DISH has unveiled a super-charged line up of improvement for the award-winning Hopper™ Whole-Home HD DVR platform at the 2014 International CES. These improvements extend the horizon of the Hopper experience into the home and contribute to the user experience as a whole.
Joseph P. Clayton, DISH CEO and president said “The Hopper continues to break new barriers in terms of accessibility, affordability and mobility. You see that in the way in which DISH delivers more content and virtually ends channel conflict with SuperJoey. Our new Wireless Joeys and software-based Virtual Joeys make in-home installation options almost limitless. And, our app strategy continues to lead the way with best and most value-packed mobile entertainment experience in the market.”
Introduced in 2012 and updated with built-in Sling technology in 2013, Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR (accompanying Joey set-top boxes) has won the 2013 CES “Best of Show” award. The path-breaking new DVR endows DISH customers the ability to record, pause, and play back shows from any room in the home as well as on the go. The Hopper also features the PrimeTime Anytime and AutoHop commercial-skipping features.
The Hopper’s Sling technology gives DISH customers the opportunity to watch live as well as recorded TV anywhere on Internet-connected tablets, smartphones as well as computers at no additional charge via the DISH Anywhere app. This app now comes equipped with DISH Transfers functionality for remote viewing in case no Internet connection is available.
Want to know more about the new Hopper Platform from DISH? Check out the exciting new features and tech specs:
Now record more shows and eliminate channel conflict with Hopper with SuperJoey
Customers can record up to eight shows (any 4 shows + the 4 major broadcast networks) at the same time with Hopper by pairing it with DISH’s new “SuperJoey.” SuperJoey is a client that adds two network tuners to the 3 native tuners of the Hopper. Together, the 5 network tuners allow users to watch and record any five shows from any network.
Vivek Khemka, DISH senior vice president of Product Management said, “With so much to watch on the Hopper, customers have asked for even more recording capability. This upgraded ability, combined with the Hopper’s capacity to store 2,000 hours of content, will anchor its place as simply the best DVR available.”
SuperJoeys are backwards compatible for all models of the Hopper.
Wireless Joey expands installation options
DISH’s new Wireless Joey system similarly opens up new avenues of installation where coaxial and/or Ethernet wiring is tough to achieve or unwelcome (in case of wall mounted TV units). The Wireless Joey installation requires a Wireless Joey Access Point and a Wireless Joey client.
The Wireless Joey Access Point can serve two Wireless Joey clients by making a dedicated 802.11ac Wi-Fi cloud within the home. This ensures that other Wi-Fi devices at home do not corrupt the video quality of Hopper. The Access Point connects directly to the Hopper and works in homes that do not have an Internet access.
New Joey apps brings the Hopper experience on gaming, Smart TV devices
With the release of a software app DISH has joined the introduction of the new Sony PlayStation® 4 system. This app allows users to access a Virtual Joey, and provides them with a nearly indistinguishable experience to the hardware-based Joeys of the Hopper within the PS4™ environment. DISH is also plans to release a Joey app for the PlayStation® 3 system.
At CES 2014, DISH has also introduced a Virtual Joey client for Smart TVs from LG Electronics.
According to Khemka, “These software-based Joey clients give customers the ability to access Hopper in any room, and customers don’t have to add extra components, or even wires, to access all their DISH content.”
So what exactly can you do with these software-based Joey clients?
Like a hardware-based Joey, these software-based clients can offer access to and control of Hopper content, such as live TV, recordings, video-on-demand programming and navigation of the electronic program guide (EPG).
DISH updates DISH Anywhere app – adds Kindle Fire as a platform
DISH has also introduced an updated DISH Anywhere app for iOS and Android devices. It has done some major improvement on the integration of the DISH Transfers™ feature into DISH Anywhere. This will give users the ability to view recorded content even without an Internet connection.
DISH also plans to release a version of DISH Anywhere app for Kindle Fire tablets.
Voice search and control with DISH Explorer App
DISH has also added voice search and Hopper control capabilities to its DISH Explorer second-screen app for iPad.
Khemka stated, “We’ve taken voice search for TV to a new level. Customers can now perform and build voice-driven searches to find live TV shows, make video-on-demand selections or play back anything they have recorded on their Hopper.”
Customers can use the usual language to search by title, actor or genre and can even do contextual searches to narrow results.
Besides searching, customers can use voice commands to control some basic functions of the Hopper, such as- recording and playback.
Updated user interface
DISH has worked on Hopper’s user interface that made the navigation easier. It has also added a “recommendations” aptitude to the Hopper’s channel guide. This feature recommends similar shows to those the user is watching, including TV shows, movies, sports band/or video-on-demand content.
TECH SPECS
Hopper with Sling
Hopper with Sling comes with a Broadcom BCM7425 processor and a two-terabyte hard drive. viewers can record up to 500 hours of high-definition (2,000 hours of standard definition) content. DISH’s Hopper has built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi.
Super Joey
Super Joey comes with a 1305 MHz, 3000 DMIPS Broadcom BCM7346 processor, two satellite tuners, and remote finder functionality. It supports MoCA and Ethernet connectivity.
Wireless Joey
Wireless Joey has a 900MHz 2000 DMIPS BCM7418 processor. The wireless performance for the Wireless Joey and the Wireless Joey Access Point comes from the Broadcom BCM4360 802.11ac chip operating at the 5Ghz band. The system has 3×3 MIMO with beam forming internal antennas as well as auto frequency selection.
Awards
- DISH’s New Virtual Joey Earns Best of CES 2014: Best Video Product Award from Engadget
- DISH’s New Super Joey Earns CES 2014 Editors’ Choice Award from ReViewed.com
- Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR has won the 2013 CES “Best of Show” award
Availability
SuperJoey, the Virtual Joey apps and the DISH Anywhere for Kindle Fire will be available in the first quarter of 2014. DISH plans to release the Wireless Joey this spring.