Sky Glass Delivered

[Urban+Splash]

So to be clear.... if for example I wanted to watch something that was on itv yesterday, I would find it using voice search. Click on it and it will take you to the itv. Play it, but it's subject to the usual rubbish itv app forced adverts etc? 

If that's the case, this is unacceptable. 

[Urban+Splash]

Sorry, take you to the itv app 

[Rewind]

Correct.

[Urban+Splash]

Omg that is insane. I'm gonna have to cancel. That's nonsense. 

I've never used the itv app for a long time as it's awful. Same with channel4. If all glass does it points to these apps, it's no good for me. What a disaster 

[Q-tips]

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@oj01 wrote:

I don't think that's correct. Yes, you can have 3 Glass TVs (well you can't yet) and 6 Pucks, but there is no restrictions on the ratio. So you can have 1 TV and 6 Pucks, all running simultaneously. 

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I think further clarification fom Sky is needed. The relevant known fact I can offer is that when placing dummy Glass orders today via the Sky Glass registration page, I was shown an advisory notice about broadband speed after I had specified my package (UHD), number of TVs (1) and number of pucks (various quantities ordered).

My order which contained zero pucks prompted an advisory screen that I should have at least 25Mbps of broadband speed.

When I increased the number of pucks to 1, the advisory changed to 35Mbps.

And the advisory stayed at 35Mbps when ordering 2, 3 or 4 pucks (I wasn't allowed to order more).

This indicates that the maximum permitted number of concurrent and different UHD streams is two (one for the TV and one for the first puck). Otherwise, the advisory speed would have been increased for each additional puck. (The best real-world estimate we have seen from a new owner is that each puck consumes 20-30Mbps when streaming at 4K.)

So it seems that you can own up to 6 pucks but only stream UHD concurrently to two devices. Unless you or anyone can offer an alternative logical explanation for the advised BB speed not increasing with each puck.

(Not that a recommended increase of 10Mbps when adding a single puck to my UHD order makes sense since that is only enough to support a non-UHD stream, according to Sky.)

[oj01]

@Q-tips I have zero knowledge of how broadband speeds work. But what I do know is that Sky have stated that there is no limit on the concurrent use of the Pucks like there is on Q Mini's (other than purchasing 6), subject to the customer having 'sufficient' broadband speed.

One suggestion elsewhere is that the Glass and Pucks are grabbing whatever bandwidth they can. So, is it possible that while a single Puck is using 20 or 30, it doesn't follow that switching on another doubles that usage? 

[Dessyg]

Can anyone advise the width of the stand on the 65" please?

[Adam-93]

I was really interested in Sky Glass, but if it's the case it simply opens up individual streaming apps - many of which have questionable video/audio quality and unskippable ads - I think I'll stick with Sky Q and Apple TV.

[Kevin+j+v]

@Adam-93  Why on earth would you want to swap sky q for sky glass?

I think sky glass is great for people who can't have their own dish, but in no way is it better than sky q.

[Urban+Splash]

Absolutely agree. This should be made clear. Sky are relying on partner apps to deliver content (including mandatory adverts). That's not what a pay a premium to have sky. Unacceptable. 

[Neil+Stevens]

Completely agree. Had massive fomo yesterday and was pretty much certain I would get glass as a replacement for our dining room and then use pucks elsewhere. We had to go to lakeside and called into the sky stand to have a look. Their internet was down so they were unable to show it at all!

after reading this thread I will be leaving this and sticking with sky q

[Adam-93]

@Kevin+j+v in my case it's because our TV is some way from the satellite sockets, so I have to subscribe to multiroom for a Mini box to stream to the TV even though I don't need it.

I was hoping to save some money, but it looks like it's an inferior product if a dish is available.

[Kevin+j+v]

@Adam-93 @ I see your thinking, shame it didn't work out for you if it would have saved you money, but I believe sky q is the stronger product.

[Q-tips]

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@oj01 wrote:

@Q-tips I have zero knowledge of how broadband speeds work. But what I do know is that Sky have stated that there is no limit on the concurrent use of the Pucks like there is on Q Mini's (other than purchasing 6), subject to the customer having 'sufficient' broadband speed.

One suggestion elsewhere is that the Glass and Pucks are grabbing whatever bandwidth they can. So, is it possible that while a single Puck is using 20 or 30, it doesn't follow that switching on another doubles that usage? 

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@oj01 unless the user throttles certain types of connection, most downloads will grab whatever bandwidth they can (subject to the speed of the server), which could explain why someone from this parish reported 83Mbps being consumed by his Glass TV alone on a test yesterday. But the issue I was raising isn't the maximum speed of a puck connection but the minimum speed requirement for a puck to deliver viable 4K content.

Sky obviously need to advise buyers what that number is, depending on the number of TVs making independent connections to the streaming servers. Their Glass FAQ says 25Mbps for trouble-free 4K viewing on one screen (10Mbps for a standard 1080p stream) and there's no fat in that since their Sky broadband FAQ separately states that we need 30Mbps for a smooth 4K stream.

The few real world reports we have read so far suggest that there is no difference in bandwidth demand between pucks but that the Glass TV does consume more than a puck. The best real world guide reported yesterday was that a TV was using 35-40Mbps at the same time as two pucks were using 20-30Mbps each. But this might have been a case where the devices were simply grabbing what was available in order to deliver a stream more quickly at the beginning. Another user with the same devices but less bandwidth might report lower throughput but maybe a longer delay at the start - assuming that some form of local buffering is needed. It could also be the case that more data (eg. software) is pushed to some devices when needed.

This well-informed website reckons that with typical other concurrent demands on a broadband service, the safe speed for a 4K stream is 50Mbps. It also lists the different transmission rates by verious apps.

So Sky have to be very careful with their advised minimum speeds. If the real world requirement turns out to be greater than the advised minimum then Sky will be lumbered with a lot of refunds and returns; and the launch of Glass will be an almighty flop.

The pucks are supposed to make independent connections to the Sky servers so there is no basis for arguing that a puck 4K stream would by default be any smaller or faster than a Glass TV 4K stream - although it may be the case that a TV consumes more "overhead" data than a puck and therefore needs a bigger slice of the pie. Pucks may report differing speed/throughput depending upon what they are receiving and where they are situated.  And if pucks can't operate at the advised speed then they may start buffering and/or downgrading the picture quality - or do nothing.

All in all, it seems misleading to imply - as the Glass registration process does - that 35Mbps is sufficient for smooth operation of two concurrent and different 4K streams to the TV and a puck. The advised 25Mbps for a single UHD stream is borderline according to other references and it can't be possible to add another UHD stream at full quality at an all-in cost of 35Mbps - even if Sky think that all the user's other domestic BB overheads are built into the initial 25Mbps advisory.

Worse,Sky then add nothing to the advised BB speed if you add a second or subsequent puck to your order. The 35Mbps advisory speed applies to 1, 2, 3 and 4 pucks! This is nonsense.

[gizmo120]

No Glass for me today. After all the reassurance from Sky employees I would get it, there was an "error at the sky warehouse" (nobody can seem to tell me what the error is - I think it's to do with  that text sent to everyone) and now not being delivered until Monday. Fuming isn't the word! I've tweeted Sky and Dana Strong but nothing will come of it. I'll just have to wait again now!