they deserve.
The node is, however, a lot more versatile than that. It can also be used to browse the internet via the internet connection that is mandatory, and with a two sided remote, also makes browsing quite easy. The remote on one side has the normal remote control functions, but when you flip it over it has a full QWERTY keyboard that can be used for entering text on the node.
Node also allows you to automate functions within your house, by buying some plugs (from Altech of course) you can automate lights, and appliances from the Node. Node can even connect to CCTV cameras, so that you can watch what’s going on outside while you are getting your movie fix. The Node itself also acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot that shares the internet connection it is using.
All around it seems to be a good entry into the home automation, over the top video on demand sector, and a sector that has been severely lacking (and expensive) in South Africa. I will however not be one of the early adopters, let’s just wait and see how it works out, and then I’ll make my final decision.