For example, because the software doesn't play well with older versions of Chromecast, I find myself almost always watching Kayo through my gaming PC. This sounds fine, but it adds extra hurdles to accessing content compared to casting from an app, which ultimately means that sometimes I choose not to access the platform, and will settle for something else on FTA, or Netflix, or YouTube, or Amazon Prime. This also means that I put my computer into 'Sleep' mode far more often. Not altogether a bad thing, but it does mean the computer may be drawing power overnight, or may open if it is inadvertently woken up.
Accordingly, I have increased my diet of content on these platforms - Netflix the most, followed by FTA and YouTube. My Amazon Prime consumption, if anything, has gone backwards, and I'm wondering if I'll keep it in the future - there's no sport on there, and they don't promote themselves especially well, and there's no fast-access button on my remote to an app on my smart TV like there is for YouTube and Netflix.
I also find myself gaming more often now. This is because the gaming PC is on more often. So, I might go gaming after I've finished watching something on Kayo, or beforehand.
I'm using the iPad far less to find and navigate content. Netflix and YouTube are accessed via apps on the smart TV, and Kayo via the gaming PC. The iPad is used mostly for the OTT apps for the FTA channels and Amazon Prime.
In terms of Kayo itself, one of the biggest negatives is instability and segmenting of programs.
Firstly, instability.
Watching via the app and casting to chomecast is almost unwatchable at times, because of the frequency of buffering issues, and a loss in fidelity. Watching via the gaming PC should be better, but there are still drop outs, probably about once every 20-30 minutes, regardless of time of day or stress placed on the app. There will be no warning, and then - bing - a Google error screen. I also now this is not unique to me. My friend Alex experiences the same issues.
The segmenting of programs is also infuriating. I will find a live game of something I want to watch, put it on, but as soon as the game is over, the app returns to the home screen. Unless I select one of the 'live' channels (which are buried all the way down the bottom of the home screen by the way), then the software only recognsies each game as a standalone event. This interrupts the continuous flow of content, and also may prevent me from watching content after the game that I may have incidentally been interested in.
The software also lacks a Search function. If I want to watch a 30 For 30 documentary, I can't just go to some search field, type in the name of the doco, and find it. Instead, I have to navigate around the different (un-sortable) categories and find it that way - also time consuming and a barrier to access.
Perhaps one good feature is the playback controls. It's easy to miss the start of a program and come in either at the start or 'live'. Scrubbing through ads is easy if you miss the start. Navigating around inside the app is relatively straightforward.
Another good feature is the range of content, which is ok, although another negative is there are no highlight cut-downs (or 'mini's') of the AFL games, only full-game replays. this must have something to do with Kay not having highlight rights, because there are mini's for NRL and other domestic sports.
So, on the whole, probably 7 out of 10 so far.
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This Saturday I'm going to the final Swans home game for the year, and my final membership game as well. It's going to be a big day. Unfortunately I miss out on an AFL Master intraclub game at Medowie, but I get to see:
- Buddy's 300th game
- Jarrod McVeigh's final game
- Keiran jack's final game
- Nick Smith's final game
The game is also the annual 'Pride' theme game against St Kilda, so it's good to be a part of an event that attempts to raise awareness about a cause I also believe in.
And we might even win!!
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