TV and entertainment platform provider Netgem has today launched a new streaming “puck” that it claims is designed to give consumers a way of enjoying an all-in-one entertainment experience without needing a dish or aerial.
Called the PLEIO (pronounced Play-oh), Netgem’s new box of tricks is the final version of the product that U.K. live streaming service Freely first flagged back in the summer, as it responded to a report by U.K. broadcast regulator Ofcom calling for a clearer vision and plan on how to enhance the delivery of public service media in today’s increasingly streaming-centric age. Specific product details on Netgem’s box were fairly limited in that initial Freely announcement, though, so it’s good to now have Netgem itself bringing us much more detail on its milestone product.
The PLEIO’s design really does live up to its puck nickname. It’s circular, black, flat on its top and bottom edges, and small enough at 64mm across by 14mm high to to batter around an ice hockey rink – though obviously that’s not something I recommend you do with it.
It manages to squeeze both HDMI 2.1 and USB 2.0 ports into its svelte, portable form, as well as support for both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless options.
The PLEIO’s operating system is built on the Android TV14 platform, complete with the wide selection of streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Paramount+, Discovery+, NowTV and so on, that you’d normally expect to get on an Android device. The most news-worthy thing about the PLEIO’s operating system, though, is that it also includes support for Freely.
What is Freely?
Freely, which isn’t typically available on Android or Google TVs, is essentially a free live streamed version of the U.K.’s Freeview HD digital broadcast service, giving you a way of watching the vast majority of the channels available on the broadcast platform over broadband, without the need for an aerial or dish on your house. It also carries more than 75,000 hours of on-demand content, and as regular readers of my Forbes channel will be aware, it regularly seems to add more content providers to its channel roster on top of all those backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 stations responsible for the development of the Freely platform.
The importance of the Netgem PLEIO to the media landscape is the way it makes Freely available for the first time to people who don’t have a TV with Freely support built in (currently Freely is only available in some Hisense, Bush, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba and JVC-branded TVs). Just connect the puck to one of your TV’s HDMI inputs, and you’ll immediately be able to start streaming everything Freely has to offer. There’s even a dedicated Freely button on the PLEIO’s remote control.
Unless your TV is pretty ancient, it likely carries many of the world’s most popular video streaming services on its own built-in smart platform. Having all those apps also available on the Netgem PLEIO alongside Freely, though, means you can just use the PLEIO as a one stop shop for all your streaming/home entertainment needs, rather than having to keep switching between your TV’s built-in smart system and the PLEIO input. With this in mind it’s helpful that the PLEIO also carries its own voice recognition/search system via a mic button on the remote.
The PLEIO can stream and output 4K video with HDR10 high dynamic range, as well as Dolby Atmos sound.
Game on
Netgem is also keen, finally, to talk up the PLEIO’s gaming capabilities. The puck can, it’s claimed, stream more than 250 console games that can be played as part of a Netgem PLEIO subscription (this subscription is NOT required to access the puck’s Freely service) using a specially designed PLEIO wireless joystick.
The Netgem PLEIO is available to buy now in two different ways. First, as a standalone device for £99 (available from Amazon UK, Freely and Netgem) that includes the PLEIO Puck, PLEIO Voice Remote, PLEIO Gamepad and a three-month trial to the Netgem PLEIO subscription. This subscription includes access to the 250-plus Cloud Game titles, as well as more than 150 curated extra channels covering everything from sports and documentaries to cooking shows. After the three month free period is up, you would be looking at £9.99 a month to maintain the subscription.
The PLEIO will also be available in a variety of bundles from multiple ISPs (WightFibre, Connect Fibre and BRSK are confirmed so far, with more to follow) for £9.99 a month, without the upfront £99 charge. People who subscribe via an ISP subscription will receive all the content available on the platform.
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