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CNET editors' rating:
3.0
stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating -
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Product summary
The
good: Downloadable HD content; easy to use; wide variety of programs for nonmainstream audiences; good-to-excellent image quality.
The
bad: Very limited HD selection; confusing mix of fees and viewing periods; interface forced to follow Media Center template; must wait for downloads to complete before viewing shows.
The
bottom
line: The Akimbo for Media Center HD service is a no-brainer if one or more channels of its hard-to-find specialized content appeals to you, but casual audiences will find little that's not already on basic cable.
Specifications: License qty: 1 PC ; License type: Subscription license ; Min Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 ; See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 06/01/2006
- Released on: 05/02/2006
Akimbo makes a lot more sense as a PC-based IPTV service than as a set-top box, but the HD selection is still pitifully small, and many of the mainstream (read: free) shows are similar, if not the same as, those found on basic cable channels. What Akimbo does do right is specialized content, from yoga and karaoke channels to foreign language programming and global cinema. If one or more of those channels appeal to you, the service might well be worth a look.
Anyone with a Media Center PC can access Akimbo by launching Media Center, navigating to the Online Spotlight menu option, and looking in the TV & Movies subsection. Clicking the Akimbo button will bring up the interface and prompt you to either sign up for a monthly subscription or a 30-day free trial.
The look and feel of Akimbo for Media Center will be familiar to Windows Media Center (MCE) users. The interface can be navigated with an MCE remote control, and the menu options are clear. The same limitations are there as well, including Media Center's clunky video transport controls. Fast-forwarding a show can be a slow, dreary affair, and some programs are front-loaded with as many as 10 minutes of promo clips. If you stop in the middle of a recording and do something else, Akimbo won't remember where you were the next time you try to access the file. Those looking for instant gratification will be disappointed to find that this isn't true streaming media; you must wait for a program to fully download before you can view it. That being said, most 30-minute shows download within a few minutes.
From the main Akimbo for Media Center window, you can browse your library of downloaded content, go through available shows by channel or theme or search for a specific program. Setup options are sparse, limited to management for premium content subscriptions and setting parental controls.
In addition to the $9.99 monthly subscription, many of the more interesting programs require an additional fee, usually a buck or two per show. Once you download them, most of these programs are available for only a set viewing window, from 2 days to 30 days. Other content will remain viewable for an indefinite period of time.
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